Complaint Review: Dream Home Source - Portland Oregon

As an Archtitect/Designer, I come across problems with home plans from time to time. They are generally not with the plans themselves which are usually developed with care and some buiding knowledge. Unsuspecting homeowners looking to build their dream home see these plans as an inexpensive way to get what they want in a home. However most times the homeowners want to adjust the plans to suit their specific needs. In the end most out of the box plans need some adjustment just to meet codes, whether by an architect, contractor or structural engineer, these changes take time and money. Besides codes these plans are designed wilthout regard to any site at all. If your property has a slope or if utility locations are difficult, your newly purchased plans may not work at all for your property. Many times the future homeowners would have been further ahead if they had hired a local professional to help them through the process. the bottom line is without this professional help, future homeowners really have to do their homework to ensure their new plans are right, not only for them but for their property, their local codes and standards of construction. Sometimes even the professionals have a hard time wading through the bureaucratic processes set up by some jurisdictions. I should know, I still come across plans examiners and building inspectors who throw a monkey wrench in a project just because they come across an obscure section of the code which doesn't allow this or that. Don't blame out of State home design factories, you should have done your homework. Do-it-yourselfers...do yourselves a favor and hire a professional to help you through the process, even just a little bit will save you lots of headache if not lots of money.

On our website we make full disclosure on what a customer gets when ordering plans. The reason we cannot accept any returns or credits is that it would be very easy for someone to buy plans from us, make copies, and then return the plans to us. This customer also complains that the plans did not meet their local building codes. Again our site states that it is the customers responsibility to meet the local compliance with applicable statute(s). There are many state and local codes for building a home and each state/local code may require a state/local architect to sign off. The following two paragraphs are directly from our web site. "All construction plans ordered through Dream Home Source, Inc. are provided as is. Dream Home Source, Inc. disclaims all other warranties, express or implied, including merchantability or fitness of purpose. Construction plans may not be returned for credit and/or refund under any circumstances. Dream Home Source, Inc. is not liable for incidental, special, consequential, or indirect damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, loss of anticipated profits, business opportunity or other economic loss arising out of the use of services or any construction plans received from Dream Home Source, Inc., even if Dream Home Source, Inc. has been advised of the possibility of such damage. It is the customer's responsibility to ensure the accuracy, compliance with applicable statute(s) or regulation(s), and fitness of purpose of any plans or construction information received from Dream Home Source, Inc. prior to the use thereof. In the event that any liability is imposed on Dream Home Source, Inc., Dream Home Source Inc.'s liability to you or any third party shall not exceed the price paid for the Dream Home Source House Plans product." We hope that you visit our site for finding your dream home. We have many satisfied customers. Unfortunately we were unable to satisfy this one.