A custom home encompasses a lot of details. From getting the right materials to the home’s layout, hundreds of decisions must be made, and, unfortunately, things get missed. Then, minor flaws in design or details that haven’t been gone over can become massive headaches that need to be solved later.
While it’s natural to forget a few things here and there, these are the small things that get forgotten when building a house that you won’t want to forget. Don’t let these small things slip your mind!
Keep reading to discover the small things that get forgotten when building a house and ensure you’re not overlooking anything important. Remember, a little forethought goes a long way in creating your dream home.
Power Outlets
Where power outlets matter so much in a custom home, some of the outlet considerations include kitchen countertops, bathroom countertops, and where you may put a home entertainment area in the living room.
Additional considerations are garage outlets to plug in power tools or equipment, basement outlets required depending on how you intend to use that space, and home office outlets.
Your Home’s Future Needs
A small thing often forgotten when building a house is what your future might look like, especially with younger homeowners planning for the life they have today in the custom home building but not for what’s around the corner.
Home builders should consider the extra bedrooms you may want for children and friends staying with you, to use as an Airbnb-style rental, or perhaps for elderly parents. Think of what you might want 10, 15, or 20 years later. Plan for all outcomes within reason.
Laundry Room
Your laundry room isn’t the most exciting room in the house but its layout matters. How you design a laundry room should remember things like if you want a countertop to help fold clothes, laundry room storage and shelving, whether to put a sink in and if you want a hanging rack to help clothes air-dry.
Storage Space
Most know that a certain amount of storage is needed in our homes. However, we don’t always understand the plan enough. Consider closets and where they might go, i.e. near entryways, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Think about built-in shelves that can maximize a room’s storage potential.
Recessed Bathroom Storage
Bathrooms are always in need of more storage. Recessed storage can be put in the shower, as a medicine cabinet, behind the bathroom mirror, or above the toilet. Small compartments like this can be built between the studs in the walls. It’s simple to do and contributes a lot of utility to the bathroom.
Shower Head Height
If you’re above 6 feet tall, a shower head fitting should be installed slightly higher than standard. A shower head should hang approx three inches below the fitting. This takes some calculating to figure out how to design and build the right shower for you, in addition to what accessories and type of shower head you want.
Lighting & Light Switches
Where your light switches matter. You might want to turn on the light before you enter the room. Look at smaller spaces and see if you have the lighting you need in there.
Regarding light placement, you also have outdoor lighting incorporated through your landscaping. Consider where those switches may go and what lighting arrangements you want in every corner.
Outdoor Living Spaces
Of course, so much custom home building and building a house is focused on what’s inside. Outside matters, too. Patios, decks, and porches. Walkways and gardens. There are many ways to extend a home’s square footage and use a front yard or backyard. These additions aren’t necessarily costly, either, compared to other features.
Water Drainage
As we’re discussing outdoors, there is also the subject of water drainage. Every home needs proper drainage to handle water runoff. If this is not planned, water can pool, water damage is possible, and then there’s the possibility of flooding.
A future fix will be much more expensive than deciding on a water drainage strategy as you build.
Door & Window Placement
Carefully consider where to put your doors and windows. This will decide how much natural light you receive indoors. Privacy is also a consideration. Think of where your home faces, i.e. if it’s facing the street, and what you can or cannot see from outside.
Also, think about direction. It’s known that windows and doors facing east or west can waste twice the energy as those placed north and south.
Keep All Extra Materials
Lastly, holding onto any extra materials left over after a project can be extremely helpful when building a house. Keep extras of tile, carpet, grout, wallpaper, paint, and trim. It can be used for a future repair, or, at the very least, you will have a sample you can take to the hardware store to find a match.
As complete as you can, keep a list of all selections, finishes, and paint colours used in the home, as this can prove invaluable.
