Thinking about building a new home? Perhaps you’ve sifted through mountains of pamphlets, booklets, and other inspiration for your new construction home. However, before building or buying a new construction home, homeowners often overlook small details that can be easily forgotten during the house-building process.
Keeping in mind the little forgotten things can help save you time, money, and stress on extra home maintenance later down the road. And we’re here to show you what to never forget, so that your next custom build goes off without a hitch.
Our building experts and design team discussed what makes a custom home build great, and what aspects of a new build should never be forgotten, and voila! Our list of 11 small things that should not be forgotten when building a home.
Can you guess what they are? Read on to learn.
Table: 11 Small things that get forgotten when building a house
| 1. Kitchen cabinet lights 2. Kitchen cabinet features 3. Bathroom shower head placement 4. Bathroom storage options 5. Whole-house light switches and power outlets 6. Outdoor additions 7. Laundry room utility placements 8. WiFi and electronic placement 9. Multimedia placement 10. Additional materials 11. House number |
1. Kitchen cabinet lights
You’ve built everything, and the kitchen sink, but one of the most trivial aspects of a new home build that many homeowners forget are lights for their cabinets.
Lights above cabinets can bring life to an otherwise dark area, and underlighting near cabinets can create an ambiance and glow to your cooking corner.
2. Kitchen cabinet features
When you’re busy picking out wall paint colors and a gazillion other selections, it’s easy to forget about small details that can really help improve the quality, function, and utility of your kitchen area.
One of those details is kitchen organization. Kitchen cabinets with deep drawers can hold pots, pans, and other bulky kitchen items. What’s more, soft-close drawers can help prevent friction, wear and tear, and unnecessary noises when closing cabinets.
Finally, a pull-out spice rack is helpful for the many spices you might have in your kitchen. By opting for kitchen cabinetry, you can create a cleaner-looking kitchen that’s ready for action.
3. Bathroom shower head placement
For the taller members of your family, particularly individuals who are six feet or taller, you might consider placing the shower head a little higher than you would think. Most of the time, the showerhead hangs somewhere about three inches below its fitting.
If needed, you can always opt for a lower and a higher shower head. Dual showerheads are perfect for those looking for more functionality and flexibility in their bathroom space.
4. Bathroom storage options
Many people wish they had more storage options for extra toiletries. Consider adding recessed medicine cabinets hidden behind bathroom mirrors or a recessed toiletry space in the shower.
These strategic places often fit between studs in the wall, and they’re often forgotten when building a custom home. If building out a new home, consider asking your custom home builder about recessed storage options in your bathroom.
5. Whole-house light switches and power outlets
Another one of the things to consider when building a custom home is electricity and power outlets. Don’t forget to consider the placement of light switches and power outlets. Consider whether you need to turn on the light before entering a room, or when entering smaller spaces like the pantry.
Also, is your house equipped with light switches in the right locations?
If you often work at your dining room table with your laptop, are pull-out power outlets available? Whether you’re considering a detached or attached home, ask your builder about the possibilities of pull-out power outlets and light dimmer technology for smoother-operating, more functional living spaces.
6. Outdoor additions
If you’re making the inside of your home the centerpiece of living, landscaping and backyard aren’t always the first thing on your mind. Whether you’re considering an irrigation system for your landscape or a gas line to run to your home, consider the placement of all materials for your outdoor space.
7. Laundry room utility placements
We get it: laundry rooms aren’t where all the action is. But, many people forget how essential a laundry room is.
Counter space is a must in laundry rooms, as it helps you to fold clothes and store extra items. You may even find you’d prefer a rack to hang clothes or deep shelving to store towels and linens.
As part of the custom home building process, consider adding storage space and extra shelves for your laundry room.
8. WiFi and electronic placement
Something that often goes overlooked is the placement of internal electronic systems like WiFi, sound systems, and other customizable electronic features. Ask your builder about including a hardline system where you can control your router, your signal, and even the placement of speakers and other digital media.
9. Multimedia placement
Speaking of media, how about other multimedia devices like televisions, musical instruments like pianos, and sound systems? While not every family has a television, an electric piano, an electronic drum kit, or even a large sound system, if you do have one, consider where it might best fit in your home.
Sticking it in the corner somewhere may be an optimal idea, but taking time to think about where you’d like large multimedia objects can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home.
Once you’ve decided where you’re going to house larger multimedia, you’ll want to ensure each multimedia has the right power and connections to run at peak capacity. If in doubt, you can always ask your builder where they think the best place is for large electronics.
10. Extra materials
Once your home is all clean and finished, don’t forget to ask your builder for a little swatch of the materials used. Keeping leftover tile, wallpaper, print, grout, trim, and carpeting can help you if you ever need to adjust something in the future.
What’s more, if you ever want to adjust your existing layout, you can always go to your team and show them the materials you’ve used in the past. Advising your builder or design team on what you’ve tried in the past will help them give you more personalized renovation advice tailored to your needs.
11. House number
Another easy-to-forget detail for home builds and remodels is the house number itself. Many people assume that their home will be easy to find, but with faulty GPS coordinates from apps, coupled with limited visibility, finding a house number can sometimes feel like a monumental challenge.
When your house is built, consider making the number of your house easily accessible from the street to avoid confusion about where your house is. Doing so will help your mailman and new guests find your home.
Jazz’s checklist for items to always remember when building a home
We’ve talked a great deal about what not to forget, but here’s a list of items to reference as you build out your home. Consider the following for each of the rooms listed below:
- Kitchen: Ample counter space, organized storage space, and energy-efficient appliances
- Bathroom: Proper plumbing, effective lighting, and excellent ventilation
- Bedroom: Sufficient closet space, appropriate lighting, and privacy with window treatments
- Basement: Waterproofing, insulation for temperature control, and egress windows for safety
- Attic: Proper insulation, ventilation, and accessible entryways (for example, pull-down ladders or staircases)
- Garage: Organized storage, bright lighting, and an insulated garage door
- Living room: Layered lighting, comfortable seating, and space for an entertainment system
Curious to see what a finished renovation looks like? Check out this featured primary suite we built in beautiful New Jersey.
Before you build your new home, choose your builder wisely
At the end of the day, when you’re building your home, the greatest asset you have is your team. Data suggests that building a new home takes anywhere from eight to 18 months from start to finish.
When you work with an experienced and knowledgeable custom builder, they’ll help you keep track of all the little details needed to make your house a home, so you can finish on time and on budget. Whether you’re considering floor accents or soundproof walls, a quality builder will be able to provide accurate quotes, timelines, and costs for all the smaller details of a home.
If you live in the New Jersey area, get in touch with us. Our design-build firm has more than 20 years of experience in construction and real estate. We’re fastidious about the details, so rest assured, we’ll make sure you have everything you need to feel confident and comfortable with your new build.
If you’re planning a custom build or renovation, contact us today. We’d be happy to help.
