These FAQs are for homeowners who are thinking about creating a custom design plan for their new house.
What is Opoplan?
Opoplan is the world’s first automated software platform for the design of custom house plans. Unlike other online houseplan websites , Opoplan creates each design in response to a Design Brief – from you.
How does Opoplan work?
Opoplan has a library of seed designs, all created and designed by fully qualified architects. Upon activation, the software selects 3 designs that best match your brief, and then the software customizes the best option for you and your lot.
Why do I have to pay to activate Opoplan?
Every time Opoplan is activated to create a house plan design, it costs us money. We ask you to pay a small Activation Fee of $25 to make sure you are happy with your design brief before you submit it and to cover our activation costs.
How long will it take Opoplan to produce my customized design plan?
Depending on the level of customization required, it will take between 60 minutes and 48 hours to produce your custom house plan.
Why is Opoplan different from other online houseplan websites?
Opoplan is different for lots of reasons, but here’s our Top 3:
- The Design Brief
You complete a brief for Opoplan, just like you would if you were working with a real-life Architect.
- Real Customization
Opoplan design plans are created to give you what you want in your new home and to fit on your lot.
- Opo3D
Only Opoplan allows you to explore your design plan for your new home in our unique opo3D format, before you commit to buying the full set of plans and drawings.
Where do Opoplan designs come from?
Every Opoplan design starts out as a paper-based design/drawing from a fully qualified and registered architect. The architects who supply Opoplan are based in the USA and Europe. Our team of technicians take each paper plan and turn it into a file that our software can analyze and change.
How much does it cost for the full Opoplan design plan?
You pay Opoplan in 3 clear phases:
| Activation Fee | $25 | 3D Preview & a copy of your brief |
| Opo3D | $275 | Full 3D access to the interior and exterior of your new home |
| Architect Design Set | $1950 | Includes: 2D plans, Sections and Elevations, CGI’s |
| Builder Information Set | Free to your builder | Includes: fully dimensioned builder layouts (.pdf), plans in 2D format (.dwg/.dxf), material take offs, window and door schedules |
Why does Opoplan not give me a choice of design plans?
Unlike other online house plan websites, Opoplan asks you to complete a design brief and our software takes your criteria and customizes a design plan to meet your brief and then allows you to explore your design plan in opo3D before you make a commitment to purchase the full architect design set. If you don’t like something in your Opoplan design plan, you can either go back and change your brief or get a quote for some manual changes.
What does ‘architect quality design’ mean?
Our system follows exactly the steps most architects take on projects and captures much of the benefit an architect can bring to the early stages of a design – but does it automatically.
All of our designs start as seed plans designed by real architects for a family and lot/site just like yours.
Is Opoplan the same as going to a real architect ?
Opoplan produces architect quality (see above) outline designs for your house at an affordable price. This is not the same as engaging an architect to design your house and champion its quality through to completion. We are big fans of what architects do, so if you can afford an architect, we recommend you do so. If you can’t afford an Architect then Opoplan is the next best option.
What about local building codes, permits and consents ?
In common with other online plan services, you will always need to engage a local building contractor or engineer to carry out structural calculations, add engineering detail to the design plan and organize getting building permits or other consents, before the build starts.
Where other planning consents are required, Opoplan’s Architect Design Set and Builder Information Set give you some of the information you need. However, we recommend that appropriate local professional planning advice is sought.
How do I find an engineer to do the structural aspects of my design ?
You will always need to engage a local engineer to carry out the structural design aspects of the design. These depend on local conditions and standards and are impossible for us to integrate in our process. Your builder may be able to help with finding a reputable local engineer or other professional (check they have insurance) who can provide these services and adjust the design as required and to take account of other local conditions like seismic, flooding or other risks.
How likely is it that I will see another house with the same design plan as mine?
Given the detail of the brief we take from you and the complexity of our analysis and design software – used to create a custom design for you, it is exceedingly unlikely you would see another design that is exactly the same as yours anywhere.
Some plan services offer reverse, mirror and reproducible variations of their plans. Does Opoplan do the same ?
Because Opoplans’ designs are customized for you and your lot/site, the house is oriented to maximise your chosen lot/site. So usually it is not necessary or beneficial to do this.
May I copy or share my design ?
No.
What reports, schedules / lists and analyses are available for Opoplan designs ?
Opoplan can, depending on availability, produce schedules (lists) of rooms, area, components like windows and material lists that help the builder begin sizing and costing the project and planning the construction.
Can I get the design in soft copy formats (CAD or BIM) ?
Yes. To find out more, check our Prices page to find out what is included in our Architect Design set and Builder Information set.
How do I make changes to my design plan?
You have 3 options for changes:
- Go back to your Design Brief, tweak your answers and resubmit it.
- Contact us about our manual change services.
- Take your Opoplan Architect Design Set to a local custom builder who may be able to make the changes that you require.
What are your terms of service ?
Our Terms of Service are available for review here