building a new home. want to make a list of things to do to make sure we are not forgetting anything or just some ideas that we may not have ever thought of :0)! hoping to get some info from others that may have suggestions for a checklist as far as things to do: decorating, logistics of house plan, where to place outlets, etc.....help!
2007-05-21 04:23:32 · 7 answers · asked by curious07 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
When building our house I tried to take into consideration that I intend to die in this house, and make sure that as we grew older and were less able to get around, we would still be able to enjoy our home. We put the master bedroom on the first floor and made the floor plan as barrier free as possible. We also made the doors slightly wider so if one of us ends up in a wheel chair, it would not be an issue to get in and out of rooms. We also set up an intercom system so we wouldn't have to scream to hear one another when on opposite ends of the house, and so in a slightly sneaky way, we can hear our children and their friends when in the basement.
2007-05-21 04:40:51 · answer #1 · answered by Crazymom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live on the Gulf Coast where the summers are hot. So some of my additions are driven by energy savings. Depending upon where you live the same may apply. Heating is also expensive if you live where the winters are cold.
If I could build my house over I would use 2x12 boards instead of 2x4 on the exterior walls.. I would install 12 inch fiberglass insulation and the standard styrofoam exterior insulation, and finish with standard plastic film to seal the house well. I would also add 12 inch fiberglass insulation over blown insulation in the attic(I actually did this and it lowered my ceiling temperature by 5 degrees in the summer), and styrofoam insulation to the underside of the roof plywood. With natural gas and oil prices where they are, the energy savings will pay back the added cost. In addition, since you are building it into new construction, you will pay it off as part of your mortgage.
If you live in a hot climate, install an attic fan to pull in fresh air into the attic space and cool it off.
Install home automation for lights, and a programmable thermostat. This helps with home security and also energy savings.
It's pretty standard now, but make sure your phone wiring is category 5 so that you can run DSL computer connections. Put at least one phone connection in every room as a minimum, including the garage. Also be sure to have an electrical outlet installed outside on each wall. Be sure to add cable tv drops in every room including the kitchen and garage.
If you have a big lot, and can afford the expense, add a sprinkler system...again you can roll the cost up into the mortgage.
Before you pour the slab, contact a pest control company to treat for termites if you live in a region of the US where termites exist.
If you think you will want a patio, have it poured when the house is built. I added one after the fact, and it was difficult.
Depending upon where you are building, look at the trees on the lot. Are they shaped nicely and are they worth keeping? My first house the builder kept some very poorly shaped live oaks. I ended up paying to remove them and came back with Arizona Ash. Again, tree type depends upon where you live.
Also have the garage finished with at least sheet rock. It will be easier to clean and will be brighter. Again I came back after the fact and painted the concrete in my garage floor with an epoxy based paint. It is easier to keep clean than a concrete floor. Just be sure the paint is epoxy based. It's very rugged, and you can get it in any color you want.
The builder won't like you for adding these various things, but if you plan to live in the house for a long time, you will want it to meet your needs, not his. If he tells you he can't do any of these things, get another builder. It is easier to add improvements when the house is being built than at any other time.
2007-05-21 05:57:22 · answer #2 · answered by richard Alvarado 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish we installed cable outlets on opposite sides of each room. When I would like to rearrange furniture, I find that not being able to move the TV sometimes makes it difficult to rearrange.
Also, I would have made the utility room bigger. It's amazing how little room you have left after all the necessary stuff goes in!
What I love about our house is the fiber cement siding. We stained it with a fiber cement stain (a cedar color) which gives our house the rustic look I wanted, but it is maintenance free! And, it lasts forever and is fire proof.
2007-05-22 09:54:31 · answer #3 · answered by Kathie S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't built, but plan to do so in the future, and always thought of these few things;
1. Large closets, bedroom and foyer
2. Alaundry room on the first floor with a large table and baskets( for clean, folded laundry) to designate who's is who's.
3. A kitchen with drawers in cabinets so they can pull out and you can see everything without bending down to look in.
4. Large family- two dishwashers.
5. Cables pulled through to every room for pc's and satellite tv and such before drywalling.
6. Old fashoned laundry chutes on second floor.
2007-05-21 05:44:47 · answer #4 · answered by jennifer k 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Previous responses are all good and correct. Being a plumber, I look at problems I get called to fix. Install valves on all water lines (including tub/showers) . Install an access panel for tub/shower fixtures. I hate having to remove tile to fix faucets. Use quality materials. May cost a little more now, but will be worth it overall.
2007-05-21 06:04:25 · answer #5 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something I thought would be great would be to install home speaker wiring in the walls so you would not have to run speaker wires everywhere. Even installing networking cable in the walls if you ever created a network or internet would also be great.
2007-05-21 04:29:01 · answer #6 · answered by Jack K 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dont bulid in a neighborhood with a H.O.A.
2007-05-21 09:40:46 · answer #7 · answered by alley_cat1964 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋