Building a home

[AGDee]

If it were me, I'd not only put cable outlets and phone outlets in every room and possibly on more than one wall in each room, I'd also put networking cables. I know everybody has wireless now, but it's really not as secure as hardwired is and it's also not as stable. If I have a stationery computer or game system, I want it hardwired. Laptops are great for wireless though!

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by alum

This may sound bizarre, but I would put a full laundry room on the 2nd floor with the bedrooms rather than in the basement or main floor. Laundry tends to generate in the bedroom area. You can have a drain pan installed in case there would ever be overflow.

That would be the last thing I would do. One of my friends JUST had their washer flood their entire home b/c it was on the second floor. It flooded so quickly, the drain was overcome. They are now having to COMPLETELY GUT the entire house. It has been an absolute nightmare for them.

[madmax]

Originally Posted by Tippiechick

That would be the last thing I would do. One of my friends JUST had their washer flood their entire home b/c it was on the second floor. It flooded so quickly, the drain was overcome. They are now having to COMPLETELY GUT the entire house. It has been an absolute nightmare for them.

There are things you can get to prevent the flooding. There are automatic shutoffs in case the hoses leak. Second floor washers can also have a pan under the washer. A washer can flood the house from the first floor or basement too.


The one thing I don't like about my parent's house is the crank out windows. Double hung is the way to go and they are cheaper. The crank out are a pain in the arse. You can walk into them on the deck. If you don't have the crankout unlocked and you start to crank you can crack the window. The double hung can also be tilted in to clean.

[WinniBug]

Originally Posted by alum

This may sound bizarre, but I would put a full laundry room on the 2nd floor with the bedrooms rather than in the basement or main floor. Laundry tends to generate in the bedroom area. You can have a drain pan installed in case there would ever be overflow.

Carpeting is less expensive but I would go with hardwood for durability and beauty. I would not have wood floors in the kitchen or bathrooms.

My ex's family home had a laundry chute going form the second floor with the bedrooms into the laundry room.

And I agree - I'm glad I paid a little extra for the hardwood floor in the living room.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by alum

Carpeting is less expensive but I would go with hardwood for durability and beauty. I would not have wood floors in the kitchen or bathrooms.

I can't think of a contractor or architect in their right minds who would specify wood in a bathroom or kitchen. No professional is going to take on that liability.

Clearly, I'm coming at this from a different angle than most people, but my primary concern would be to ensure that water cannot get in the house, and that it's comfortably warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Vaulted ceilings aren't the most energy efficient, even though they may look pretty.

Estimate 10-15% of the cost of construction for things that pop up. That's where the contractors make a lot of their profits--those things that weren't considered part of the original contract and the client isn't in a good place to negotiate. There's a contractor in my hometown who has a yacht named, you guessed it, "Change Order," since that's what paid for the boat!

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I can't think of a contractor or architect in their right minds who would specify wood in a bathroom or kitchen. No professional is going to take on that liability.

My mom has hardwoods through her entire house, including her kitchen. They've never been a problem. Her bathrooms are tile, though.

Here are a couple suggestions:

1. Make sure your contractors get all the permits they're supposed to get. Believe it or not, some try to skirt some of them. If anything goes wrong in the future - say, your pipes burst - you're going to want to make sure the work was done under permit.

2. Please do not carpet your bathroom. It's gross.

3. Don't know how important a pantry is to you, but it's way important to me. I hate having to put all of my food in my cupboards. When I get a house, I want a walk-in pantry.

[madmax]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I can't think of a contractor or architect in their right minds who would specify wood in a bathroom or kitchen. No professional is going to take on that liability.

Not really. Pergo is fine for kitchens and baths.

[AGDee]

Pergo is not really wood though and you do have to be careful about water. I'm going to get rid of the Pergo in my kitchen eventually because the area where the dog's water dish sits is starting to warp. Her bowl is on a doggie placemat with a lip but she's a messy drinker. I can't imagine what a dishwasher that leaked would do to the Pergo. You also have to use glue if you're putting it in an area where they may be water because the water can seep through the seams and under the floor creating a haven for mold.

[libramunoz]

whatever you decide to do, use copper piping (not PVC). I know that it might cost more, but it will LAST longer in the long run--esp. if you live in a place where it freezes easily.

[summer_gphib]

Something else we did before we built was to create a list of requirements. (Can you tell hubby is a Systems Engineer?) We ranked them in importance, and then found the area/neighborhood/house we wanted based on that. It was really, really specific, and it helped us not get so overwhelmed or caught up in the "emotional" part of it.

Also think about things you may want/need ahead of time, and look for them on sale. For example, we came from a wooded area, where we had no grass to mow, so no mower. Even though the house wasn't nearly done, we bought a lawn mower when they were on huge sale at Sears, just before the new models came out. We also shopped online and sales for bathroom fixtures, light fixtures, our pot rack, etc.

I also really agree with the vaulted ceilings. Our home is small (but it's just us, and we won't be having kids) and the vaulted ceilings throughout make it feel bigger.

[SydneyK]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with the comments suggesting vaulted ceilings. I hope I never live in a home with vaulted ceilings ever again. I'd rather have a room that looks smaller but holds heat. It seems like we're paying to keep the ceiling warm, and since don't often hang from the ceiling fans, it's a waste of money. I'd suggest tray ceilings over vaulted ones.

[RaggedyAnn]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

I'm going to respectfully disagree with the comments suggesting vaulted ceilings. I hope I never live in a home with vaulted ceilings ever again. I'd rather have a room that looks smaller but holds heat. It seems like we're paying to keep the ceiling warm, and since don't often hang from the ceiling fans, it's a waste of money.

I was going to say the same thing. We have 8' ceilings and it holds the heat better, but it really depends on where you live. Up north, it makes a big difference in heating bills-even the 8-9' difference. Also, vaulted ceilings are more difficult to clean. But again, it's all about location.

Neutral tiles in the bathroom and kitchen will make it easier to redecorate and resell.

Lifestyle, as someone said already, is a big consideration. We have a large family, so we have an open floorplan that allows for easier entertaining. Our house is smaller, but it looks bigger because of it.

You may want to look at a list of what adds resale value to the house when building and see what is important to you on the list. It's good to plan for just in cases.

[alum]

Laying ceramic tiles on the diagonal rather than parallel to the wall makes rooms look bigger. The larger the tile, the less grout there is that can get stained.

We have a laundry chute in our present house. I don't find it helpful at all.

[VAgirl18]

Bump out EVERYTHING you can..i.e.: larger garage, extended family room, sunroom, etc.

I know that everyone wants to have everything inside upgraded to the max, but in the end, its the square footage that is going to later sell your house. You can gradually upgrade things once you have the funds, but it costs a helluva lot more to try to add square footage on later.

[KSigkid]

Also, on the spreadsheet/budgeting issue - you'll want to build in a good buffer above what you expect to spend. There may be issues that result in higher costs, or the price may increase as the project goes along (contractors are great for being a bit low on their estimates).

Also - it may be a little thing, but with all those outlets, make sure they're putting in the GFCI outlets in all the right places (around sinks, etc.). The last thing you need is an electrician's apprentice forgetting to do it, and having to have the guy come back (potentially at an added cost).

I'll also reiterate the importance of choosing the right windows. When we moved into our current house, the windows hadn't been updated for a while. We had my dad install new windows, and we saw our energy costs go WAY down. It really makes a difference, and it's worth it to spend a little more on windows to make sure that cold air isn't seeping in.