When people are on the search for a new home to buy, often they wind up frustrated and tired. Buying a home can be a very exciting time for just about anyone, but the process of trying to find the perfect house that your family wants and needs is typically both time consuming and mentally exhausting. You may find a great home in the perfect location, but with the wrong floor plan, or the one has a great backyard, but the kitchen is too small. There are many times people end up buying a home that they are not 100% satisfied with because it fits many of their qualifications, and the few lacking they feel they can either live without or change. So many times they feel that it would be easy to just knock out the back wall and make the family room bigger. The sad truth is not only are these kinds of drastic changes in your home a huge mess, but they are usually pretty disruptive to your daily living. This is why getting the perfect house plans and building your home to your specifications should be the way to go.

There are many companies out there that provide basic house plans you can tweak here and there to create your dream home, but many of them are ‘cookie-cutter templates,’ so it is pertinent that you review your options so you are not ‘settling’. Another option is to talk with a professional that can draw you up exactly what you want, whether it is 4 bedrooms, a huge kitchen with an adjacent laundry room, or a Jacuzzi in the upstairs master bath. You decide how you want your house to be laid out, what amenities you need, and that is what you will get.

One of the great things about having a variety of house plans to choose from and customize is that it gets you thinking about what it is you truly desire. There are many times that someone thinks they do not want a formal dining room, but once they see a floor plan with it they change their mind. The important thing to do is sit down with your family and discuss what everyone is wanting in the home. Then look at what is actually needed in the home. While it’s important to get everyone’s opinions to take everything into consideration, you need to look at the long term. After you have discussed what everyone wants and needs, then you want to look to the future and figure out what you will need 10 years from now. Buying a home is not a short term decision, so thinking ahead prevents regrets when the kids are older. You want to ensure that your home is sufficient for a long term basis.

The most important thing to consider when building your home with house plans is your budget. There are too many people that end up building more houses than they can afford. While it is very important that you are completely happy with what is a life time purchase, you want to make sure that you are able to pay for it, and live comfortably within your means so you don’t risk losing your dream home in the event of a layoff or illness.

If you are interested in looking at house plans for your build, then please check out the extensive selection and customization options we have here at Monster House.

A blog discussing the benefits of pre-designed houseplans.

If you decide to build your own home there are two things you can do when trying to decide on a design: you can create completely custom houseplans with the help of an architect or you can choose from an array of professionally pre-designed houseplans.  The obvious caveat here is that pre-designs will be much cheaper than custom, from scratch ones.  The great thing about using a pre-designed plan however, is that you know it’s been done by professionals and it’s not set in stone.

Once you decide on the houseplans you like, you can discuss with your builder the potential of moving the location of a room, abolishing a room entirely or rearranging a room with pre-set fixtures (like a kitchen) to something that suits your personal style better.  Just because you choose to use houseplans that are already drafted up, doesn’t mean you can’t add custom touches.

Houseplans will be a very important part of your home building experience so you want to make sure you choose plans or design plans that will include all your necessities.  It’s also important to think ahead.  If you intend to be in this home for the long haul, you’ll want to consider things such as an expanding family, room for guests, accessibility, storage and resale value.  Although this may be your long term family home, once your nest is empty you might just find that it is far too much space for you to continue to maintain.  If you think that you would like to stay in the family home well past your retirement years then you may want to consider things such as including additional major amenities on the ground floor.  Having a master bedroom and ensuite-bathroom on the main floor will be an asset in later years if injuries, illness or infirmity make it difficult for you to climb stairs. Thinking about these things this far in advance will help you choose houseplans that suit you and your family throughout the various stages of life.

Your houseplans will also dictate your lot size or vice versa.  If you have pre-purchased a plot of land to build on then you will need to choose houseplans that will be appropriate for that plot. If you bought a long narrow strip of land then building a sprawling mansion will be out of the question.  Similarly, if you do want to build a large home, you will have to shop around to find the appropriate space for it.  Urban developments are tightly packed, with neighbor’s just feet away so if you want big, you might have to build up, rather than out! If you would like to avoid the urban jungles that you will have to go rural to find land big enough to accommodate your home – the biggest issue with this is expense.  The more land you need, the more you are going to pay for it.  You also need to consider that rural land will need to be electrified and have a lot of prep work done well in advance of building unless it was previously used for a residence.  Take all of these things into consideration when designing your home budget; otherwise you may break the bank before the foundation is even laid!

You have finally made the decision to build your dream home and you are overwhelmed with the large selection of house floor plans available; you have not even started yet. Read on to learn what to do to narrow down the choices.

With all the options out there when choosing floor plans, it can be hard to know where you should begin.  Then there is always that possibility that you find a few house floor plans that you like but they are either too expensive or need some minor changes to be able to work.  Since this is most often the case, you will want to read these pointers on how to choose the best house floor plans for you and your family.  With the right calculations and choices, you may still be able to keep some money in the bank.

What does my family need in a new home?  This is the first question you will want to ask yourself before you begin to even look at house floor plans.  How many bedrooms?  How many bathrooms? How many square feet?  These are all questions that will need to be answered in order to narrow down the search for house floor plans.

One of the biggest mistakes a person makes when beginning to look for house floor plans is guessing what size home they need or choosing a home style based on something they have never seen in person.  This is a mistake because it is vital that considerations be made for other options including personal family needs.  It is also critical to establish a budget that you are able to afford comfortably without it being a strain on the family finances.

Once you have gotten these things out of the way it is important to start your research with the average cost of house floor plans. One way to do this is to contact a few different builders in your area and get an estimate on square foot pricing from them.  It is important to remember that this is an estimate and not the final pricing.  You will also want to ask the difference in costs between getting a single level home in comparison to getting a multi level home.  Often times a multi level home costs less per square foot.

The great thing about floor plans is usually you can have minor changes done to make it the perfect house for your family.  If you have found house floor plans that you love but the laundry room is in the wrong area, many times the company will try to adjust the plans for a small fee.  Changing room sizes or location can also be changed if needed.  If the changes become too drastic then it might be time to choose different house floor plans that will possibly take less work to adapt to the needs of the family.

Choosing to build a home can be a very exciting but scary time and the number of house floor plans out there is very intimidating.  Taking some of these tips to start off can help narrow down your search and help you find the perfect house floor plans for you and your family.
If you are thinking about building your own home, we have all the possible house floor plans you can imagine to choose from, over 23,000. The selection of house floor plans is top of the line and all architectural designs are available for your satisfaction.

You can customize our house plans to meet your criteria.

So you’ve been going through house plans and you have finally found the one that you want…sort of.  It’s perfect, except for a few small details.  You can’t find anything closer to your ideal, but if you could just make a few adjustments, you would be truly happy with your choice.  Relax!  All of our house plans are customizable.

Wait!  Before you rush off to pencil in that double spiral staircase there are a few things you need to know about customizing house plans.

Are you familiar with the term load bearing wall?  Let’s put it this way.  You don’t want to knock one of those down.  Opening up a space by removing a wall is a common way people customize house plans, but if that involves removing a load bearing wall, your house becomes structurally unsound.  You don’t have to be an architect to make changes to your plan, because we have ones on call for you.  If you are worried about the potential damage from removing walls or beams noted in your plan, talk it over with one of our architects.  They will be happy to help you make changes.  For example, if it is a load bearing wall you want to remove, perhaps columns or an archway could be installed to keep the house structurally sound.

Adding bathrooms, creating guest suites and changing up your building materials are all ways you can customize your house plans.  Before you install that five foot fountain in your foyer, however, check to see how much cost your additions are adding to the price of the plans.  You will also need to add the cost of your additions into your cost to build.  Alternately, removing elements may actually save you money.  Our trained staff can discuss costs with you as you customize your house plans.

Don’t be afraid to run your ideas past a designer.  If you are looking to add something special to your house plans, like a theatre or private pub, you will need to pay attention to things like flow and access in addition to color and décor.  Book a consultation with a designer to get ideas on how to install a major feature into your house plans.  The consultant may recommend using basement space, or over-garage space.  They may hint at direct access off the kitchen for easy access to treats or they may suggest extra wide doorways so equipment can be moved in and out of the room with ease.  They will also have suggestions on how to design the room so it can be re-purposed at a later date, if necessary.

You may also want to run your customizations past a real estate agent.  Sure, a built in fish tank may be just the thing for you, but it may take away from the resale value of the house.  If the customizations you choose for your house plans are only suited to a narrow niche of home buyers, talk with our architects about ways your customizations can be easily renovated if you plan to sell at a later date.

Most important of all, have fun.  This is your house and your house plans.  Enjoy the process of making it unique to you.  We have the resources you need to quickly and easily customize your plan into the plan of your wildest dreams.

Browsing house floor plans is exciting but you need to stay organized so you can remember your favorite ones.

Is it that special time in your life when you get to look at house floor plans?  Much like the day you go shopping for your wedding dress or the day you get your first car or the keys to your first apartment, the first time you go looking for the plans that will eventually be your home is one of the most exciting and memorable days in your life.  Unfortunately, much like the first time you shop for your wedding dress (or tuxedo for the gentlemen!) or for your first car, you can become completely overwhelmed with all the options.   Here are some easy ways you can stay organized while looking at house floor plans.

•    Make a budget:  You can’t have a dream home that you cannot afford.  That is not a dream home; that is a financial nightmare.  The stress of living paycheck to paycheck and in constant dread of anything that will strain your tight budget (appliance breakdowns, car repairs, time off work due to illness) will cause you to resent your money pit of a home.  No matter what your budget, there is a house out there that has most, if not all, of the elements you need.  Before you start looking at house floor plans, decide just how much house you can realistically afford.

•    Separate needs and wants: You can customize house floor plans to have every whim you can imagine, but is an oversized dining room more important than ample storage?  Think about your lifestyle, your family and the ways you need your house to function for you.  If you have social children, perhaps you want a basement where they can hang out with their friends.  Love to socialize?  Then a theatre room or large parlor is for you.  Plan your home for form and function before you add in your wants.  Needs are things you must have to make your home work for you.  Wants are things that are nice to have, but you can live without.  Both needs and wants come with a price tag, so plan accordingly and stay on budget.

•    Search online:  Once you have a realistic budget in place and know what elements you want and need in your home, it is time to start browsing house floor plans.  Doing so online is the most efficient way to see all your options.  Here at Monster House Plans we have many ways to keep you organized while choosing from among our over 20,000 plans.  Our advanced search allows you to view only the plans that fit your criteria.  You can save plans that you like in a favorites list that is accessible to you each time you log in.

•    Get information from reliable sources:  You are going to have questions as you narrow your selection of house floor plans to your one dream home.  Questions about an investment of this importance should only be handled by the experts.  At Monster House Plans, you can talk to an architect, not a call center agent, to ensure your questions are properly addressed.

We love house floor plans, which is why we have over 20,000 of them!  That is a big number, but a few simple steps is all it takes to keep from being overwhelmed as you find the plan that is perfect for you.

Houses these days come in any size or shape that you can dream up, and throughout history, we have been left the legacy of some beautiful homes that have been popular at various times in the past. Today’s dream house floor plans draw on the gifts of those historical homes from all over.

House Plan 12-747

English country house floor plans draw on the love and romance of the old English countryside, and the great literary traditions. Remember Pride and Prejudice, or The Remains of the Day, Downton Abbey, Atonement—the manors and the cottages. The grand manor houses were places for relaxing by the fireplace with a glass of sherry after a day of rambling through the countryside. They had multiple rooms, many wings, servant’s quarters and libraries. The cottages were full of warmth and rustic charm. Think timber frames, brick construction, and sloping roofs for this house floor plan. Forget the thatching for the roof though. Today’s English country house floor plans use shingles – a safe and effective way to protect the house while keeping all of that old country charm.

House Plan 8-523

French country houses were farmhouses, but with elegance, grace and style. They used natural materials, rough plaster and wood for the construction and the furniture. Large rooms and French doors and windows allow you to grandly throw open the shutters and welcome the world into your home.

House Plan 37-249

When you think of an Italian house plans, you think of the garden that is easily accessible from the house – wide doors that open up to a stone patio that is an outdoor extension of the kitchen, for a large family meal or just for easy access to the herb garden. Stonework, low-pitched, flattened roofs, tall with many stories, and maybe even a cupola are the attractions of this house floor plan.

Gables, cornices, friezes and columns. White paint. These set the Greek Revival house floor plans apart from the others. Imagine a cultured back garden with tiled pathways and a few statues. What do you think of when you see a red-tiled roof, arches over the windows and doors, exposed wooden beams and glorious color inside? How about a Spanish hacienda? Spanish house floor plans look part of the scenery in hot climates, and their deeply shaded porches make them inviting.

House Plan 68-116

All of these styles, from all over the world, have their place in America’s housing history. But America has some house styles of its own that are popular as well. The Cape Cod House Plans from New England that were popular in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. These are small, economical and charming. Early American style house floor plans incorporate many of the historical stylings of the past. But other houses show purpose or need of the area in their style, such as the log house, ranch house and beach house floor plans.

House floor plans can be anything. This listing is not all of the styles of house floor plans available at Monsterhouseplans.com. They have over 22,000 different styles to choose from, and each one could easily be the house of your dreams. All of these plans and more can match your style, whether you are looking for a casual relaxed home, or an ornamental, opulent luxury house. Take a look that the styles and see what you can dream.

The house you dream of can be yours with the right house plan. Let yourself go with your dreams and then let the house plans you choose fit the dream.

All of us, at some time in our lives, have dreamed of living in a luxury home. What does the luxurious home of your dreams look like? How is it laid out, and what rooms will be inside it? Can you imagine it right away, or do you need to look at some luxury floor plans to get you started?

Let’s start with the rooms – what do you dream of? How many bedrooms will you have in your house plans? How many bathrooms? How big will they be, and what will be inside them? Walk-in closets, of course, an en suite spa with whirlpool tubs and a steam room. Beautiful, but dream bigger. How about a grand entertainment room with a big screen and comfortable arm chairs, a yoga studio or an exercise room—or both?

You will need servants’ quarters in your house plans, a butler’s pantry, and guest quarters. You’ll want them. Your dream house is going to attract a lot of guests. So you’ll also want a big kitchen with a chef and doors opening out into the garden beyond for fresh vegetables and herbs.

Just imagine these other elements of your house plans: the entry way, the long, curving driveway with the shiny sporty car parked in front, the steps leading up to the front entrance with its grand doors made of polished wood and glass that sweep open to reveal a graceful, curving staircase leading up to the second floor. Oh, and you’ll want an elevator, too, so that staircase doesn’t get all cluttered up with people. The elevator will lead down into the wine cellar, which you will keep stocked with all the best of France and Italy.

There will be a beautiful view, naturally, and landscaping. Think carefully planned, meticulously kept landscaping with cut green lawns, stone pathways, and courtyards. How about a tennis court, or swimming pool, or trails through the trees? Don’t forget to include the landscaping in your house plans.

There must be a library in your house plans. One with walls of books and sliding ladders moving along the shelves. There should be long wooden tables in the center of the room, comfy armchairs off to one side, near the fireplace, and windows that let in the light and the view.

What do you think? Is that your luxury house? Can you dream it bigger? Or is that too much house for your family? Even if a luxury house may not be where you’re heading, you don’t have to let go of all of your ideas. You can enjoy some of these elements in any of the house plans that may become your dream house. You can build in some of the features, the ones that are important to you and your family, and let the others go. Monster House Plans has a lot of house plans to choose from—over 22,000 are available. One of those might be your dream home, but if none of them are quite right, they can be. All plans can be modified to your desires, tweaked to become your dream. They have an architect available who has a lot of experience and has heard it all. He can answer all your questions and make sure that the home you dream of is the one you plan.