"Walk-in gun safe / safe room". Serves many uses (shelter from storms, criminals and storage of valuables).
OT: What special/custom features on a house provide great benefit with little cost?
- Thread starter Ranger Dan
- Start date
Funny, I asked this question of the board almost 14 years ago when my wife and I bought a new home (had it built, nothing spectacular). The best advice I was given was to purchase any features we wanted that could NOT be added later such as 9 foot ceilings, roughed in plumbing, holiday lighting (outlet under every front window and an outlet outside all on the same switch), extra outlets throughout house including closets, larger fuse block w/ extra fuses, outlets outside, cable outlet out front and out back, etc. I will say the advice I was provided and the number of responses on this board was awesome. Good luck to you.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
Heated floors, infinity pool, towel warmer, saltwater lap pool, six car garage....everyone has this stuff, right?
Seriously though - for those into home improvement shows and HGTV my good friend Lauren Liess (when we started working with her she was an up and coming designer/decorator in the D.C./ Virginia area) shot a pilot called 'Best House On The Block' for HGTV and it airs on Sunday at 2pm EST. It's not a house flipping show per se - more about making the home you have unique and personal. She's also pregnant with her fifth child - no idea how she does all of this. If you watch, let me know what you think. May be sometbing the wives are more into but there is a construction/DYI element for the fellas.
Seriously though - for those into home improvement shows and HGTV my good friend Lauren Liess (when we started working with her she was an up and coming designer/decorator in the D.C./ Virginia area) shot a pilot called 'Best House On The Block' for HGTV and it airs on Sunday at 2pm EST. It's not a house flipping show per se - more about making the home you have unique and personal. She's also pregnant with her fifth child - no idea how she does all of this. If you watch, let me know what you think. May be sometbing the wives are more into but there is a construction/DYI element for the fellas.
I. have geothermal HVAC at my home and work
2. I love the garbage cans on sliders inside the cabinets
3. Light switches that turn on the light when the closet door opens.
4. Mudroom
5.Open kitchen into the family room
6. dump any formal dining room
7. large and multiple garages (the new basement)
8. sliding dimmers on the lights.
9. Trex decking
10. Landscape up lighting.
11. His/hers master bedroom closets
12. Spice rack with a door along side the frig.so it's not deep just tall
13. Natural gas line for your grill.
14. anything master bedroom, master bath, kitchen gives the home a strong resale.
15. Have a master landscaping plan, but do it as you go with cash.
2. I love the garbage cans on sliders inside the cabinets
3. Light switches that turn on the light when the closet door opens.
4. Mudroom
5.Open kitchen into the family room
6. dump any formal dining room
7. large and multiple garages (the new basement)
8. sliding dimmers on the lights.
9. Trex decking
10. Landscape up lighting.
11. His/hers master bedroom closets
12. Spice rack with a door along side the frig.so it's not deep just tall
13. Natural gas line for your grill.
14. anything master bedroom, master bath, kitchen gives the home a strong resale.
15. Have a master landscaping plan, but do it as you go with cash.
Some good suggestions here. I would only add:
- Don't skimp on the return "cold" air vents. Helps circulate the air and keep the house comfortable and mitigate hot and cold spots. It can't be emphasized enough. So don't skimp on the return "cold" air vents!
- Don't settle for standard builder window. Upgrade to energy efficient one. Same with doors.
- Get a designer front door. Iron if you can swing it. Think first impressions.
- Frame outside walls in 2X6 rather than standard 2X4 for added insulation.
- Built in fire rated safe for storing valuables.
- Over sized double garage.
- A casita in the backyard for overnight guests. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. Think of a 12X10 shed with a few extra accoutrements (insulated, power, half bath, etc...). So should the Mother-in-law visit she knows her place.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
Good list - also dump formal living room. I'd keep the formal dining room instead - gets much more use in our house.
- location
- location
- location - this isn't a joke. the one thing you cannot change is location. Schools, water, trees, privacy, neighborhood...find the right place and the other issues are minor in comparison. Be careful that an open adjoining forest or field could be developed right next to your lot. Developers often build on every other lot to give a better impression, then go back and fill in the other lots to maximize their income potential
- Open floor plan. Watch any househunters on HG TV and the first thing they ask for, 98% of the time, is an "open floorpan". This is also hard to achieve post construction so it needs to be address out front. Consider a kitchen that opens to the living area....for parties, it is nice for the host and hostess to be able to engage with guests while putting final prep on dinner.
- finishes. People like the nicer finishes, meaning hardwood floors. In fact, minimize carpeting and many are associated dirt, mites, disease with carpeting. With hardwoods, you can clean them easier. I like natural surfaces as they never go out of style, but the new rectangular porcelain tiles are "in". I like marble, granite, and woods. the latest tech finish will look nuts in 20 years (then come back in style in 40 years).
- maximize the real living areas. These are the areas that sell the house and the ones that you use. the other rooms, like dining and other bedrooms, are secondary.
- living room
- kitchen
- master bedroom
- on-suit bathroom
- walk in closet
- Lots of windows and natural light. newer tech makes windows more efficient and energy costs are down. small windows date a house and make it dark.
- Put a lot of thought into lighting. A cool idea is often cheap but really makes a house show well. Lights under the cabinets on the floor make a nice glow. LED lights are cool and you have tons of options. I saw a house that had a smoked glass countertop with lights under it. The light color can be changed to make the counter top green, red, blue or whatever. Was way cool.
- Gals are the ones that make the decisions on buying what home. So make sure the kitchen is well thought out. Don't forget to make the microwave easy to access but nobody wants to see it. They really like a nice oven (two, if possible), gas cooktop, hood, and backsplash. Careful with the backsplash, some are cool but the design may "date" the kitchen down the road. I, again, suggest natural surfaces (we did ours in carrera marble). White is in for cabinets, as well as casing around windows, but your guess is as good as mine in what will be "in". I am seeing a lot more modern grey's. I like flip or flop and "fixer upper" to get ideas.
- take advantage of the location with a nice deck. Decks don't "sell" the house in my experience, but they do differentiate when competing with similar properties. Don't put too much money into it unless you've got something special (lake, forest).
- Other than that, lots of personal preferences. if you are looking to maximize resale value, try to keep away from trendy things or design differences that are harder to undo (crazy backsplash, crazy tiling in the bathrooms, wallpaper, etc. ). If you can't fix it with a coat of paint, don't do it.
you can have them add extra 'blocking' to the walls where you intend (or just might) hang a TV. The extra blocking really costs nothing, but not you can hang whatever TV you decide to have on the wall. And if decide not to use, who cares, no one will see it.
As someone who invests, renovates, and sells real estate, this post is spot on.
Think low maintenance, do not use any materials on the exterior of the house that are painted and as mentioned already use composite/PVC deck materials (note that some will get too hot to walk on barefoot)
speaking of laundry rooms, I've seen floor plans where the laundry room has direct access from the master bedroom closet... I like that feature. The laundry room should have a large utility sink.
correction.... oversized THREE car garage (or oversized double with a tandem bay for the third car/multi-purpose area)
Here are a few:
Spray insulate and utilize quality windows for energy efficiency.
Insulate interior walls to reduce noise throughout the home.
Exterior outlets -- for holiday decorations.
Ground lever bar -- drunks don't need steps.
Hot/cold water spigots on the exterior of the house.
Oversized garage.
USB ports in key rooms such as kitchen, living and bedrooms.
Composite decking and railing to reduce maintenance.
Large and spacious rooms with good traffic flow.
Try to match the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
Lots of storage space.
Spray insulate and utilize quality windows for energy efficiency.
Insulate interior walls to reduce noise throughout the home.
Exterior outlets -- for holiday decorations.
Ground lever bar -- drunks don't need steps.
Hot/cold water spigots on the exterior of the house.
Oversized garage.
USB ports in key rooms such as kitchen, living and bedrooms.
Composite decking and railing to reduce maintenance.
Large and spacious rooms with good traffic flow.
Try to match the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
Lots of storage space.
FlipperFish will be your next poster name. Glad it's working brother.
I've got a second floor laundry room right next to the Master and love it. However, it hasn't been much of a resale add on. many are concerned about leakage if the washer breaks.
I will say, if you have the money, an elevator is cool. many people look for a first floor master due to age or illness of some kind. But if you've got a cool elevator, the whole house is accessible by anyone.
I don't really think about 2nd floor masters anymore as MBR's should be on the main level. If you're building new with a laundry room on the second you can install waterproofing below the floor and slope the floor to a floor drain.
Assuming you have the lot to support a first floor master. Then factor in the priorities of a three car garage, two living areas, full first floor bath, full first floor walking closet, first floor guest bath....etc.
This was already on the list, along with the stripper pole... my wife and I are still trying to decide which one of us will be using the pole, however.
Thanks, katch. Except I hate that term "flip" -- To me it gives the impression of fast/cheap/shoddy work.
When we build in a year or two:
1. Tesla solar shingles
2. Zoned heating and cooling (for living space and each bedroom)
3. Geothermal water heater
4. NO NG
5. Walk-in pantry with custom shelves and an island for grocery bag unloading
6. 2 double wall ovens
7. Butler Pantry with sink
8. Kitchen with cooking island with Hibachi grill and a second food prep island
9. Large 6 burner cook top
10. 36" fridge and 36" freezer
11. Banquet sized dinning room
12. Hearth room in kitchen
13. Outdoor entertainment area with large grill, smoker, fireplace
14. In-ground pool
15. 6 car garage
16. Wine Cellar
17. Home theater
18. Exercise room
19. Finished basement for a pool table, bar, and a few tables... multiple large screen TVs
20. Large partially finished space for my new O-Gauge train layout
if the lot is big enough we'll probably have some grape vines so my FiL can make wine... and teach me how to do it.
1. Tesla solar shingles
2. Zoned heating and cooling (for living space and each bedroom)
3. Geothermal water heater
4. NO NG
5. Walk-in pantry with custom shelves and an island for grocery bag unloading
6. 2 double wall ovens
7. Butler Pantry with sink
8. Kitchen with cooking island with Hibachi grill and a second food prep island
9. Large 6 burner cook top
10. 36" fridge and 36" freezer
11. Banquet sized dinning room
12. Hearth room in kitchen
13. Outdoor entertainment area with large grill, smoker, fireplace
14. In-ground pool
15. 6 car garage
16. Wine Cellar
17. Home theater
18. Exercise room
19. Finished basement for a pool table, bar, and a few tables... multiple large screen TVs
20. Large partially finished space for my new O-Gauge train layout
if the lot is big enough we'll probably have some grape vines so my FiL can make wine... and teach me how to do it.
I'm adding a second level to my primary residence. I'm putting a big "closet" in the hallway near the master that will be fitted for laundry. We plan on using it for laundry, and then when we sell someday, can remove the laundry and sell it as a really big storage space that can be laundry room too if so desired.
If two story, and people will be sleeping on second floor, 2 A/C units.
Toto toilets - they can flush a watermelon
Plumbing for bathroom in basement
220 in garage
Powerwall
HUGE closet(s) in MBR
HUGE garage - I actually had to reduce the size of mine due to local ordinances (ratio of garage to total square footage)
Toto toilets - they can flush a watermelon
Plumbing for bathroom in basement
220 in garage
Powerwall
HUGE closet(s) in MBR
HUGE garage - I actually had to reduce the size of mine due to local ordinances (ratio of garage to total square footage)
Not much of a factor, you could fit all those features into a quarter acre lot if you wanted to.
I like your idea of the extra room in the basement.
One for me, and thats because I use my deck and patio as an extension of my living space in the spring, summer and fall,
is a good deck and or patio.
I just had composite done and its a pro/con kind of thing. I like it because all I have to do now is just wash it down to clean it and it looks great but it has its drawbacks. It can get incredibly hot in the sun, can be slipper if there is a heavy due or rain, some are also prone to fading. In the end though, at least for me, it out weights having to power wash, seal or replace wood every year.
I'd like to have you share your floorplan then. given setback codes, 32 ft wide by 22 ft deep 3 car garage, kitchen, two bathrooms, two living areas, bedroom, laundry, and walk-in closet you've got quite a footprint but you learn new things everyday!
8' basement ceiling height for sure.
1st level master bed and bath in a "forever home."
Definitely a pantry.
Plan your outdoor space. A patio, deck, or porch increases your living space for cheap six months per year.
Hardwood and tile. The real deal.
1st level master bed and bath in a "forever home."
Definitely a pantry.
Plan your outdoor space. A patio, deck, or porch increases your living space for cheap six months per year.
Hardwood and tile. The real deal.
my wife and I have this discussion all the time. To me, the last thing I want to do (after spending a ton for a great home) is hang out in the basement. She, on the other hand, likes a place to dump the kid's play things or the man cave. She calls it "below see level"; anything a guest can't see when they are invited into the home.
To me the best thing about a finished basement is it can be a great place to go to escape really hot days without cranking up the A/C too much.
hmm....first world problems! I keep my house at 75 in the summer, 68 in the winter and adjust with layers of clothing (or lack thereof). I do get it as a workout room.
I am mindful of global warming and leaving the world a better place "for the children". I guess everyone is not so considerate!
Keep in mind that setback requirements can vary greatly from locality to locality. This plan with the three car option is about 50' wide, so the lot can be as narrow as 60' (x225 deep). The depth of the plan is about 65' deep on a 225 deep lot, easy for subdivision type lots in a metro area.
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that would mean not getting permits to finish the basement to get away with it, not a good idea and tougher to do with reputable contractors..... and if you don't disclose when you sell you're opening yourself up to more trouble. With all that being said, I finished my basement, doing all the work myself, without a permit....lol
I don't agree. 60' wide typically means 80 foot wide lot, 70' at a very minimum. Depth wise, that plan is much more than 60', but they do not give the depth. My local regs are that only 1/3rd of the lot can be building (meaning a 60 foot deep building comes with another 120 feet for the front and back combined) and that leads to potential privacy issues. Regardless, 3 bedrooms, a single living area, the master being next to the living area (think noise), and curb appeal are all major sacrifices the owner must make. I guess it is individual desires and priorities.
