Top ten reasons why our plans are better:

1. 35 years of design and construction experience. Most architects and many designers do not have any practical construction experience. Tom Gleinser has built, managed, or supervised the construction of over 1000 homes and designed over 100 homes. It is not possible to design a home properly without the practical, hands-on experience that Tom Gleinser has.
2. Comprehensive specifications. This is a critical component of your contract with your builder. Material and labor specifications are produced on a custom basis. They are based on extensive criteria supplied by the customer on our easy-to-use online specifications questionnaire. When the customer has no preference, we will suggest proven products. Specifications include not only detailed material types, but also guidelines for the installation of those materials. If some aspect of your new home is not constructed properly, chances are the materials were not installed in compliance with our labor specifications. This provides the owner with an invaluable tool in negotiating a correction by the builder.
3. Expert structural design. We have found few plan-book plans or architects that supply any structural design. Some provide a joist and rafter layout which is of little use to a framer. Our structural plans detail every aspect of the framing for your new home. All loads are carefully calculated and supported through to the foundation. Framing hardware is specified using Simpson brand design criteria. Joists and rafters are designed using Uniform Building Code standards. Beams are sized using a state-of-the-art engineering program. All components are specified in the most economical configuration possible while maintaining absolute structural integrity. Without a detailed structural design of this type, your new home's structural components could be designed by the framing contractor who probably has little or no professional experience in structural design.
4. Many stock plan-book plans have never been built and are produced by inexperienced designers for the sake of a quick sale. Many of my customers came to me after purchasing plan-book plans. They were not able to find a builder that would bid on the plans because of the poor quality of design.
5. Our plans are customizable. Some plan-book plans actually advertise a customizing package consisting basically of pencil and an eraser. All of our plans are produced on a state-of-the-art CADD system (AutoCAD Architectural Desktop R 2). Changes are made by us at your direction quickly, professionally, and economically. If you require a mirrored image plan, all text will read correctly, unlike plan-book plans.
6. Personal service. You will deal directly with Tom Gleinser during the entire design and specification process. Tom personally designs every home as if he were paying for it and was going to live in it. Tom is just a toll-free phone call away to answer any questions that arise during construction.
7. Building code compliance. All of our plans are designed to comply with the International Building Code, one of the strictest and most widely used building codes. Most plan-book plans disclaim any code compliance.
8. Details, Details, Details. Every detail of your home is extensively analyzed for functionality. From every light switch to each door swing, your home will offer the maximum efficiency and comfort of use.
9. Foundation engineering. Foundation plans will be sealed by a registered, professional engineer if desired for an added cost. Design will be based on a soil sample supplied by the customer outside of the Austin, Texas area. In the Austin area, we will take the soil sample. This service is not available with stock plan-book plans.
10. Site survey and design. In the Austin, Texas area a site and topographical survey will be done in order to determine proper location, drainage, and orientation for your new home. This service is also not available with stock plan-book plans.