Frequently Asked Questions

We offer comprehensive residential design and drafting services including custom home design, remodel and renovation design, residential drafting and blueprints, as-built documentation, and general contractor advisory services. We also coordinate with licensed engineers for stamped structural plans.

Design and Build Advisors has been serving the Tampa Bay Area since 1986 — 40 years of residential design. We are a family-owned and operated business run by father and son team Michael and Myles Harvey.

We proudly serve the entire Tampa Bay Area including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Lakeland, Sarasota, Bradenton, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, and surrounding communities.

No. Florida law (F.S. 481.229) lets non-architects prepare plans for one- and two-family homes and townhouses, which is the work we do. We are residential designers, not architects or contractors, and we do not build. When your permit needs signed and sealed structural sheets, a Florida-licensed engineer we coordinate with seals them.

Custom home design costs vary based on the size and complexity of the project. We offer competitive, accessible rates and provide a detailed quote after our initial free consultation. Most residential projects range from a few thousand dollars for basic plans to more for complex custom designs with extensive detail.

A typical custom home design takes 4-8 weeks from initial consultation to final construction documents. More complex projects may take longer. We keep you updated with regular progress reports throughout every phase.

For most residential projects in Florida, an experienced residential designer can provide everything you need at a more accessible cost. We handle design, drafting, and engineering coordination. For projects specifically requiring an architect's stamp, we work with licensed architects in our network.

Absolutely. We have experience designing a wide range of architectural styles including modern, contemporary, Mediterranean, coastal, craftsman, farmhouse, and traditional. We work with you to capture your preferred aesthetic.

Yes, kitchen and bathroom remodels are among our most popular services. We create detailed renovation plans that include demolition drawings, new layouts, elevations, electrical plans, and all specifications needed for permitting and construction.

Yes, we specialize in room addition design. We assess your existing structure, create plans that integrate seamlessly with your current home, and coordinate with engineers for any structural modifications needed.

Yes, we provide precise as-built measurement services. We visit your home to document the existing conditions, which serves as the foundation for any renovation or remodel design work.

We prepare all construction documents needed for the permitting process and coordinate with engineers for stamped plans. While we don't submit permits directly, our plans are designed to meet all local building code requirements for smooth approval. We can guide you through the permitting process.

Yes, every set of plans we produce is designed to meet Florida Building Code requirements, including wind load specifications for the Tampa Bay region. We stay current with all code updates and local amendments.

While we are not engineers, we coordinate directly with licensed structural engineers to provide stamped engineering plans when required. This seamless coordination saves you time and ensures consistency between design and engineering documents.

Yes. We draw elevation and rebuild plans for homes with a substantial-damage (50% rule) finding, and we work alongside your lift contractor and engineer. See our Home Elevation & Flood Rebuild Plans service page for details.

Yes. Most of our work is plan sets for local builders, including model plans they build again on new lots.

No. We design and draft only. We don't build, so we work for you and your builder, not instead of them.

Every set is drawn to the current Florida Building Code and local requirements. If the reviewer sends comments, we revise the plans so you can resubmit.

Your address, the survey if you have one, photos, and a rough wish list. For a remodel or elevation, we schedule a visit to measure the house.

Getting started is easy! Simply call us at 727-643-0341 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. During this initial meeting, we'll discuss your vision, budget, and timeline to determine the best approach for your project.

Yes, we offer free initial consultations for all potential projects. This allows us to understand your needs and provide an accurate quote before any commitment.

We typically work with a phased payment structure tied to project milestones. Details are discussed during the consultation and outlined in our project agreement. We strive to keep our rates accessible without compromising quality.