R is for Read & Review your plans.

Your construction plans—formerly known as blueprints (yes, they were literally blue; I even made one in high school drafting!)—are the foundation of your project. Today, we call them Construction Plans, and they consist of several critical components.

At a minimum, you’ll have Architectural Plans and Structural Plans, either combined or as separate documents. But beyond these, you may also need various reports before and after the design phase.

No matter what your new home or renovation involves, you need to have a solid understanding of:
✔️ Your property – What zoning regulations apply? What are you allowed (or not allowed) to do?
✔️ The design process – What steps are required for your specific project?
✔️ Your plans – Are they complete? Do they contain every necessary detail?

Make sure ALL the information is on the plans.

They’re not called guidelines or rough concepts—though you’ll start with those. They’re called plans for a reason: they dictate every decision in your home project. These documents determine everything from project costs to materials and labor. If details are missing or unclear, your contractor will have to guess, and their assumptions may not align with your vision, timeline, or budget.

Even a small oversight can cause a ripple effect:
🚧 Missing details = contractor guesswork
💰 Guesswork = potential cost overruns
📆 Cost overruns = project delays

When you’re deep in the planning phase, it’s tempting to rush the process just to get things moving. You might think, We’ll figure it out later. Don’t.

If it’s not on the plans, it likely won’t get built that way—or at all.

Detailed plans help you avoid costly misunderstandings and keep your project on budget, on schedule, and true to your vision.

"Success doesn’t just happen. It’s planned for."

Now Take Action

📖 Go to pages 16-17 in your workbook. Let’s walk you through the Plan Review Quiz—questions you should know the answers to before finalizing your plans.

If you've enjoyed this lesson, then you're going to really enjoy our upcoming event with our Founder and Architectural Designer, Chelsey Morphy. Join us for a live Q&A at the end of this program. RSVP here.