looks like we might be having a house built in the near future. Just looking for opinions on what options we should go for. We're trying to keep the options list fairly short though.

anyone have something they had included in their house that wound up being a bit of a waste?

or something they didn't originally include but wished they'd had later?

At least two exterior doors

You will want a bidet !
And to be just a little classier,
a Monet above the bidet !

looks like we might be having a house built in the near future. Just looking for opinions on what options we should go for. We're trying to keep the options list fairly short though.

anyone have something they had included in their house that wound up being a bit of a waste?

or something they didn't originally include but wished they'd had later?

Definitely go high efficiency heat/cooling. I put in a 16 seer unit and cut my electric bill by 2/3. No exaggeration. Get good windows and extra insulation in the attic, walls and floor too.

Go with 25 year shingles vs. 15-20.

Central vacs are a waste of $ (IMO).

Go with hardwood or granite floors vs. carpet.

Central vacs are a waste of $ (IMO).


Not for the people with allergies.

looks like we might be having a house built in the near future. Just looking for opinions on what options we should go for. We're trying to keep the options list fairly short though.

anyone have something they had included in their house that wound up being a bit of a waste?

or something they didn't originally include but wished they'd had later?

What kind of house is it going to be? Built on a slab, split level, ranch, two story? Reason I'm asking is I just did some work in our crawl space, and if you have one of those I'd offer advice.

Also, if you have a big enough bathroom, get a urinal. Saves a lot of arguments. A friend of mine did this in his house, and has no regrets. Personally, I think it's a smart idea. :lol:

6 inch walls and Marvin windows. Do not skimp on insulation, windows, and get 3'0" interior doors.

6 inch walls and Marvin windows. Do not skimp on insulation,.

:yay:
But I would go with Andersen windows and doors.

I don't know that we have a choice in window/door brands. we're going with quality built homes, a 2 story with a (mostly) finished basement.

I don't know that we have a choice in window/door brands. we're going with quality built homes, a 2 story with a (mostly) finished basement.It's your house!! You have a choice in EVERYTHING!! If they say no, find another builder!

It's your house!!

So true.
People believe that the builder makes all the decisions.
Even though it is not your house until after closing, the builder should bend over backwards for what you want.

It's your house!! You have a choice in EVERYTHING!! If they say no, find another builder!

good point.

i guess I'm just concerned we're going to go overboard in the excitement of getting to pick everything, especially after the less than perfect house we've been living in.

So true.
People believe that the builder makes all the decisions.
Even though it is not your house until after closing, the builder should bend over backwards for what you want.Ed Zachary!

May be an upcharge but you get what you want.

And it's cheaper to do it now vs. later.

Get some good toilets!:yay: The pressure assist ones are nice but American Standard makes one that works just as well without all the noise of a pressure assisted model. If you plan on dying in the new house go ahead and get ADA compliant toilets you won't regret it.

looks like we might be having a house built in the near future. Just looking for opinions on what options we should go for. We're trying to keep the options list fairly short though.

anyone have something they had included in their house that wound up being a bit of a waste?

or something they didn't originally include but wished they'd had later?

I always got cheap with the options, then regretted it later. Usually it would add like $10 to the monthly mortgage.

good point.

i guess I'm just concerned we're going to go overboard in the excitement of getting to pick everything, especially after the less than perfect house we've been living in.

When we had our home built 6 almost 7 yrs ago, our builder gave us allowances for different options. Flooring, lighting, water fixtures,etc. WE chose to buy our own lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, and appliances. We then applied those 'credits' to other things. Your builder should work with you and if they don't I'd look elsewhere.

Get some good toilets!:yay: The pressure assist ones are nice but American Standard makes one that works just as well without all the noise of a pressure assisted model. If you plan on dying in the new house go ahead and get ADA compliant toilets you won't regret it.

Add as many ADA options as possible. It was hard for me to find a house that I could move my parents into - my requirement was a master bedroom on the first floor with an ADA bath with 30" doors for interior and exterior for walkers/wheelchairs (your bonus - makes moving furniture easier). It's not just for when you get older - if anyone in the family has an accident ie. broken leg it will make life easier.

So true.
People believe that the builder makes all the decisions.
Even though it is not your house until after closing, the builder should bend over backwards for what you want.

When we had our home built 6 almost 7 yrs ago, our builder gave us allowances for different options. Flooring, lighting, water fixtures,etc. WE chose to buy our own lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, and appliances. We then applied those 'credits' to other things. Your builder should work with you and if they don't I'd look elsewhere.

Especially now....Many builders aren't very busy now and they should work with you...

Ripple Brothers.

I don't know that we have a choice in window/door brands. we're going with quality built homes, a 2 story with a (mostly) finished basement.Good so far. Make sure you know where your septic tank is if you have one as it will have to be cleaned out at least every 4 to 5 years. When you get your elect put in, have them put a larger service (main breaker box) you'll need it in the future. Also, get a generator hookup installed so you can plug a generator into it for emergencies. Garage if you can afford it. These are some of the things I didn't do when I built that I ended up doing. Don't go with a wooden deck if your patio door is on ground level. Get a paver type stone patio. Low maintenance. No painting. If you can, get a fireplace with either gas or a way to put in a pellet stove. Wood stoves are messy and you have to cut and split a lot of wood. Did that for too many years. Have your lot surveyed so you know where your property lines are.

:yeahthat:
One of my major regrets was not making my garage bigger. It's 20X30 and I should have enlarged it to 30X40 to accommodate stuff like pellets and lawn mowers and everyday kid debris.

My next house will be a single story. I've grown to hate the stairs.

Make sure the rooms are large.

30X40 .
:yay:
It's my dog house.

:yeahthat:
One of my major regrets was not making my garage bigger. It's 20X30 and I should have enlarged it to 30X40 to accommodate stuff like pellets and lawn mowers and everyday kid debris.:yay: That's what I did when I had this one built. 2 1/2 car with an upstairs. Room for car, truck and motorcycle with extra space for storage and enough room for 2 ton of pellets.

:yay: That's what I did when I had this one built. 2 1/2 car with an upstairs. Room for car, truck and motorcycle with extra space for storage and enough room for 2 ton of pellets.

I didn't take pellets into consideration when I was revising the plans. Plus we had to worry about impervious surface allowances.:ohwell: The price you pay sometimes. BUT! We do have a full basement on its way to becoming livable space with room for an auxiliary ton of pellets.

:yeahthat: @ Kom and Vince

I'd trade less inside space (like a formal living room, when you have a family room) for extra garage space. The problem with a lot of builders is that they offer these cookie cutter home models that don't give you this flexibility.

If I were building from scratch, I'd go to a reputable custom builder to avoid this, and try to get the best bang for the buck.

Glad I'm not going through this, though. New home construction wasn't an experience I'd ever care to do again. Good luck to the OP.

:yeahthat: @ Kom and Vince


Glad I'm not going through this, though. New home construction wasn't an experience I'd ever care to do again. Good luck to the OP.

The biggest hassle was Land Use and Growth Management during our build. It seems that they have so many rules and regulations that even the employees there get confused.

We used "custom" plans we found on the internet, saw several versions of the completed house online then made our changes. Overall our building experience was not bad at all but our builder was very easy to work with.

Oh and prewire for audio/visual to the extreme. You will be rearranging a few times.

Don't forget to have the electrician stub some conduits outside the house from both the electric panel and the incoming TV.
(2) 1 inch for audio/visual and (2) 1 inch from the electrical panel

Oh and prewire for audio/visual to the extreme. You will be rearranging a few times.

Don't forget to have the electrician stub some conduits outside the house from both the electric panel and the incoming TV.
(2) 1 inch for audio/visual and (2) 1 inch from the electrical panel

Sub panel in the basement.

Glad I'm not going through this, though. New home construction wasn't an experience I'd ever care to do again. Good luck to the OP.

:yeahthat:
When I had my old house built, I went over everyday to make sure everything was my way.

:yeahthat: @ Kom and Vince

I'd trade less inside space (like a formal living room, when you have a family room) for extra garage space. The problem with a lot of builders is that they offer these cookie cutter home models that don't give you this flexibility.

If I were building from scratch, I'd go to a reputable custom builder to avoid this, and try to get the best bang for the buck.

Glad I'm not going through this, though. New home construction wasn't an experience I'd ever care to do again. Good luck to the OP.

I miss my grandfather.......:ohwell:

Oh and prewire for audio/visual to the extreme.

I wanted to do that on my own before the drywall went up, but my builder wouldn't let me.
Said it was a liability issue.

If you are doing a finished basement, I recommend going with a good drop ceiling.
Great for future projects, and access to water lines and electrical.

I wanted to do that on my own before the drywall went up, but my builder wouldn't let me.
Said it was a liability issue.


.

He lied to you. Our builder let us do it, and had it inspected along with the rest of the wiring. We had to adhere to their schedule.

We had all kinds of sweat equity in our home before we closed.

Sub panel in the basement.
If you are doing a finished basement, I recommend going with a good drop ceiling. Great for future projects, and access to water lines and electrical.Great ideas!

He lied to you.

Damn it.
I'm glad I sold it.

Another thing...

68184

If you are doing a finished basement, I recommend going with a good drop ceiling.
Great for future projects, and access to water lines and electrical.

We're doing drywall/drop ceiling in our basement. The majority of the electrical, plumbing and ductwork will be bulkheaded with a drop ceiling for ease of access.

Just looking for opinions on what options we should go for.

Bump out the house 2'. Cost is minimal and it'll give your extra bedrooms some added space! :yay:

And get the grand shower QBHI offers. :drool:

Think about extra lighting in the kitchen, over/under cabinets, etc. Once you get the specs, be sure to "imagine" where you want your tv and a/v stuff so you don't get stuck placing it on a wall you won't like.

Also make sure the windows in bedrooms are functional. You don't want to put your bed - or large furniture against a window.

If you are doing a finished basement, I recommend going with a good drop ceiling.
Great for future projects, and access to water lines and electrical.

Absolutely. I have hard ceilings in my finished basement and I can do nothing in the ceiling. No new wiring, no plumbing... just had a leak in the kitchen which clobbered the basement ceiling, not much I can do short of replacing the whole ceiling.

I'm another that couldn't live without a garage. I have an attached 23x30. Part of that space is the laundry room. No space taken up in the house or trudging down to the basement with laundry baskets.

I bought my house used, but the one thing I always wanted was a covered porch on the front.

Mentioned before: 6" walls with high R-value insulation.

Have you thought about foundation location, as east, west, north and south?

Also while they are building it have them upgrade the hot water heater, furnace and ac units and water pressure tank. Trust me on this one, every repair person who has been to our house has told us the builder didn't do you any favors at all he used the cheapest builders grade products. The upgraded appliances now will not put too much of a dent in the mortgage now and will save you repair and replacement costs..... Insulate well.... I am also a big fan of an oversize garage, ours is cookie cutter size and too small to be truly functional. It would maybe hold 2 honda civics but nothing bigger.

Foundation waterproofing and drainage.
Also have them install gutter drainage away from the house.

Bump out the house 2'. Cost is minimal and it'll give your extra bedrooms some added space! :yay:

And get the grand shower QBHI offers. :drool:

Think about extra lighting in the kitchen, over/under cabinets, etc. Once you get the specs, be sure to "imagine" where you want your tv and a/v stuff so you don't get stuck placing it on a wall you won't like.

Also make sure the windows in bedrooms are functional. You don't want to put your bed - or large furniture against a window.

we're going wit the deluxe shower, same structural set up just without 15 million shower heads. (otherwise I might never leave the shower in the morning)

we went through all our options this morning and came out within $1300 of our top price. hope we don't find too many flooring upgrades we fall in love with.

Have you thought about foundation location, as east, west, north and south?

pretty sure it faces south. I'll have to check next time we drive by the lot.

Absolutely. I have hard ceilings in my finished basement and I can do nothing in the ceiling. No new wiring, no plumbing... just had a leak in the kitchen which clobbered the basement ceiling, not much I can do short of replacing the whole ceiling.

I'm another that couldn't live without a garage. I have an attached 23x30. Part of that space is the laundry room. No space taken up in the house or trudging down to the basement with laundry baskets.

I bought my house used, but the one thing I always wanted was a covered porch on the front.
Mentioned before: 6" walls with high R-value insulation.

the model we chose has a covered fornt proch as a standard feature. I'm really looking forward to it!

pretty sure it faces south. I'll have to check next time we drive by the lot.

In general, buildings with a North-south orientation are much better at controlling heating and cooling.

As high efficiency hvac as you can afford 18 seer is good geothermal is better. Solar hot water heater is a good investment. As much extra insulation as can fit. Make sure to have the hvac contractor seal your ductwork, this is VERY important and will cause dust issues and hot and cold rooms if they don't. The new houses are very tight and duct leakage causes big headaches for everybody. Make sure the basement is well waterproofed. Pay extra for good bath fans most of them suck and for an extra 30-50 bucks each you can get nice quiet ones. Hardwood and tile is much cleaner than carpet and generally wears better. Probably healthier too. Foil radiant barrier in your attic this reflects out the radiant heat of the sun that keeps attics so hot, it is a better alternative than an attic fan. That's a good start.

the model we chose has a covered fornt proch as a standard feature. I'm really looking forward to it!

If it's not too late put you laundry room where your bedrooms are even if it's upstairs. We remodeled and did that after we had talked to some friends. What a back saver it has been!!!!!