You Could Get Sued If You Do This
Did you know how easy it is to be sued when selecting the design for your new home? It’s a surprising fact for many, but one misstep can lead to significant legal and financial trouble.
There’s a common myth that you can change a design by just 20% to avoid copyright issues. This couldn't be further from the truth. Many people fall into this trap because it seems like a simple way to save money and time.
Imagine this scenario: You receive a free drawing from a custom home builder and want to ensure you're getting the best deal. Naturally, you show this design to a few other builders and ask for quotes. The problem arises the moment another builder uses any ideas from that original design. Even if the new builder creates a completely different option, it’s classified as copyright infringement.
Hard to believe, right? But it gets even worse. The builder who owns the original design can sue you and halt construction on your home, even if the project is already underway. This can lead to massive cost overruns for which you will be liable, depending on the country in which you’re building.
And this is more common than you might think. Recently, someone we’ll call ‘Jim’ approached a builder named Steve to design and build a new home. Jim spent six months and $5,000 working on a design with Steve. Afterward, Jim thought he’d be smart and covered up Steve's name and copyright statement, taking the design to another builder for a quote and signing a contract.
Six months later, Steve discovered that Jim was using another builder. After a lot of legal action back and forth, Jim was advised by his lawyer to settle out of court for a six-figure sum. Yes, Jim might have saved $15,000 on his total contract price, but he ended up paying significantly more in the end.
So, if you’re thinking about showing a drawing by one builder to another, you should ask yourself: Is it worth it?
Luckily, we have a few tips to help you avoid this kind of headache:
1. Decide on a home builder before you begin the design process.
Do plenty of research, talk to many people, check online reviews, and meet with potential builders. Don’t be afraid to ask them lots of questions! Taking the time to do this can save you a ton of headaches later.
2. Choose a builder who offers both design and build services.
This way, you avoid the risk of copyright infringement and ensure that the design is feasible within your budget from the start.
Don’t take shortcuts here, or you could end up like Jim. Of course, this is just one of the potential pitfalls. There are many more that most people are unaware of, and all of them can end up costing you thousands of dollars.
Click on the link below to discover everything you need to know to ensure you engage a professional builder without making any costly mistakes.