Building a new home is a very exciting time! But it can also be a stressful one as there are a lot of to-dos that need to be carried out. At Madison Homebuilders, we want to keep this time as fun and care-free as possible, that’s why we’ve composed this brief checklist to help keep you on track and ensure that the home building process runs smoothly.
If you’re unsure of what needs to be taken care of, let that go because we will be here to walk you through the entire build, but here’s are six items to consider if you prefer to get a head start on things:
1. Flooring
It may seem like common sense that flooring needs to be one of the items on your checklist, but there are so many questions you likely have not thought about.
Do you want hardwood floors or carpet? What about tile? Have you thought about luxury vinyl tile? Before you answer those questions, think about your lifestyle and daily routine. Does your home tend to be a bustling, noisy one? Having hardwood floors upstairs can be noisier, which is why many opt for carpeting as it will absorb some of the sounds. Additionally, hardwood is not the best in rooms that are prone to water leaks, such as the kitchen or bathroom, since it can warp the flooring.
When choosing which color hardwood to use, it may not seem like it, but dark hardwood floors are actually harder to clean than lighter shades. This is because dirt shows more on the darker floors.
Consider each option carefully before you make a decision.
2. Outlets
This is an important aspect to consider as you want to ensure that every room that needs an outlet has one (or preferably more than one). Think about what your electrical needs are – where do you usually charge your phone? Do you have a desktop or laptop computer? How many televisions are you planning on adding and in which rooms will they be located?
Something important to remember is that outlets found within six feet of water sources, such as a sink, need to have specific safety measures. The National Electric Code (NEC) states that any kitchen countertop that is at least 24 inches deep and 12 inches wide has to have electrical outlets, and this outlet must be within 2 feet of the kitchen sink. This may seem a bit close to water, but countertop outlets must also be protected with ground-fault circuit interrupters.
While this is an area where we excel, if you know you want to have additional outlets near the kitchen so you can easily charge your phone and your computer while running the blender and coffee pot, then let us know. If you and your family use a lot of electronics, it also would be a good idea to add USB outlets in areas where you regularly use these items.
Similarly, if you want exterior outlets in certain places, this is also something that should be discussed early on. Our standard features include 2 GFI outside electric outlets.
3. Lighting
When it comes to lighting, we want to make sure that you have both indoor and outdoor lighting on your home building checklist, as both are important.
Lights that will be based outdoors ensure adequate safety when entering the home at night. This means that you should think about how many entrances you will have to your home (front door, back door, side door) to confirm that each area is properly lit. Additionally, if you plan to host parties in your backyard or on your front patio, make sure that you have proper lightening out there as well.
For indoor lighting, you will need to note the lighting needs of each room. If you want dimmer switches in some rooms, tell this to your builder; think about the rooms where this would be beneficial. We include switched attic light and crawl space light, as well as switched lights in all walk-in closets.
Incorporating lights inside of closets will also ensure added ease and using recessed lighting on stairways tends to up the safety factor.
Recessed kitchen lights also come standard for all floorplans. It is the perfect way to show off those granite countertops, another standard feature.
4. Water Features
Plumbing is an essential component of any home. From the look of your kitchen sink to your bathroom toilet, you need to figure out the style that you want in each room. Standard in all of our homes is the stainless steel, double, 8-inch deep kitchen sinks, equipped with single lever faucets with a sprayer.
In our bathrooms, we install molded fiberglass tubs and showers with a 10-year warranty. The shower doors are installed in all fiberglass shower stalls. Elongated toilets are also found in all bathrooms. As marble countertops are quite popular, we like to use cultured marble tops in bathrooms and powder rooms.
In terms of utility, we add washer/dryer hook-ups that vent outside and include two outside frost-free water spigots. To be energy efficient, we place a 50-gallon, quick recovery, energy efficient electric hot water heater in our homes.
While these features will provide you with a functional, modern home, don’t forget to speak to your builder if you prefer upgraded options.
5. Exterior Finish
What would you like the outside of your home to look like? Another perk of building your home is that you get to customize the exterior as well!
Vinyl siding comes standard in our homes, however, brick veneer and Hardiplank siding are available for an additional charge. Shutters on the front elevation and deadbolt security locks are also included. And, if you want to add on any decking, we are happy to help!
Have you always dreamed of having a porch? The cost of porches, porch rails, stoops, and steps per plan and code are included in floorplans that have these features.
6. Storage
Having sufficient storage space is critical for most families.
Make sure there are closets in every space you desire – bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, and entryways, for example. Also, consider how you will utilize the area in your garage and if the floor plan you are leaning toward provides you with enough space.
Building a new home is an extremely exciting time for you and your family. We hope this introductory home building checklist helps you get a head start in planning your new space and even triggers ideas for what you really want to get out of your new home.
So, are you ready to get started? Reach out to our team today with any questions!