Category Archives: House plans stuff

One of the most frequent inquiries we get in our sales of house plans is ‘do the plans include electrical’. The answer to that is yes, almost always. Yes because most designers include location of lights, plugs and switches according to codes in effect at the time the plan was drawn. We qualify this with ‘almost always’ because we have some designers who design for up-scale builders and their contractors don’t want the standard electrical stuff on the plans.

In this day and age, most people want to plan where they want switches, outlets, ceiling fans, specialty lighting, etc. Electricians prefer to locate outlets and switches after consulting with their customer and don’t want to have to scratch off the generic stuff. Electrical panels are conveniently located near where the service comes to the house.

If you live in a home built prior to 1990, have you ever said to yourself “I wonder why this builder didn’t allow for extra outlets here in the kitchen”. Or, if you have limited mobility, wonder why the switches and plugs aren’t placed more conveniently on the walls. Or, decided to put in a ceiling fan and had to go through the hassle of pulling electric to the ceiling? The reason for this is because tract homes allowed for only what was required by code at the time the home plans were created.

Monsterhouseplans offers over 18,000 exciting floor plans that are, in most cases, ready to build and can also be modified to fit your exact requirements.

Perhaps the largest draw to the most popular house plans is the inclusion of “flex space” or multi-functional rooms. As families grow and change the requirements placed upon the rooms within your dream house change as well, and modern home design trends reflect this need. But beyond open floor plans and undefined spaces, there is also a rising tide of home furnishings and built-in options that can transform a room quickly and easily.

Multi-Functional Furniture:

The murphy bed is back! This relic from early American living spaces is growing in popularity and

Multi-Functional

The ultimate space-saver!

the designs are better than ever. A bed that pulls down from the wall is perhaps the most straightforward space saver available. When not in use, the bed folds away to reveal a desk and work space, or cabinets, or enclosed shelves for attractive storage.

Sofa beds also are once again in high demand. With an eye towards more intimate details and cozy furnishings, a living room quickly transforms into overnight guest accommodations. An antique bow-front chest or refinished dresser makes a lovely display piece and offers short-term storage for your house guests.

 

Multi-Functional Rooms

 

multi-functional spaces

Bookshelves lend a scholarly and cozy feel to this bright dining room.

A formal dining room is a lovely addition to any dream house plan, but it can also feel like poorly used square footage if it is only occupied once or twice each year for a large meal. Consider lining the walls of a formal dining room with built in bookshelves for a library feeling. With the addition of a farm-style table the dining area easily doubles as a work space or home office.

Family rooms can be big spaces and it’s not difficult to get a little lost in all the open space. Rethink the ways furniture is placed in great rooms; with a little out of the box thinking a large open room can be divided into smaller spaces better suited to your family’s needs. Tall book cases placed at right angles to the walls act as non-permanent room dividers; a couch located in the center of the room allows for a workspace or exercise area to share the living room.

 

Imagining Your Dream Home

There are so many practical decisions to make when buying a house plan and planning the home building project, so many variables that need to be considered and worked through. But one of the most important things to make space for in the planning process is for some creative-level open-minded envisioning of your future in your dream home. In between the details, find some time to day dream about how you will spend your time within the walls you’ve had custom built, and ask yourself some specific, open-ended questions:

Where do you tend to spend the most time when you’re at home: Family room? Kitchen? Back yard?

What do you wish you could do in your home now that space doesn’t allow for: Home office, perhaps?

How does your family move through your home, and where do you all tend to come together: During mealtimes? On weekend mornings? Around a kitchen island while cooking meals?

If it were possible, what unusual features would you want in your dream home: A spiral staircase? A tower room?

What are some small features that would make a huge impact on your daily home life: Bay window seats? Lots and lots of storage hidden in clever ways?

How do you imagine your life changing in the next decade: Is your family growing? Getting smaller? Will you consider working from home and/or beginning your own company?

Are animals a part of your life now or in the future? What kinds of needs will they have: built-in dog runs? A cat yard? Outside structures for chickens or goats?

To build a dream home is to make manifest the imaginings of your collective family. And while it takes focus and practicality to pull it all together, the early stages should be joyous and the ideas free-flowing. Especially when you are working with designers who offer customized house plans. Many of the seemingly “crazy ideas” are, in fact, quite possible and easy to accomplish when you work with your designer on implementing your vision. Having foresight when building your dream home is equal parts rationality and creativity; for best results, use both sides of the brain for this project.

The process of building a house requires a lot of careful planning and thought, especially while deciding on the floor plans. The process of finalizing a floor plan can be challenging, but it can be made easier if you follow the steps given below:

Specify your budget

This is probably the most important factor of deciding your home plans. You need to set a specific amount as your budget and ensure that you do not exceed it at any cost. By setting a budget, you would have a better idea of what you can and cannot add to your home floor plans.

Consider your lifestyle and family requirements

When you are working on the floor plans for your home, you need to ask yourself what you liked and disliked in your previous house. You should consider your lifestyle in your previous home and try to add some aspects from that in your new home. Moreover, your lifestyle may change drastically if you have just married or got a promotion or a new job. In simple terms, your house plans have to suit your lifestyle requirements. If you live with your family, then it is not just your lifestyle that matters. Ask your family members what they want from the house and include their inputs in your home plans.

Think about the location of your house

The final important factor you need to think about is the location of your house. The shape and size of the house, the arrangement of the rooms and everything else depends on the location of your home. The direction of each room in the floor plans also needs to be determined. Even if you do not believe in the astrological implications, you need to consider the effect of the prevalent climate and noise. For example, your bedroom would have to be fitted with an overhang if the climate is always sunny, and it would also have to be placed away from the noise so that there is no disturbance while sleeping.

At MonsterHousePlans, we made the plan searching job really easy for you. You can search plans from our database of more than 22000 plans. Visit https://www.monsterhouseplans.com/house-plans-advanced-search.html to search and get an appropriate plan for your house.

 

MonsterHouseplans.com, a Planworks, LLC company and a leading supplier of stock house plans online, announced today that the company’s house plan collection now exceeds 22,000 premium plans. The milestone was reached with the recent addition of over 1,000 new house plans and includes designs from several top architects and home designers in North America. Achieving this milestone represents the fast growth the company continues to experience by striving to provide the best selection of high quality house plans and the very best customer experience.  This is being achieved by our efforts to constantly update the website to provide the most efficient methods of finding the perfect house plan, while filtering out the plans that do not have the features the customer is looking for.

“We are very excited to now offer our customers over 21,000 high quality house plans,” said Jeff Spring, Founder and CEO of Planworks. “We look forward to building upon the momentum created through the active support of our designer community, and maintaining a focus on our mission of establishing ourselves as the leading destination site for smart owner-builders and professional home builders.  This is a remarkable milestone for MonsterHouseplans. Our proactive efforts to cultivate strong relationships with top designers and architects enable us to add exciting new house designs to our site every day. This ensures our customers have the most extensive selection of exceptional house plans to choose from, as well as on demand professional assistance with any related topic.”

 

Monster Cost-to-BuildMonsterHousePlans.com, a leading online supplier of stock and small house plans, announced today it has launched three new Monster Cost-to-Build™ services. The new Cost-to-Build services provide very accurate cost estimates for construction of each of its 20,000+ plans for every zip and postal code in the US and Canada. And, in an industry first, detailed home construction cost reports can be calculated interactively online in real time. Instant Cost-to-Build calculates detailed and accurate cost to build reports instantaneously with a few button clicks. It includes the ability to interactively select the quality of construction and foundation type and view adjusted costs in real-time. Click here to find out more about these services.  Monster Cost-to-Build

MonsterHousePlans.comMonsterHouseplans.com, a Planworks, LLC company and a leading supplier of stock and craftsman house plans online, announced today that the company’s house plan collection now exceeds 20,000 premium plans. The milestone was reached with the recent addition of over 3,000 new house plans and includes designs from several top architects and home designers in North America. Achieving this milestone represents the fast growth the company continues to experience.

“We are very excited to now offer our customers over 20,000 high quality home plans,” said Jeff Spring, Founder and President of Planworks. “We look forward to building upon the momentum created through the active support of our designer community, and maintaining a focus on our mission of establishing ourselves as the leading destination site for smart owner-builders and professional home builders.”

I recently read the following excerpt from Reuters and www.positiveeconomicnews.com    ” The U.S. economy appears to have stabilized and may not need all the stimulus the central bank had planned to offer, Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Lacker said on Thursday.
“The economy appears to have leveled out and I believe we can look forward to better times ahead,” Lacker told a business group.”
There is still a lot of pain out there, but I think our darkest days are behind us. We at  MonsterHousePlans are optomistic about the future.

I recently read the following excerpt from Reuters. The U.S. economy appears to have stabilized and may not need all the stimulus the central bank had planned to offer, Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Lacker said on Thursday.

“The economy appears to have leveled out and I believe we can look forward to better times ahead,” Lacker told a business group.”

There is still a lot of pain out there, but I think our darkest days are behind us. We at  MonsterHousePlans are optomistic about the future.


WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sales of newly built U.S. single-family homes in October rose more than expected to their highest level in a year, data showed on Wednesday, pointing to a stabilizing housing market after a three-year slump.

The Commerce Department said sales jumped 6.2 percent to a 430,000 annual pace, the highest since September last year, from an upwardly revised 405,000 in September.

Read the full story here…

Today, homeowners are expanding their home’s square footage to accommodate growing families. As houses get bigger, so do basements—so much that they’re an essential part of many households across the United States. In fact, more homeowners have been converting their basements into finished spaces so they’re fit for offices, entertainment spaces, guests, and plenty of extra storage.

If you need that extra space, then creating a finished basement like a daylight or walk-out is a great option. But then the question becomes: What type of basement do you need for your house?

How Homes Evolved to Use Underground Spaces

In ancient times, people needed a place to store their water, wine, and food without fear of getting spoiled. Since ground temperatures are typically much cooler than above ground, the idea of digging an extra floor underground became commonplace. 

At this point, basements were crawl spaces designed for vegetables and other types of food. Eventually, they evolved into cellars, which allowed for standing, walking, and more storage. Later on, cellars evolved into storage for significant home systems, like boilers, heaters, electric systems, laundry rooms, and more. When industrialization became popular in the United States in the 1950s, basements were built into thousands of family homes.


This design is a daylight AND walk-out basement.

However, geography plays a big role in basements. You won’t find them everywhere. In certain areas, basements are rare because of flooding. They are also less common in colder regions because basement foundations needed to be built below the frost line.

Common Types of Basements

Basements can look entirely different from one another. Some may be an untouched, bare space to store necessities, whereas others can be completely renovated into living areas that can accommodate extra bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, and entertainment spaces. Some basements are even used as a studio or one-bedroom rentals in major cities.

“Materials and technology have really improved in recent years,” says Michelle Simms, chief operating officer of Terramor Homes. “Now, when you are in the basement, you feel like you are in the rest of the house.” 

Depending on the size, standing height, and window or door capacity, different basements can be used in different ways. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of basements in family homes today. 

Crawlspace

A crawlspace is a small space accessible through either a small door or hatch that is only a couple of feet in height. Hence its name, there is no standing room because its sole purpose is to provide limited access to critical systems like plumbing. This makes conversion into a living space difficult and expensive.  

Cellar

Cellars only stretch across a small portion of the home as they are primarily used for cold storage for produce, wine, and preserved foods. Cellars are of standing height, so bringing items in and out for storage is simple.


This design is a daylight AND walk-out basement.

Cellar (regular basement) vs. no basement vs. crawl space

Unlike crawlspaces, cellars are easy to convert to a living space. Homeowners can decide if they want to turn the cellar into a single room or extend it further underneath the house for multiple areas. However, there may be necessary foundation adjustments if you want to turn your cellar into a daylight or walk-out basement. 

Daylight

Daylight basements are a basement where either half the space is underground while the rest is above ground, or the basement is almost completely above ground. It’s common for daylight basements to have small windows or even full-sized windows.

This plan is a daylight basement, but not a walk-out basement.

Many daylight spaces are unfinished, but it’s not too hard to convert them into comfortable living spaces. You’ll have to add electrical outlets, lighting, insulation, paint, and flooring. If you want to add an external door, then you’ll have to convert the space to a walk-out basement. 

Walk-Out

Walk-out basements are similar to daylight basements, but they have an external door that leads to the outside. If the basement is partially underground, then a small staircase leads the door up to the exterior ground level. They typically have full-size windows, depending on whether or not half the foundation is underground.

This design is a daylight AND walk-out basement.

Many homeowners have walk-out basements as a secondary living space that leads to the backyard. If you already have a daylight basement, then converting it into a walk-out basement can be a rather simple project.

The Difference Between Daylight and Walk-Out Basements

Both daylight and walk-outs are basements that may be partially underground. Both can be converted into legal, comfortable living spaces. Both are often situated on sloping lots. So what exactly is the difference? 

The difference is simply whether you can exit the basement to the outside or not. Other than having an exit door to the outside space, these two are essentially the same. 

But does it really matter if you have a daylight or walk-out basement? Here’s how one exterior door can make all the difference. 

Daylight Basements

Either entirely or partially underground, daylight basements are a great addition to any home. With daylight basements, all the ceilings are of living height, so you can add bedrooms, entertainment spaces, offices, bathrooms—all while still accommodating any storage space you need for major systems.


This design is a daylight AND walk-out basement.

Traditional House Plan 53-117

Daylight basements get their name from one main thing, and it’s the fact that they bring in more sunlight than other traditional basements, like cellars or crawl spaces. They typically have half-sized or full-sized windows, depending on the foundation height and slope of the property. 

When following proper city codes, daylight basements can be turned into legitimate bedroom spaces. So if you already have an unfinished cellar, then little work must create a house with a daylight basement.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Daylight Basements

Daylight basements are a great addition to any house, and there are plenty of benefits that come along with them. Buying a home or adding a daylight basement allows for more versatility, plus they also add to your home’s value and are even less expensive than walk-out basements. 

However, daylight basements have their own set of drawbacks that are important to consider before construction begins. Because of the added square footage, daylight basements can increase your property taxes. There also isn’t a separate entrance, and the natural sunlight may vary depending on the home’s direction and slope. 

Benefit #1: They Allow for More Versatile Rooms

Daylight spaces allow for plenty of natural sunlight throughout the entire floor, making them perfect as additional living areas or storage spaces. Most homeowners convert their basements into additional rooms, like:

  • Guest room space
  • Entertainment areas
  • Kids’ playroom
  • A practical place for a mechanical room
  • Extra office space
  • More closets for storage
  • Laundry room

Benefit #2: They Add To Your Home’s Value

While basements can be considered extra square footage, it does actually vary on the foundation height of your basement. 

“Only finished above-grade areas can be used in calculating and reporting of above-grade room count and square footage for the living space,” says mortgage specialist Fannie Mae.

Above-ground basements are typically calculated with ease. Depending on the amount that is underground, many basements add about half the cost of the rest of your home’s square footage. So, if your upstairs square footage was between $140 to $200 per square foot, then an above-ground basement may add $70 to $100 per square foot to your home’s value.  

Benefit #3: They Are Less Expensive Than Walk-Out Basements

Since daylight basements don’t require an outdoor exit, these are less expensive than walk-out basements. Daylight basements are already completely functional if they’re partially underground, which means no added excavation or foundation reconstruction is necessary.

Disadvantage #1: They Can Potentially Increase Your Property Taxes

Since basements that are up to code may be considered extra living space, this means that your home’s overall square footage goes up. When square footage goes up, so does your home’s value—which is a good thing, but that also means that your property taxes may be increased.

There are many ways that your local county may detect a change in your home’s value. They may conduct inspections, pull any permit applications from a remodeling project, or even receive reports from neighbors. 

Disadvantage #2: There Isn’t a Separate Entrance

Some people prefer combining their downstairs basement space with the outdoors. More often than not, basements are lined up perfectly with backyard spaces. However, daylight basements can’t fit an exterior door without significant construction, which takes away outdoor extension capabilities and rental options. 

Disadvantage #3: The Sunlight May Be Limited

Depending on the slope and direction of the home, there may be limited sunlight in the basement. Even if you have plenty of windows, your home’s positioning plays a significant role in how much sunlight you’ll actually get. So, if your basement windows are facing north, you might get minimal sunlight throughout the year—which might make for a difficult living or working space. 

Walk-Out Basements

Walk-out basements are like daylight basements, but at least one side is either flat or on a steep slope to allow an exit door to the outside from the basement level. They require some type of slope if the basement is partially underground, but it should be simple as long as the outdoor area doesn’t need to be excavated.


This design is a daylight AND walk-out basement.

Mountain Or Rustic House Plan 32-117

Some walk-out basements aren’t used for additional living space, but instead of an exterior door for storage and easy installation for major systems through doors called basement bulkhead doors, which allow for easy access.

Benefits and Disadvantages of a Walk-Out Basement

Walk-out basements are nothing like they were 50 years ago when they were mainly used for laundry and extra storage. Today, they’re held at the same standard as the other floors in the home, where it’s more attractive to have them finished like the rest of the house.

With that being said, walk-out basements are a great addition to any home. They can add value to your house, offer rental potential, and connect you to outdoor living spaces. It’s also good to keep in mind that walk-out basements may also increase your property taxes, require a particular slope to build on, and are more expensive than daylight basements. 

Benefit #1: They Add Value to Your Home

It’s not uncommon for walk-out basements to be called “the ground level” rather than a basement. This is because they’re treated like an extra living space—which is also why they’re generally more attractive to homebuyers.

This means that walk-out basements add extra value to your home. You already know that walk-out basements may be below-grade level (partially underground) or above-grade level area (on the ground floor). A good rule of thumb is that below-grade level spaces cost about half of your home’s square footage price. If your main floors are about $150 per square foot, your basement’s square footage would be $75. This also means that above-grade basements will be considered the same square footage cost as the rest of your home. 

Benefit #2: Walk-Out Basements Offer Rental Potential

Renting out a finished basement is a great way to generate extra income or get a fast return on your home purchase. Walk-out basements allow your tenants to have their own entrance so that there is plenty of privacy. 

The best part? If you decide to rent out your basement, then may be eligible for a 20% tax break!


This design is a daylight AND walk-out basement.

But to rent out the basement, you’ll need an egress. An egress is a building code term that means “exit,” which essentially means that there needs to be two separate exterior doors in the unit. An egress can be either a door or a window. One will be used as the main entry and exit, while the other is there for emergencies. 

Benefit #3: They Connect You to Other Living Spaces

One of the best features of walk-out basements is that you can enter and exit without going through the house. This can be helpful for privacy reasons, but it can also connect you to outdoor living spaces, like the backyard or patio.

Contemporary House Plan 5-872

This contemporary floor plans shows that the lower level (left) is a walk-out basement connecting to the outdoor patio via sliding doors

For many, walk-out basements are great for teen hangout spaces because it gets extended into the backyard. “For parents of teens, the house on a cul-de-sac with a walk-out is gold,” says Craig Vermeulen, vice president of operations at William Ryan Homes’ Wisconsin division.

Disadvantage #1: There May Be an Increase in Property Taxes

Adding more square footage to your home, unfortunately, also increases your property taxes. This is because as your home’s value increases, your property taxes will, too. It’s a good idea to run your numbers through a tax assessor to get an idea of how much your taxes may increase before starting your walk-out basement project. 

Disadvantage #2: They Require a Certain Slope

If the excavator needs to remove soil to add the exterior door to your basement, this will be a major added expense. So, while adding a walk-out basement may be an option on homes without steep enough slopes, the project will be more feasible on properties where the land already naturally slopes down toward the house’s back.

Disadvantage #3: They Are More Expensive Than Daylight Basements

Since walk-out basements require a certain slope, it’s normal for these types of construction projects to be more expensive because of potential excavation.

Walk-outs are also more expensive to build in cold climates because deep footings are required.

Which One Is For You?

When you’re purchasing a home or floor plan, you have to consider tons of features—with one of the essential ones being the type of basement you want. So before you choose between a daylight or walk-out basement, ask yourself how you’ll use this space, whether it’s for:

  • Guests
  • A secondary living space
  • Renting it out
  • Storage
  • Laundry
  • Activity, like a home gym or workshop

If you want to use your basement for rental opportunities, then you know that you’ll have to upgrade the space so that it’s up to code for inhabiting, like building an egress. But if you plan to use it for extra storage or an office, then perhaps adding an exterior door isn’t as important.


This design is a daylight AND walk-out basement.

As shown in this model, there needs to be a significant slope to add a walk-out basement

You’ll also need to consider your property’s slope. Walk-out basements won’t work for every home, so be sure to research whether or not a walk-out is plausible and if excavating those several extra feet is an expense you can afford. 

Conclusion

Both daylight and walk-out basements are a great addition to any home. They can both offer extra play space, workspace, and storage space. But adding that one exterior door can make all the difference in functionality and cost, which is why it’s essential to weigh your wants against your needs so that you can make the right decision.

The good news is that Monster House Plans has close to 3000 plans offering daylight or walk-out basements. And if a house plan you like doesn’t provide a walk-out or daylight basement, you can get the plan modified to your liking. All modification quotes are free, so start your search today!