New house help!

[outstandinfarmer]

We are buying a new condo real soon. We think we've found the place. They are putting up a lot of new complexes around us so it has offered us a lot of options. There are buidings and ones that look like houses. They offer more then we ever imagined we could have. What are things we should be looking at when buying a condo?

For example:
We LOVE the walk through basement and we will absolutely get that. For $20,000 more, we can have the extra 1,000 square feet which will give us room to grow.

Also what are things that we shouldn't forget to include. They come completely empty and they aren't finished building yet so we pick out absolutely EVERYTHING. What are things that you suggest we add or at least think about adding.

Example:
We kind of like the "to the ceiling" cabinets in the kitchen. It gives a lot of room to put things away so they don't end up on the floor.

We are also thinking about adding the air purifier system to the house because my allergies are so bad and it would help eliminate all the problems.

I also LOVE the screened in porches!!!

Things like this--what are things we should think about when buying?

 

[Tony-NJ]

Sounds great for you. Good luck!

think about the "to the ceiling cabinets " - will you be able to reach that high LOL? I guess I'm short and need a step stool sometimes LOL! How about a fireplace? The extra space sounds great! Sometimes I wish we did this instead of the house.

 

[mickeyboat]

Also, with allergies I would look for hardwood floors as opposed to carpet.

Denae

 

[Beth76]

Lighting fixtures (or at least an outlet) in all rooms!!!! The people who built our house didn't this in any of the bedrooms. Fortunately my dad has worked as an electrician. He was able to completely install and wire ceiling fans for us. But, it was a pain and would have been very expensive if we had to pay someone.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Our builder and just about everyone else tried to talk us out of cabinets all the way to the ceiling. We didn't listen and it's one of the best things we did. The kitchens upstairs and down stairs both go all the way up. We have an open living room, dining room and kitchen, separated by a large island. The cabinets draw people's attention as soon as they walk in the door.

Other things we did that we like.....

CENTRAL VACUUM

Outlets, outlets, outlets. More than you think you would ever need. This includes electrical, cable and phone... inside the home, inside the garage, and outside as well. We can watch TV on our deck!

High ceilings (9') - even in the basement. Makes the house look much bigger.

Ceiling fans

Overhead lighting - flexible options

Kitchen height vanities in the bathrooms. Much more convenient!!

Hardwood floors. We have dogs and kids.... much easier to keep clean than carpeted areas.

I am sure I will think of more... PM me if you have any questions!

 

[mep319]

I had ceiling cabinets in my old house and didn't want them in this house. I like being able to put things on top and I'm only 5'3" so I never can use the top shelves anyway...I find it to be a waste. We just had a new house built a little over a year ago. These are the things I wish we would have done/waited on

If you have stairs and plan on having hardwood in the house do the stairs too! I hate having carpet on the stairs!

Screen in porch/air purifier/lighting...if you have extra money wait till after...it is usually much cheaper than what the builder will charge. Get the standard lighting and then buy and install your own fictures..much cheaper...of course this excludes recessed lighting etc. Light fictures are very easy to replace! Higher ceilings do make a difference. If planning on finished basement get the plumbing in the basement if you want a bathroom/wet bar. Can't think of anything else right now!

 

[OhMari]

I would get the air purifier, I also live in Wisconsin and August is brutal with rag weed.

.[/QUOTE] We kind of like the "to the ceiling" cabinets in the kitchen. It gives a lot of room to put things away so they don't end up on the floor.

I have these cabinets in my house and if you don't need the things on the top shelves you will be fine, otherwise you have to get a stool or chair to get things down, unless you stand 6'0.

I also live in Wisconsin and I am not a farmer, but my grandparents and uncles are.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by OhMari

I have these cabinets in my house and if you don't need the things on the top shelves you will be fine, otherwise you have to get a stool or chair to get things down, unless you stand 6'0.

LOL! I am over 6' and I still need a stool to get things down!

I just store stockpot, crockpot, cookie cutters..... things I don't use every day in those cabinets. Store a step stool in the laundry room around the corner, and waaaaalllllllaaaaa! Extra usable storage!

 

[Nette]

Surprised no one mentioned this yet, but get them to put a big jacuzzi tub in now.

1) It's easier to get a bigger tub in before all the walls are finished
2) It'll cost you more down the road for a smaller tub.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by Nette
Surprised no one mentioned this yet, but get them to put a big jacuzzi tub in now.

I agree.... we got a 7 person hot tub instead of just the bath tub with jets!

 

[Desnik]

Everyone I know that has a jacuzzi tub all say they never use it!LOL
I have cabinets to the ceiling in my house now and don't really care for it. They look nice but I am short and have to climb to get to anything up there!

With a townhouse, I would always pay extra to be an end unit. You will only have people on one side. Ask if there is a fire wall between the units and if there is any sound debtening material. I have lived in 2 townhouses. One was old and we could hear everything! The new construction one we couldn't hear anything from our neighbors.

I would also say no carpet on the steps. I actually love hardwood floors on the first floor. I am building a house now and am going to do the HW on the first floor and steps. DH like carpet in the bedrooms.

Central vacuum.

Air purifier.

If you have a deck/patio then get Trex or other brand like it. It lasts forever, no maintanance and looks great. I had this on a previous house we built and loved it!

Overhead lighting, and ceiling fans. Do it now.

A fireplace. We have a gas one now and love it. Just a flick of the switch and that's it. It also has a blower on it and actually heats up the downstairs!!

I'll post if I think of more. I know it is so difficult to think of everything! We are going through it too, but it is fun and exciting!!
Good luck!

 

[mep319]

We have the tub...not a seven person and never use it. It wasn't an upgrade so no big lost...I'm not a bath person. I don't have time!

 

[outstandinfarmer]

What is this central vacuum business? I've heard of it, but I guess I really don't know what it all includes.

We are for sure getting a gas fireplace. We've always wanted one and we said we wouldn't live anywhere that didn't have one.

If we don't put carpet on the steps, if you are in socks, will you fly down the stairs? I don't like full carpeting on steps, but I don't want to fall. Sometimes you see it's just partially carpeted. I would like the wood over carpet, but I just don't want any accidents.

As much as I'd like to say I'd use the jacuzzi, I don't think I would.

I've got to have a overhead fan. Every one we have now is constantly on. It may not be as pretty, but for as much as we use it now, it's a necessity.

We are also getting the 9' ceilings. With the tall ceilings it makes the room look SOOO much bigger. We love that feature!

(BTW, I'm 6' tall so tall cabinets won't be THAT much of a problem. We just love that we can keep more things out in our kitchen in the cabinets, than in a box in storage in the basement. )

 

[Jenn Lynn]

A steam shower! I was reading about these last night and they sound great!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by outstandinfarmer
What is this central vacuum business? I've heard of it, but I guess I really don't know what it all includes.

You have a canister - usually mounted in the garage (like ours) or in the basement. Then you run pipes in the walls and have outlets in each area of the house. You have one hose and "vacuum" that you can move around and plug in wherever you need to use it. The suction power is AWESOME and if you mount the canister in the garage you can even vent it outside. Check out www.ristenbatt.com for more info.

We love ours and I would never build without one. It cleans so much more efficiently than our old Hoover! By the way, our central vac is a Hayden.

Good luck with your new home!!!