If you were building a new home...

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

That is something I REALLY don't like about my house... I have ONE south facing window and it is in my bedroom

Both my office and my kitchen face due south and I find I spend most time in them, particularly in winter. But then I suffer from that particular winter affliction and so it is high up on the "must have" list.

So far I'm in agreement with the washer/dryer on the main living level, plenty of closet space. <WHAT were they thinking when they built mine? > and the several zones for heating and cooling.

A central vacuum would be nice and definately a huge bath with all the goodies for the times you can relax.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

In Minnesota? A screened porch to enjoy the outdoors without having to share it with Minnesota's State Bird - the mosquito!

We don't have that problem anymore

We don't have that problem anymore

I have got to learn to read better. Out of MN to Tn. Okay. That is different than I read at first. Wonderful cabernet tonight and a surf and turf dinner. Maybe that is part of the reading problem.

I agree with pretty much everything, good suggestions. I am a plant person, growing orchids (three in bloom now, ) and light makes a big difference. That south window is great for sun and sun brightens lives. In MN in the winter with lack of sun you get S.A.D. (seasonal affected disorder)

The warmth from the radiated floor and towel warmer-yes!! So much comfort from those. Towel warmer will heat a bathroom when sized correctly.

The house we live in now has a basement with an egress windows and that is where my office, and the wineroom is located. The cool from the windows is great for making and storing the wine, but is cold when trying to work for a few hours in the office. My old house didn't have egress windows, just full basement and it was warmer.

The other problem with this house is steps everywhere. It is a modified 2 story, which means steps from the family room to the kitchen, from the kitchen to the living room, and then steps up to the bedrooms. That is too much. In a lot of ways, I wish I could have my old house in this location. One level for most everything except the laundry room and my woodwork room.

[idahodude Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close idahodude]

I agree with much of what's been listed. Personally, I'd like

-Large south exposure for winter (though not terrible in TN)
-Luxurious master bath
-Large front closet
-Adequate garage space for vehicles
-possibly a hot tub
-Open floor plan
-Large kitchen
-Main floor master, kitchen, and laundry
-If on a lake, nice view, possibly a dock
-AC is a must if it's humid
-Nice guest room (or quarters) for family to visit
-Overhehad lighting
-Deck or Patio
-Garden

Guess that's a start

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

This is just a start

Money up front for materials so not in debt to lender and making payments on a house you can’t live in.

Acre lot without large rocks

single floor, no wasted floor space for stairs except to basement

Dry basement rather than just a foundation for furnace, water regulators and heaters, storage of Christmas STUFF and out of season STUFF, freezer, water softener, etc.

laundry room near the bedrooms saves many steps

independent water heaters for the kitchen and each bathroom

water pressure regulators for each shower

heat and air zoning

lots of wall outlets

Covered parking for vehicles

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

A few other ideas:
- oversized garage, heated, w/ epoxy painted floor
- 9' or 10' ceilings throughout
- pre-wire every room for network and A/V to a central distribution point
- whole-house audio distribution
- central vac
- zoned heating / cooling, especially if a multi-level house.
- upgraded cabinetry and trim work

Kurt

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

Closets- Lots of them
When we was building my house we put:

W/D on the floor where the bedrooms are (ours is second floor)
Outlets in the ceiling of the front porch for Christmas lights.
Water spigot where I would put a garden..in the back of the yard. this is also good for watering the lawn
Several electrical outlets outside
Central Vac, not only for upstairs, but for garage use (cleaning cars)
Electrical box to accomodate generator

Some of these things we only use once in awhile, but glad we have them.

[In the Pink Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close In the Pink]

• Retirement home? single floor please!
• Large (indoor) utility room, including room to fold and iron
• built-ins! We just built a home (not custom), and DH is getting ready to put built-ins in the living room because the one thing the house doesn't have is storage space outside of bedroom closets and a small linen closet in each bathroom. Where are you supposed to put the extension cords, batteries, candles, light bulbs, sewing kit, etc???
• 3 way switches for any room that has more than one entry
• double ovens
• large pantry
• kitchen island
• if garage is detached, GOOD cover from house to garage (and our detached garage actually has an upstairs which is our storage for now but can be finished out later if we want--we don't have basements here)

edit: Oh yeah.... trash compactor!

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

How bout something like this?

Welcome to StoneBridge Village, Branson Missouri

[wandering gnome Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wandering gnome]

36 inch doorways, so it can accommodate a wheelchair it need later.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Good input, keep them coming

[Icc5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Icc5]

Why steam shower

Washer/Dryer/laundry room on main floor

steam/shower combo

separate space for kids of all ages and their toys, electronic or otherwise

plenty of zones for heat and A/C

lots of storage space

guestroom

Two sinks in the master bath!

extra large "coat closet" at entry way

We looked at one at a friends house that was telling us how great they are and what we both felt is it took forever to steam and made lots of noise.
Was this just a bad one or are they all alike?
We are doing a remodel on my wife's parents house that we now own. It is a four bedroom and what we are doing is new appliances, flooring in certain rooms, redoing all 3 bathrooms and making the master bath huge with seperate Jacauzzi tub and shower with seemless doors. Grout free walls in bathroom. We are also inclosing the patio room which was partially done by my wife's father and making a breezeway between the living room and former outside room by eliminating the sliding glass door. Enclosing the pation will add aprox. 1,000sq. feet to the house. We will be making it into a game/workout room with large windows facing the creek.
Bart

[Pit Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pit]

Don't build it bigger than needed, a temptation I fell into. It's just more to keep clean, more space to heat in winter and cool in summer. Also... think maintenance-free.

[kbletzer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kbletzer]

My first issue would be to stay within the value range of the neighborhood you are building (especially in todays volatile market!)
With that in mind you always need to keep a re-sale attitude when building never opting to over customize because you never know if you have to relocate for one reason or another.

Most people who are building and/or buying today are looking for the following:

• granite counters in kitchens
• hardwoods
• 1st floor masters w/ jetted tubs, seperate showers and seated vanities
• laundry room with cabinetry and a table
• 3 car garage with coated floor and work sink
• outside faucet in driveway to wash cars
• outside faucet in backyard to water plants
• inground sprinkler systems
• built in cabinetry
• surround sound
• screen porches
• tilt in windows (top and bottom for easy cleaning)
• kitchen island w /seating (for when you entertain guests)
• finished basements (if applicable

)

These are some of the basics that people are looking for in today's market.

Some handy thoughts would be to have the builder put cable and elect outlets in high areas for flat screen TV's in certain rooms like bedrooms or Family room or even the master bath
I've recently seen a coffee maker built-in in a master suite
window benches for little girls rooms or even guest rooms
Columns in areas like dining room or liv room adds a nice touch and not very expensive
Walk in attic- most folks don't think about this and it is a great feature in any home (especially if it is floored for added storage space) Also, I saw a walk in attic that was hidden behind a bookcase on wheels that made it double as a kind of secret room it was great.
Most people don't think about mud rooms but they are necessary and they would be top of the list for me- a few built-ins with benches would make it beautiful. Also lighting! You can really really save alot of money by going to Home Depot or Lowes and searching through the catalogs.
I would definetely add crown moulding to as many rooms as possible.
Oh and one last thought....have the builder paint for you. Don't just take the builders blah blah beige...negotiate. He/she should be willing to paint to your color spec.

Hope this helps!
Kathleen

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

Vanities the same height as the kitchen cabinets so you don't have to bend.
Higher toilets, better for the knees

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

A few more

One level on full basement
Covered patio
Open floor plan, doors only for privacy and then extra wide.
Master suite - king-sized bed and direct access to a screened deck, Jacuzzi
Each bedroom has its own bathroom.
No-maintenance exterior
Underground utility lines
fireplace insert and woodshed for the cozy nights and emergency heat.
wiring for modern technology demands
Windows only where really needed and no larger than required. Large windows for views that you really wish to see.
Ductwork in basement ceiling. None in attic.
No attic storage. Provide storage elsewhere..
Storage shed for yard tools, fuel, etc.