Where are the Best Luxury Hotels in Uganda?

Where are the Best Luxury Hotels in Uganda?

Author: Twinomugisha Charles

Uganda being a landlocked country and with its bad record in late 1970th and early 80th, many people will not belief that there are many luxury hotels in such a country. But to assure you, Uganda is one of the countries that when you visit with you money, you may even forget to go back home. What ever makes a hotel a first class hotel is in Uganda? Uganda with its vast lake shores means that it has a chuck of land as beaches and many hotel like Speke Resort Munyonyo is one of such Hotels. Speke Resort is well built with a vast shore line on the shores of Lake Victoria and when you are there you may even forget that you are in Uganda.

Another hotel is Sheraton Hotel Kampala. This is one of the best International hotels in Africa. Situated on one of the Hills of Kampala, is an eye catching to every visitor to Uganda.Both traditional and International cuisines are served in these luxury hotels .Me as a teenager, I don’t see the reason why I cant visit one of these luxury hotels once in a while. You ask yourself “why others and not me”, I remember when I was still a student we went with my brother to Sheraton but after he told me that this hotel is just for rich people and I had to ask him whether he is rich. What he said was that, “once in a while, you should visit such a hotel and gauge yourself with the rich people.

One of the recent built hotel is Serena Hotel in Kampala. Let come what may, this is taken to be the most beautiful hotel in modern Uganda. Although it is situated in the middle of the city this does not compromise its services. As a frequent goer to Kampala hotels, I had to give it a test. If you talk to the locals in Kampala – they all tell you that the Serena is the best place in town. (In fact most people are saying that it is the best hotel in east Africa)

Granted it is expensive, but if you are looking to stay at one of the better Luxury hotels in Kampala – or indeed spoil yourself then Serena is a great choice

If it is out of your budget then it’s certainly a place you may want to visit for a drink one evening or even for a buffet lunch or dinner as its a lovely place to hang out .

Recommended: for visitors who want to enjoy the best views of the town, the superb location and all the luxuries this elegant Serena hotel has to offer, and for those who like modern architectural buildings.

If you are already in Uganda or you are planning to visit Uganda, don’t panic around with much worry, Ugandans are luxury lovers like you. And because of that, they are proud to give you a class above ordinary. Because of its good government, Ugandans are busy building new hotels for both foreign tourists and home market. So feel at home to visit Uganda and enjoy yourself in those luxury hotels

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/vacation-rentals-articles/where-are-the-best-luxury-hotels-in-uganda-679625.html

About the Author

Twinomugisha Charles is a Retired Tour and Travel Guide in Millennium Tours and Travel Company in Uganda and now works with E-Office Management a company that deals in Computers and Computer Accessories. More of his articles can be found at Luxury Hotels in Uganda and at Uganda Four Star Hotels Accommodation

Tips to Comfortable Accommodation Facilities in and Around Bwindi National Park in Uganda:

Tips to Comfortable Accommodation Facilities in and Around Bwindi National Park in Uganda:

Author: Twinomugisha Charles

It has never been easy to find accommodation in and around Bwindi national park in south western Uganda as it is today. Many people have embarked on the construction on Camping sites, Executive Hotels and Safari Lodges near Bwindi national park more than ever before.But first we need to know why everybody is busy flocking to this remote place in Uganda.

Bwindi is the only place in the world where the gorillas are found. This place is flooded by tourist throughout the year who wants to have a glimpse on these magnificent gentle giants of Uganda Congo and Rwanda. If you are one of those who would like to see these giant mammals in wild, it is time to book your visit to Uganda. These Gorillas have been habituated in both Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks that are both in Uganda.That was the introduction about why many hotels and places of accommodation are mushrooming at a breakneck speed in and around Bwindi national park in Uganda.This park in near the Kisoro town in Uganda. This town is composed of people from Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. It is the destination to visitors and travelers to these neighbour countries and to visitors’ who come to see these gorillas which are inhabited in 2 national parks of Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks.

It is also in this place that you will find the world known pygmies of Uganda in Africa (Batwa) or forest people. Many visitors real feel like they should have a look at these forest people in Africa and if you are among those who want to know the culture of these pygmies in Uganda , this is your time because the government of Uganda got them from the forest where they were leaving with the gorillas and they are now accommodated in Uganda .

Accommodation in and around Bwindi National Park:

These hotels and other places of accommodation are arranged in grades .This means that they are not only made for tourist only but also to the locals and the business people in general. There is this mentality of saying that accommodation facilities in and near tourist attractions are always expensive. But to this place, any accommodation that matches one’s pocket is there for a visitor.

It will depend upon your pocket which place of accommodation in Kisoro town and Bwindi National park to relax at. If you are one of those with good money, Kisoro town has the so called “first class hotels” where you will be pampered like a kid.For those of the middle class, there are also middle class hotels in and around Kisoro.For those who travel and visit on a squeezed budget, Bwindi national park accommodation facilities are for them also. There are many places around this place that engage in bed and breakfast facilities for those who are on tight budget. How about camping facilities for those who like “do it myself” they are also catered for. The only option is to book through the travel agents or through the internet. But you can also come in person and to assure you, you will never miss to get your perfect accommodation.

In conclusion therefore, it is high time you visit Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks to have a glimpse on these gentle giants because your dream of accommodation in and around these national parks have been answered by both the locals and the foreign investors who have come with a high gear to make you vacation in these parks a lasting memory both in accommodation and tourism facilitation.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/vacation-rentals-articles/tips-to-comfortable-accommodation-facilities-in-and-around-bwindi-national-park-in-uganda-711052.html

About the Author

About the Author
Twinomugisha Charles is a Retired Tour and Travel Guide in Millennium Tours and Travel Company in Uganda and now works with E-Office Management a company that deals in Computers and Computer Accessories. More of his articles can be found at Accommodation Facilities in Uganda and at The Best hotels in Kisoro Town Uganda

Uganda Gorilla safaris

By: James Muchina

Day One:
Morning departure for the south with stops at the craft village at the Uganda Equator for pictures and shopping. After lunch at the Lakeview hotel in Mbarara, proceed through the beautiful evergreen mountain country referred to as the “Little Switzerland”. Arrive late evening for dinner and overnight at Gorilla Resort Camp and Lodge. Meal Plan – Lunch and Dinner. TRANSIT TIME 8 – 10 HOURS.

Day Two:
Briefing by park ranger guides. Later with picnic lunch, start 30 minutes – 8 hours trek to find the Mountain gorillas. The tracking starts at the area where the gorillas were the previous day. After a full hour with the gorillas, return to your accommodations for dinner and overnight at Gorilla Resort
Camp and Lodge. Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day Three:
Transfers to Mbarara for lunch, later depart for Kampala. TRANSIT
TIME 8 – 10 HOURS.

3 DAYS QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Queen Elizabeth national park safaris Uganda, Uganda wildlife safari,3 Days Uganda Gorilla safari to Queen Elizabeth National park.

Day One:
Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. En route, you could stop by the Uganda Equator to take pictures or shop for a souvenir. After lunch at the Lake view Hotel in Mbarara, head for the East African Rift valley before arriving in Queen Elizabeth National park.

After an evening game drive, transfer to your accommodations for dinner and overnight either at Jacana Camp or Mweya Safari Lodge.

Day Two:
After an early morning cup of tea at 6:30am, depart for a game drive on the northerly parts of the park along the Kasenyi track. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action. Later, return for breakfast. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on the Kazinga for solitary Buffalo, Hippo and other animals at the edge of the channel as they cool off. European migrant birds like the terns and gulls congregate here in large flocks.

Dinner and overnight either at Jacana Camp or Mweya Safari Lodge.

Day Three:
After a relaxed breakfast, transfer to Kampala.

5 Days – Queen Elizabeth and Gorilla trekking safari

A combination of gorilla trekking and Queen Elizabeth National park Uganda. Uganda mountain Gorillas, Bwindi Gorilla trekking safaris , Uganda Gorilla Safari

DAY ONE
Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. En route, you could stop by the Uganda Equator to take pictures. After lunch at the Lake view Hotel in Mbarara, head for the East African Rift valley arriving in Queen Elizabeth National Park. After an evening game drive, transfer to your accommodations for dinner and overnight either at Jacana Camp or Mweya Safari Lodge.

DAY TWO:
After an early morning cup of tea at 6:30am, depart for a game drive on the northerly parts of the park along the Kasenyi track. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action. Later, return for breakfast. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on the Kazinga for solitary Buffalo, Hippo and other animals at the edge of the channel as they cool off. European migrant birds like the terns and gulls congregate here in large flocks.
Dinner and overnight either at Jacana Camp or Mweya Safari Lodge.

DAY THREE:
Have a relaxed breakfast, transfer to the gorilla sanctuary through this beautiful mountain scenery referred to as the little Switzerland. Dinner and overnight either at Gorilla Forest Camp or Mantana Bwindi Camp.

DAY FOUR:
After breakfast and briefing by park ranger guides. Later with picnic lunch, start a 30 minutes – 8 hours trek to find the Mountain gorillas. The tracking starts at the area where the gorillas were the previous day. After a full hour with the gorillas, return to your accommodations for dinner and overnight either at Gorilla Forest Camp or Mantana Bwindi Camp.

DAY FIVE:
After breakfast, transfer to Mbarara arriving in time for lunch at the Lakeview Hotel. Later head for Kampala and transfer to your accommodations.

About the Author

Muchina is a tour consultant with Beaverline Safaris a Nairobi based tour operator commited to giving its clients the best of services through its highly effient and dedicated stuff. For all your East Africa Travel needs kindly contact Beaverline safaris at info@beaverlinesafaris.com or visit our Website at http://www.beaverlinesafaris.com

(ArticlesBase SC #875668)

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Do You Know Who You are Working With When it Comes to Uganda Real Estate Agency and Property Management?

By: Twinomugisha Charles

Uganda real estate dealer say “better to be paying towards your own equity (ownership) than into your landlord’s pocket”. From an investment point of view, that is generally true—most people who buy a home develop vastly greater wealth than those who do not.On this page we shall give you free information on how, why and where to get the trusted estate dealers in Uganda.

We have seen that big number of Ugandans handles their home sale transactions themselves without a real estate agent; we believe that seeking the assistance of a real estate agent is the best way to sell or buy a house as this simplifies the terms of buying and selling. The real estate brokers have a lot of information at their disposal, about the market trends and the people most likely to buy the house depending on your neighborhood. So don’t handle this venture personal when there are experts in Uganda.

With this information, the property agents in Uganda will help you to buy or price your house accurately, advertise for you, reach a number of interested sellers or buyers, determine the most qualified buyer/seller and organize the details of a closing.

Uganda real estates help to discover potential buyers/sellers and negotiate with them about the prices, saving you the time and the mistakes that may cost you the money you are laboring to save.In Uganda, residential Real estate market is money-spinning since the prices have kept rising in the recent years. That’s to say, you can get what your house is worth.

Uganda Real estates dealers will help you sell or buy your property faster and at better prices yet saving much of your time that would be spent on looking for buyers or sellers who may even disappoint you.So, save your time and still get what your money or house is worth by contracting with one of the Uganda real estate agents They are polite, ready to work on weekends and answer calls all the time.

Uganda real estate agencies are the answer when you haven’t yet found the property you wish to buy, the first obvious advantage of utilizing a real estate agent is that usually they can efficiently find suitable properties or “listings” for you to consider.

If what you want isn’t currently on the market, a real estate agent may even locate suitable properties by mail-outs or knocking on doors in selected neighbourhoods. If you aren’t fixed on one location, a Uganda Real Estate agent can give you advice as to which locations are best from the point of view of future appreciation potential. Different locations and properties vary greatly in this respect.

One would think that buying or selling a property ought to be fairly straightforward most of the time. However, in practice almost every transaction seems to have problem to be dealt with and resolved. That’s one reason having a professional real estate salesperson on your side can be a tremendous asset.

One of the trickiest areas is the negotiation of price and terms. Experience has found that having the buyer and seller negotiate face-to-face is often disastrous. A lot of money is at stake, and the naturally high emotions can overwhelm the facts and create obstacles to finding a win-win agreement.

Besides helping you with searching for properties, with evaluating the pros and cons of specific properties, with negotiating favorable price and terms, and generally providing advice to help you make informed decisions, a Uganda real estate dealer can also orchestrate the many details of a real estate transaction as your advocate.

About the Author

Twinomugisha Charles is a Retired Tour and Travel Guide in Millennium Tours and Travel Company in Uganda and now works with E-Office Management a company that deals in Computers and Computer Accessories. More of his articles can be found at Uganda real estate dealers and at The economy of Uganda in Africa

(ArticlesBase SC #665817)

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Uganda, the Home of Gorilla Safaris and Primates

By: Kisaakye

With a belief by some historians that human kind started and evolved in East Africa, it’s not surprising that Uganda, a destination in this region is prominent for being a habitat to the great primates.

By description, Primates share with humans, flexible arms and legs, skilled fingers (and sometimes toes), and relatively big brains. The many species of apes, monkeys, and lemurs are among the primates. The chimpanzee for example is known for its being the closest living relative to humans. Half of the remaining Mountain gorillas in the world can only be seen in Uganda.

Uganda, besides the other East African countries has grown into a well recognized safari destination for tourists because of its moist climate and the enormous amount of rich, dense forests, that have made it a home to these species. Over 300 mammals, 20 of which are primates, both diurnal and nocturnal have been recorded and can be traced on a tour to Uganda through the Uganda safari companies.

Uganda’s primate inhabited forests are under threat of destruction, yet a number of species living in tropical forests is much higher than elsewhere making it hard for the primates to survive. A holiday to Uganda will give you an opportunity to see the great apes, chimpanzees, mountain gorillas and different species of monkeys.

Most rare of the primate is the mountain gorilla which inhabits Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in southwestern Uganda. Thousands of visitors travel to Uganda on Gorilla Safaris for a stunning experience with the Gorillas, the largest of all the primates.

The Chimpanzees, slightly smaller in size share 98% of human’s DNA and are found to be incredibly intelligent with the ability to understand and peak sign language. They inhabit most forest in western Uganda. You will have a chance to associate with them if you take a Uganda tour to Kibale National Park, Kuniyo Pabidi forest site near Murchison Falls National Park, as well as Ngamba Island chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria.

Five types of monkeys are found in Uganda including the colobus, guenons, baboons, patas and mangabeys. Some Guenon species are found every where in the country in addition to those found in the forest. Patas monkeys have a reddish brown coat, unlike the guenon’s grey coat and are restricted to northern Uganda in Kidepo and Murchison falls National Parks.

Baboons are easily identified because of their size and long canine teeth, are easily adaptable and are the most wide spread primates in Africa. The black and white colobus monkey is the most viewable in the forest strata and in the river woodlands.

A few of the primates in Uganda, for example the bushbaby and the potto are never seen by the tourists as they sleep during the day and are active at night (nocturnal). There are guided night walks at Kibale forest on which one can see these animals.

With all these primates, wildlife parks and forest reserves have been setup in Uganda to increase chances of continued existence of these animals in conjunction with travel and safari operators to facilitate tourists to carve up in the experience with the great primates.

As one can clearly notice, Uganda is a country endowed with Primates that differ noticeably. The International Primatogogical Society and the Uganda Wildlife Authority have worked to preserve wildlife parks and forest reserves so as to ensure the survival of these species.

About the Author

Kisaakye Irene, articles and resources can be found at Uganda Safaris, Uganda Tour ,Gorilla Safari ,
http://www.asyanuttours-safaris.com

(ArticlesBase SC #54648)

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Guide to Varieties of Accommodation Facilities in Uganda That are Beyond Imagination:

By: Twinomugisha Charles

As a country in the middle of the continent of Africa, very few people will not believe that accommodation in Uganda is of the highest class in the whole of the East African region. Many Visitors and travelers to East Africa have been ending up in Kenya or a Tanzania. But of recent, they have turned to Uganda and I’m sure some few years to come, Uganda tourism sector will grow and bypass that of Kenya and Tanzania.

Ugandans are very proud people and when it comes to competition, they do it with vigor. Of recent, new hotel accommodations have sprung up in every place in Uganda and by now all major towns in Uganda have a cruise of five star hotels.Uganda tourist attraction are scattered in the whole of Uganda and for that matter every corner of Uganda have a best hotel. Don’t be deceived that when you leave Kampala the Capital City of Uganda, you will miss the best accommodation facilities in Uganda, No.Uganda has more than 10 national parks and in each park, there are hotels and other accommodation facilities which range from 5 star hotels up to 0 stars. What will determine your accommodation comfortability is your pocket.

As a core of Uganda businessmen and women Kampala City of Uganda is composed of any Hotel accommodation you will ever think of. With the coming of the internet, one has the choice to browse for the type of hotel he / she wants in Uganda and particularly in Kampala city. But if you don’t need to be bothered, you may come in person and chose from many the one of your choice.Apart from these spacious hotels, Uganda has a variety of apartment rentals which you can rent at a subsidized amount. If you need to learn the culture of Uganda, I don’t see why you should hide yourself in a five star hotel. After all you have traveled to Uganda to get entertained and as you know you can’t learn much about this country when you are in that spacious hotel. But anyway if it is your choice then go ahead and enjoy yourself in those hotels.

If you come to Uganda on a squeezed budget, you need to look at Uganda bed and breakfast accommodation facilities. There are very many of that type in the whole country and I hope if you contact anybody in Uganda, you will be shown where to get these bed and breakfast facilities. It doesn’t even need to use the tour guide to show you these homes because every Uganda citizen likes a foreign visitor. So what you do is to confront any respectable person and you will get you bed and breakfast facility in Uganda.There are those who are like me, I mean the backpackers. Uganda has many backpackers’ hostel facilities. Uganda tourist guides are the best choice to ask about the best hostels for backpackers in whichever corner of Uganda you will be in. There are many places in Uganda where you can set up your tent and sleep. I mean if you like camping. So accommodation in Uganda should worry you less because as I said earlier, it is beyond your imagination.

In conclusion therefore, there is no way to know how much Uganda accommodation facilities are in value, unless you take your time and visit the country normally called the “Pearl of Africa”. And if you want to get pampered like a queen in Uganda, then you need to visit these accommodation facilities in Kampala City and upcountry districts. It is in these places (upcountry districts) that you will have to learn everything about Uganda as far as Uganda culture is concerned. And who ever said that Uganda lack accommodation for visitors and travelers then he/ she needs to think twice because Uganda is far as far as accommodation facilities are concerned.

About the Author

About the Author
Twinomugisha Charles is a Retired Tour and Travel Guide in Millennium Tours and Travel Company in Uganda and now works with E-Office Management a company that deals in Computers and Computer Accessories. More of his articles can be found at The Best Hotels in Uganda and at Five Star Hotels in Kampala Uganda

(ArticlesBase SC #711057)

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Makmende Phenomenon – Social Media Marketing Does It Again For A Kenyan Website

By: Stephen

This issue of residing up country has completely embarrassed me. I realized this when my friend from the US asked me what is Makmende. First of all I thought she was trying to insult me, only to realize that almost every updated Kenyan is discussing the word on social media sites. By the way who is this makmemde fellow or it is just a Kenyan phenomena?

Jokes aside, this makmende phenomenon has opened my eyes to the power of social media marketing. It even came to my surprise to note that people abroad had catch up with this funny phenomenon and were tweeting about it. My goodness, what Social Media Marketing can do to change once business promotion fortunes; the site makmende.com received over a million plus traffic within a period of 24 hours.

As I write this article I am yet to tell if makmende is a person or a thing. Call me backward or misinformed, all I see here is the ability of one person to rekindle old memories in order to achieve a set target. As an online marketing professional, my praises goes out to the owner of makmende.com. His efforts could not go unnoticed by people like me who are constantly seeking for ways of generating traffic.

The internet is full of attractive websites but we hardly know they exist. Social media marketing has of late provided internet business people an avenue of announcing their online presence. What would be the need to open a shop where no one frequents? Twitter and facebook have truly and suddenly opened the world to the existence of a thing or phenomena called makmende. Ask Don Riddle of the well known CNN Broadcasting Network or Cassandra who featured the makmende story on Wall Street Journal.

Click the links below to learn more on the power of Social Media Marketing.

About the Author

Stephen writes rich content on Social Media Marketing. His webpage is on Money Making Ideas and Online Marketing Strategies. Visit his informative and insightful website at:- Money Making Secrets and learn more…

(ArticlesBase SC #2049156)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Makmende Phenomenon – Social Media Marketing Does It Again For A Kenyan Website

How To Build The Home You Have Been Dreaming About: Making A House Plan

By: Ashton Renderly

Planning to build a house is surely an exciting endeavor in anyone’s life. It is a major step throughout the course of a lifetime, one of the milestones that most hardworking people look forward to. Being a major decision, making a house plan can be a very difficult feat. Without the proper knowledge, one can turn a dream into a nightmare. Fortunately, with some basic know-how, one can be guided into making a good house plan that can make one’s dream home come into reality.

The Basics of a House Plan

When making a house plan, the first stop is to picture the general components one would want to have in their dream home. Going directly to the details might leave one frustrated as there are hundreds of things to think about, thus, it is important to first have an overview of the house plan. Would you want a house with just one, two or three bedrooms? This depends on how many people will live in the house, or if you plan to accommodate more in the future. You should also think of the size of the house, whether you want it to be a bungalow or a two-storey structure. You have to imagine the general feel of the house, before going to the nitty-gritty details.

The Financial Factor

Of course it is quite impossible to build a house without thinking of your budget. In most cases, the budget would determine so much about what you can do to the house you are building. It would be helpful to consult contractors or builders to see what kind of house would match your finances. Check if the house you imagined in your overview would be affordable according to your budget. If your budget does not meet your dreams, then you might just need to remove some elements, but if you have more than enough money, you may want to add some more things.

The Components of the House Plan

After contemplating on the type of house you want and viewing it according to your budget, you can then begin to plan the essential components of the house. Here are some of them:

1. Foundation – a house should be built on a sturdy foundation or else it could easily crumble or falter. You might want a basement as a foundation, this could give you extra space, perhaps for storage or another room. You might also want a slap foundation, a crawlspace foundation if you do not want a basement. You need to check with your local building authority as to what type of foundation can be used when building a house.

2. Materials – of course, you would need to choose the types of materials to be used for the house. You might one simple wood or hardboards, you might want concrete or stone. Again it all depends on your preference, budget, and the environment where your house will be built.

3. Exterior and Interior Finishes – finishing is also important even if some people might think it is just for aesthetic purposes. While a structure built on a strong foundation with sturdy materials could already provide shelter, it could barely become a dream home. Some types of finishes you might want for the exterior of your home could be cedar, vinyl, brick, aluminum, or wood. For the interiors you might want stone, concrete, paint, wood, among many others. Again, the climate could determine which type of finishing is best for your house plan.

Building a house is a major endeavor that requires careful planning and consideration. With a good plan and the proper execution, one can be sure to build a dream home.

All rights reserved. You may reprint this content as long as it is not altered in any way and all website links remain intact.

About the Author

Ashton runs a website that and discusses the basics of working with and developing a great house plan. For a broker checkout this site.

(ArticlesBase SC #38368)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – How To Build The Home You Have Been Dreaming About: Making A House Plan

Top 10 Things to Consider in a New House Plan

By: Todd Fratzel

Seeing that I have recently finished building our new home I thought I’d share some insights into the design of a new home. There are many new house plans available today and the sky’s the limit on features and styles. The biggest problem with the design process is once we’ve decided that we’d like to build a new home human nature kicks in and we want it to happen over night. The problem with that is we typically don’t spend enough time evaluating and considering the design aspects of the new house. The most important thing to remember is spending extra time in the beginning will prevent you from having second thoughts once the house is done. The following list are ten important things to consider when choosing a new house plan.

1. Style – I think the style of the home is the best place to start. The style of the home will connect with so many of the choices you make so its important to spend some quality time thinking about the style you’d like to live in. Are your preferences more modern or traditional? Do you want a house that is similar to your neighbors? What house style will hold the best value in your neighborhood? What style house will closely match your interior style and existing furnishings? These are all questions that you need to ask yourself and your family. This was a tough question for my wife and I as we grew up on two sides of the country and our styles are very different.

2. Number of Bedrooms – This question may seem simple and easy to answer but it is worth thinking about and discussing. The easiest answer to this question would be based on your current family size and needs. You may need a two bedroom today and need a four bedroom down the road when your family grows. Or maybe you need four bedrooms today yet your kids will be off to college in a few years.

3. Single Level Vs. Multiple Levels – Whether or not your new house has only one level or more is really a personal decision. Some people really enjoy having single level living with no stairs to climb up and down. Some people prefer the more traditional cape and colonial home styles with bedrooms on the second floor. Some land sites are quite small and someone looking for decent square footage may only be able to build a multi-level house. If you think you may retire and live in your house as you get older the single level house may appeal to you.

4. Master Bedroom Suite – Today’s new house plans typically offer a master bedroom suite. These suites often have generous closet space, large private bathrooms with soaker tubs, jetted tubs, large walk-in showers and even walk-in closets. These suites generally increase the value of the home and make the house more marketable if you sell in the future.

5. Bonus Rooms (Laundry, Play) – One of the most popular trends in todays house plans are dedicated laundry rooms and the renewed popularity of pantries. In fact, in my new house we made the mudroom a combination laundry and pantry. Some house plans offer laundry on the second floor of multi-leveal houses. A word of caution if you choose a second floor laundry. Make sure you insist that some type of extensive drain system be installed in the unfortunate case there is a broken washing machine hose.

6. Number of Bathrooms – The average number bathrooms in new houses has steadily increased over the years. The average home in the US has 2 1/2 baths and the average appears to be heading towards 3.

7. Kitchen Style – I could write an entire article on this topic, however, the main point here is that many house plans have just a basic kitchen layout. My suggestion is find a house you like and then modify the kitchen to your liking. Plenty of home supply stores will design you a new kitchen free of charge based on the floor plan so don’t let a simple kitchen layout deter you from a house plan you really like.

8. Floor Plans – When evaluating floor plans try to visualize how you will furnish the house and how you plan on using different rooms in your daily life. Get a tape measure and measure rooms in your current house to get an idea of how big a 12’x15′ room really is. Often people have a hard time visualizing the size of a room and later when the house is done they are not happy with the size. I really suggest spending time on the evaluation.

9. Functionality – The functionality of the new house plan is really one of the most important aspects for your long term comfort and use of the house. If you put the dining room on the other side of the living room so that you have to carry meals through the living room you will soon realize that’s not very functional. The same is true about the proximity of bathrooms to bedrooms. Again, I think its important to compare where you currently live to the house plan and think about your likes and dislikes.

10. House Site – The house site can sometimes play a big part in the style, floor plan and functionality. For instance, if you have a very small site you may need two floors. Or maybe your lot is really hilly and needs a drive under garage. Just make sure that when you pick a couple of plans you evaluate them based on the lot as well.

About the Author

Todd Fratzel, P.E. is a building superintendent for a construction firm in New Hampshire. In addition to supervising the construction of new homes Todd is a registered professional engineer in the New Hampshire and Massachusetts and has an extensive back ground in building structures. For additional articles like this one see his blog at http://homeconstructionimprovement.blogspot.com

(ArticlesBase SC #89577)

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How to Choose a Stock House Plan

By: Kevin Carden

Shopping for a house plan is not as simple as it may seem. When confronted by tens of thousands of different house plans available, it is easy to get overwhelmed. It is important to narrow your choices down as much as possible before you begin your search. Get specific on details such as the number of bedrooms and baths, the square footage you are looking for, the house style you desire, how many floors the house should have. Most decent house plan websites will have plenty of options with the criteria that you have specified. You can start your search on House Plan Central.

After the initial search, be systematic about tracking the house plans that you like. If you have definitely decided to build your own house, you should also set a date for when you will have selected a plan by. Local architects may customize a plan for you that you could have found for thousands less online if you had been diligent about the search process. Make sure to store your plans if the website you are using offers that feature. Make lists of pros and cons about each house plan. Ask for feedback from friends and family.

When you have found your dream plan, don’t hesitate to call the house plan website you found it on if you have any questions or you want to verify their credentials. I don’t want to scare you, but remember that taking someone else’s plan to a local architect to have them customize it is theft. Usually the same online designer will customize that plan for a fraction of the cost of taking the plan to a local designer.

By Kevin Carden

About the Author

Kevin Carden is a publisher of several stock house plan websites and informational resources, the most famous being www.houseplancentral.com. House Plan Central has a large collection of home plans and unique house plans in many different architectural styles, from the nation’s top house designers and architects.

(ArticlesBase SC #202527)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – How to Choose a Stock House Plan