How to Find a Floor Plan of a House: Your Complete Guide

Thomas Fine - September 1, 2024

Finding the floor plan of a house if you don’t have access to the original documents can be quite a challenging piece of work. These records have the specifications of the house’s layout, dimensions, and structural details, making it challenging to recreate an accurate plan without them. 

There might also have been modifications added over time that haven’t been documented in the original plan. 

While that all seems daunting, the process becomes a lot simpler once you know where to look. This article will be your ultimate guide to finding a floor plan of a house using a reverse look-up tool, checking with real estate agents, browsing real estate websites, and more.

1. Using a Reverse Look-up Tool

Information.com’s reverse address look-up tool is the first and most reliable step to finding a floor plan as it can quickly allow you to gather detailed information about the property, which often includes floor plans. Once you enter an address or property ID, the tool finds matching records from property records and retrieves them.

Thanks to its extensive and up-to-date database, you’ll get accurate results. 

Here’s how you can use the reverse lookup tool to find a floor plan of a house:

1. Enter the full property address in the tool’s search bar. 
2. Input any additional information, such as coordinates or landmarks, that might be relevant to locating the details of this property.
3. Analyze the search results. The report prepared by the tool might include a lot of data, such as ownership history, property value, information about the original builder of the house, and, most importantly, detailed property descriptions. Keep an eye out for sections that mention floor plans or provide downloadable documents specifically.
4. Download the floor plans if they are available in the form of downloadable PDFs or viewable images. In the case that the exact floor plans are not directly available, the property descriptions might include details that can help you visualize the layout. If you find visualization difficult, you can get in contact with a professional who can render a rough drawing of what the floor plan might look like.

Your work should be complete with that. However, if the tool fails to provide the plans, there are several alternative techniques you can try. 

2. Checking With Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents are responsible for selling and renting out buildings and land for their clients. There’s a high chance that the property you’re interested in might have been dealt with by a real estate agent in that locality. These agents might have floor plans on file. 

You can start your search by checking online directories, visiting local real estate offices, or even asking for recommendations from friends and neighbors. Agents with good reputations and strong connections within the local market are more likely to have access to detailed property records.

Reach out to these agents and share, in detail,  why you need the floor plan of the property in question. If an agent understands your situation, whether you’re a potential buyer, a current owner, or a renovator, they will be more willing to lend a hand in your journey. Remember to be polite and professional when putting your request forward, and don’t hesitate to follow up if you don’t get a quick reply. 

3. Visiting Open Houses

If the property is currently on the market, you can always visit an open house to ask the hosting agents for floor plans or any available property documents. Open houses are an excellent opportunity to connect directly with real estate professionals who are familiar with the property. Alongside sharing what they know about floor plans, you might also be able to discuss other important insights about the house you’re interested in.

While at the open house, you can also take your own notes and measurements to recreate a rough floor plan if the official documents aren’t available at all. Overall, the experience will definitely be important in helping you understand the layout and features of similar properties. 

4. Searching Online Databases

Many online property databases gather information about residential properties, including floor plans, for public use. All you need to do is head over to a real estate website and navigate to the search bar. 

Enter the property address and once you find the listing, you can go through the details, which often include property details, photos, and sometimes floor plans.

These websites update their databases regularly, so you might find floor plans for both current and past listings. Some also provide specialized services, such as detailed architectural drawings and more comprehensive floor plans, but these might have a cost attached to them. 

You can also download these plans or take a screenshot for future reference, especially if you ever need to share them with contractors and designers.

5. Visiting the Local Municipality or County Office

Local government offices also often maintain detailed records of properties that lie within their jurisdiction. You’ll need to determine which local office might hold the records of the property you’re interested in, whether it’s the county assessor, the city planning department, or another municipal office.

Once you know which office you need to visit, call ahead to make an appointment. Request the staff when you drop by the location to see the property records for your particular address. 

The records might include building permits, renovation plans, and floor plans, especially for newer or recently modified homes. Make sure to ask for copies of the floor plans if possible so you can keep them with you in case you need to refer back to them later. 

Things to Keep In Mind When Finding the Floor Plan of a House

The process of finding a floor plan for a house that we’ve shared with you is relatively straightforward. Nevertheless, you need to keep a few pointers in mind.

Some properties might have legal restrictions that keep floor plans confidential due to privacy concerns. You need to make sure that you have the right to access this information to avoid getting into any legal trouble.

The floor plans of much older houses might not be available using the methods we’ve shared above. For these, you might want to drop by a local library and archives or get in touch with historical societies that might have preserved the original floor plans. 

Cross-check your data. Even if the results from a real estate agent seem to be accurate, try using a reverse look-up tool to verify them. This will give you greater peace of mind, knowing you have the right information.

By following these steps and considering these additional points, you’ll be able to find a floor plan for any house in no time.