Blog

When building your new home, don’t forget these things!

Closet & Organization

Bath

• Put outlets in several closets.

• Make sure your closets have enough space for both double hung rods, and singles to accommodate long clothes.

• Include a full size broom cupboard in pantry or laundry room to hide all the cleaning items away from sight.

• Add more closet/linen space than you think you’ll need.

• Include cubbies in mudroom with an outlet in each one.

• Add a motion sensor to pantry and closet lights.

• Add outlet in master toilet closet for night light.

• Outlets inside vanity cabinets (upper and lower) in bathroom for dryer etc.

• Include heated towels racks.

• Don’t caulk the bottom of your toilet to the tile which could hide leaks.

• Make use of the pony wall in a bathroom by turning it into storage.

Outdoor

Kitchen

• Run conduit under the driveway for future wiring or plumbing needs.

• Prewire speakers both indoor and outdoor.

• Ensure you have hose outlets and power on all 4 sides of your house, and on top of any raised areas.

• Hot/cold outdoor water is good for washing pets.

• Motion sensor pre-wire for selected exterior lights.

• Keypad entry on garage door (Keypad entry on front door is great as well).

• Gas line to grill.

   

• Outlets in kitchen pantry for charging, or for items that may end up living there.

• With wide islands, put cabinets on the both sides. While they are not easy to get to, they are good for storing seldomly used items.

• Include a built-in paper towel holder.

• Custom storage organization in kitchen drawers.

• Warming drawer in dining room.

• Pantry entrance near both kitchen and garage.

• Custom shelves and a place to plug in appliances in pantry.

• Outlets above cabinets for Christmas lighting.

• Set up for both gas and electric appliances.

• Pantry door on swivel.

• Pantry light on motion sensor.

• Copper tubing for your ice maker from the freezer and until it’s out of the kitchen wall.

• Drawer or below counter microwave.

• Knife drawer.

• Pull-out garbage/recycling/laundry (for dirty dish towels/napkins/bibs!).

• Paper towel holder in drawer slot.

• Drawers for all lower cabinets (more efficient use of space).

• Two soap pumps at sink (one for hand soap, one for dish soap).

• Easy-access place to store frequently used appliances.

• Place to hang hand towels & aprons.

Pets

• Central Vac with vac pans.

• Plan where furnace vents will go instead of letting the builder decide.

• HEPA filtration for allergy sufferers.

• Receptacles for fire extinguishers.

• Where possible, pocket doors.

• Add soundproofing where needed.

• A phone by the door leading into the garage for calls when you are getting in or out of the car.

• An inside button to open and close your garage door.

• Additional support during framing on the top side of windows for curtains.

• Ensure builders don’t “box” off spaces, where storage or shelving could go.

• Plan an elevator shaft in case you want to install one later, in the meantime it will serve as storage closets. (Aging in Place)

Electrical & Plumbing

Lighting

• Prewire security system & cameras.

• Run wire and prepare roof for future solar.

• Separate 20z circuit with outlets at waist height in garage to
  plug in tools.

• Separate 20z circuit for TV and A/V equipment.

• Pre-wiring for music and speakers, inside and outside.

• iPad controllers in the walls to control whole house music systems.

• Pre-wire for generator to essential areas.

• Carbon monoxide unit on the wall near bedrooms.

• Include a 220V to garage (tools, future electric car, etc.)

• Measure the location of anything under the slab, and various utilities out in the yard.

• Include a drain in the garage to get rid of excess water from vehicles after rain and snow.

• Light switch to the attic in the hallway (and remember lights in attic in general).

• Solar tubes in areas that don’t get natural sunlight.

• In cabinet lights and outside lights on timers.

• Check all remotes for ceiling fans prior to construction completion.

• 3 way switches are helpful.

• Master switch from master bedroom that controls all exterior lights.

Master Bedroom

Holiday Preparedness

• 4 plug outlets near the bed in the master.

• A light switch at the head of your bed so you can turn out the light once you are in bed.

• Outlets under eaves for holiday lights, with a switch inside to turn on and off.

• Enough storage for holiday decorations.

• Seasonal closet with hangers for wreaths, and space for storage boxes.

• Outlets for holiday lights: over cabinets, in stairway, in porch ceiling, and under eaves.

Heating, Cooling, and Vacuums

Overall

• Central Vac with vac pans.

• Plan where furnace vents will go instead of letting the builder decide.

• HEPA filtration for allergy sufferers.

• Receptacles for fire extinguishers.

• Where possible, pocket doors.

• Add soundproofing where needed.

• A phone by the door leading into the garage for calls when you are getting in or out of the car.

• An inside button to open and close your garage door.

• Additional support during framing on the top side of windows for curtains.

• Ensure builders don’t “box” off spaces, where storage or shelving could go.

• Plan an elevator shaft in case you want to install one later, in the meantime it will serve as storage closets. (Aging in Place)