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ewhlm

Has anyone had any experiences with Monsterhouseplans.com?

10 years ago

We are planning to build a home in Massachusetts and are considering the following house plan with modifications:
https://www.monsterhouseplans.com/house-plans/bungalow-style/2968-sq-ft-home-2-story-5-bedroom-3-bath-house-plans-plan1-334.html
I have only found one review from 2013 on the internet and it wasn't very good so I am looking for additional feedback. I am wondering how they are to work with, if they are timely and if they deliver a final quality product that we can submit to builders to quote and build. Thank you for any and all feedback.

Comments (5)

  • 10 years ago

    I have no experience with house plan sites but I have designed many houses in MA. Check to see if the design you like is available in the foundation design for your site.

    The sample drawing set is impressive but I doubt they would be ready for bidding without modification so it might be best to buy the digital version for the extra $800 and hire someone to modify it. That might be a builder (if you negotiate a contract instead of bidding). a designer or an architect. Issues like lateral bracing, snow loads and HVAC are noted on the plan site as not addressed by the plan company. Make sure the digital format is a common one like AutoCAD rather than Revit, etc.

    The plan is good and the exterior design isn't bad but it seems to be trying to force a Colonial Revival house to be a Craftsman without much success.

    Good luck with it.

    ewhlm thanked User
  • 10 years ago

    No advice for online plans but I like the layout of the house. The living and dining rooms are a little small so you might want to consider how you are going to use them. Because the living room is 13x12 I would not want it to be 18+ feet high (2 stories).

    ewhlm thanked User
  • 10 years ago

    No advice here either but here are some things to think about.

    The dining room says 13'6" x 12'. Except the usable space for placing a table and chairs when accounting for walking room is actually 7'6" long x 6' because you need to assume 3' from each wall for walking around a table with chairs.

    Same problem in the nook, except in the nook you also have the only doors out to the backyard.

    Then the question is do you need 3 small separate living spaces downstairs plus a dining nook, the island with bar seating and the dining room? Are you really going to use all three dining spaces where they're worth spending the money for the space or could the space be better utilized by, as an example, combining the two dining spaces into one larger space and having the dining space and the seating at the island?

    Upstairs the master bedroom shares a bedroom wall with bedroom 4. And the only wall for the master bed to go on is against the wall shared with bedroom 4. That could um, get embarrassing.

    Bedroom 3 has the toilet against its wall. It also has its closet against the outside wall. A wall that would be better used by having an additional window. Bedroom 3 says the width is 11'2" but with the closet and desk that space is actually 9'2".

    Bedroom 2 says it's 10'10" but the usable space because of the closet makes it only 8'8" and with the bifold doors, you need to account for those too.

    The prime corner real estate is taken up not with the master bedroom but with the master bath.


  • 10 years ago

    All the above comments are very helpful and they have emphasized some of my concerns. I have been thinking of bringing the plan to an architect to draw up something similar. Although I have been comparing the size of the rooms with what we currently have to get perspective and have been concerned about the size. I have been interested in this plan for various reason (and have waded through hundreds to figure out what I want). I am attempting to have most of the living area spill onto the back of the house which will be a patio facing the East down a field with a view. The walk out will actually be on the right side along the kitchen and dining. There are more rooms than we need and they are on the small side. I do like the craftsman style and don't know enough about other styles to determine if it's Colonial Revival as well. I have also been concerned about the Master bedroom not having windows on two walls since I am a firm believer of cross flow of air through rooms and I didn't think about the sharing of the wall...thanks:). I will rethink this plan... ugghh. If anyone has a recommendation to share for an architect in Western MA, I would greatly appreciate it. Someone knowledgeable, affordable and attentive. We have a structural engineer in the family so that won't be needed. We have gone through this process once before very successfully - obtaining a plan and submitting with specs to builders to quote. I just need to come up with a plan.

  • 10 years ago

    Maybe JDS knows someone in your neck of the woods.