New home construction

[ssj4sadie]

Looking at having a house built. What are some of the things you wished you did at construction, things you wished you didn't, and things you got right?

The house I currently live in lacks lighting and is dark inside. So windows is a big thing for me.

 

[DriftwoodSVT]

Spray foam all exterior walls, ceiling and under the roof. Costs a ton, but the ROI is great.

We also did tankless water heater, metal roof, 17 SEER HVAC and all LED lighting. Might as well spend some money to make sure you save some.

Oversize the garage if possible. We did 26' deep so no trouble fitting my Raptor. Also oversized the garage doors. We opted for 8' x 18' instead of the typical 7' x 16'.

You got some land picked out? You going with a track builder or custom?

The whole process is fun but it can really test your patience.

 

[ssj4sadie]

Spray foam all exterior walls, ceiling and under the roof. Costs a ton, but the ROI is great.

We also did tankless water heater, metal roof, 17 SEER HVAC and all LED lighting. Might as well spend some money to make sure you save some.

You got some land picked out? You going with a track builder or custom?

Tract, my max budget is $350K. So a lot of what you're saying is out. The plan I'm very close to being sold on is 2600 sq ft. There are two lots that will accommodate a 3 car garage. I can't decide if I want the sunset to be at the front or back of the house. Also should I go with a media room or 4th bedroom?

 

[M91196]

Were I live, MA, the plan I have is 2550 ranch with 3 car. The construction costs are coming in at $260 a sq ft. That's not including the land I own already.
That's with the ijoist floors and spray foam and the expensive Anderson windows etc.
Up since the election, up due to sheet goods pricing, up due to hyper insulation requirements in our code, up due to economic boom.
Good luck to you, I may have to sit this one out.

 

[DriftwoodSVT]

Tract, my max budget is $350K. So a lot of what you're saying is out. The plan I'm very close to being sold on is 2600 sq ft. There are two lots that will accommodate a 3 car garage. I can't decide if I want the sunset to be at the front or back of the house. Also should I go with a media room or 4th bedroom?

I'd prefer a covered rear patio to view the sun versus it hitting the front of the house.

 

[OETKB]

Where I live around RTP NC all the production builders (tract) rule the roost. They buy up the land, develop it, and put their homes on it. You have little say other than choose from their menu of floor plans, colors, wall and floor coverings, and kitchen and lighting options. And this is true up to $1MM homes.

The homes are like grandiose mobile homes. No offense to trailer dwellers. I'd live in one if it was a on a big piece of land, but the wife isn't willing to live "in the woods", as we say.

I hate it.

 

[ssj4sadie]

Were I live, MA, the plan I have is 2550 ranch with 3 car. The construction costs are coming in at $260 a sq ft. That's not including the land I own already.
That's with the ijoist floors and spray foam and the expensive Anderson windows etc.
Up since the election, up due to sheet goods pricing, up due to hyper insulation requirements in our code, up due to economic boom.
Good luck to you, I may have to sit this one out.

If I go all the way up to my limit I'm looking at $135 a sq ft. Not the cheapest here, but not too bad either.

I'd prefer a covered rear patio to view the sun versus it hitting the front of the house.

Yeah I think I would prefer that.

Where I live around RTP NC all the production builders (tract) rule the roost. They buy up the land, develop it, and put their homes on it. You have little say other than choose from their menu of floor plans, colors, wall and floor coverings, and kitchen and lighting options. And this is true up to $1MM homes.

The homes are like grandiose mobile homes. No offense to trailer dwellers. I'd live in one if it was a on a big piece of land, but the wife isn't willing to live "in the woods", as we say.

I hate it.

More or less the same here. I don't want to live out in the sticks. So it is what it is.

 

[OETKB]

If I go all the way up to my limit I'm looking at $135 a sq ft. Not the cheapest here, but not too bad either.

Yeah I think I would prefer that.


More or less the same here. I don't want to live out in the sticks. So it is what it is.

I'm in somewhat the same boat as you looking for that size home since my kids are gone now. My frustration is that here, I can't really do any of the things you are asking about because the production builders build them their way, or the highway, with little flexibility.

 

[lOOKnGO]

I build for a living. Natural sunlight will cost you more in the long run then good LED lighting. Windows are the biggest heat and cooling factor in any home anywhere. Strategic natural lightning is the key. Your sq. Footage is average for new homes, but if this is the last house you will be in, consider less sq. Ft home, less yard, no stairs, and max insulation. Communication accessibility to valued control points is key in this day and age.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Coiled03]

Tract, my max budget is $350K. So a lot of what you're saying is out. The plan I'm very close to being sold on is 2600 sq ft. There are two lots that will accommodate a 3 car garage. I can't decide if I want the sunset to be at the front or back of the house. Also should I go with a media room or 4th bedroom?

4th bedroom. Not many people give a shit about a media room when you're trying to sell.

 

[nxhappy]

stick with a one story if you can ....and get a 3 car or 4 car garage !

 

[OETKB]

stick with a one story if you can ....and get a 3 car or 4 car garage !

I would kill for this in the size she's looking. I can get it, but I'd have to be way out in the county.

 

[ssj4sadie]

Communication accessibility to valued control points is key in this day and age.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What do you mean?

 

[Blown 89]

Run 6a cabling through the house.

Oversize the garage.

Oversize the entry door from the garage into the house. We are getting ready to add a garage on to our house and the larger door will be nice when lugging groceries and things in.

Tons of natural light. Yes it's more expensive in the long run but dark and artificially lit houses suck. Some things are worth paying for.

Tankless water heater along with instant water heaters.

 

[Ohio Snake]

Extra insulation in bedroom, insta-hot, extra garage space with back yard service door, extra electrical outlets where your entertainment will be, water spigot in garage, pre-wire for security cameras.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ssj4sadie]

Didn't even think about security cameras. Seems like a must now.

 

[ssj4sadie]

Run 6a cabling through the house.

Oversize the garage.

Oversize the entry door from the garage into the house. We are getting ready to add a garage on to our house and the larger door will be nice when lugging groceries and things in.

Tons of natural light. Yes it's more expensive in the long run but dark and artificially lit houses suck. Some things are worth paying for.

Tankless water heater along with instant water heaters.

When you say oversized, you mean width? That I'm not sure is an option.

 

[Ohio Snake]

Didn't even think about security cameras. Seems like a must now.

We just added 4 wired cameras to our outside. I think cameras are a must today.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Ohio Snake]

When you say oversized, you mean width? That I'm not sure is an option.

We did a four car garage on our house. The garages (2 +2) are oversized. One is longer than the other and the other is wider. The sports cars are on the wider side because i have the work bench area there.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ssj4sadie]

We did a four car garage on our house. The garages (2 +2) are oversized. One is longer than the other and the other is wider. The sports cars are on the wider side because i have the work bench area there.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Shit, I meant the door going into the garage. Not the garage itself, my bad.