Building your future house is an exciting adventure. You imagine yourself living in your own space, enjoying your privacy, relaxing in your cozy room, and inviting your friends. You spend long hours online searching for the perfect furniture, accessories, and appliances. You are just too eager to move in.
Then the big day comes. You are overcome with excitement and pride. Until you realize that the house needs extra outdoor outlets, security fences, storage spaces, etc. Your heart sinks in disappointment.
If you are the next homeowner reading this, here are some house features most homeowners forget to consider while building their house. Prep yourself up for them.
1. Set a buffer budget
Depleting your savings to indulge in an extravagant or luxurious home design would leave you unhappy. You need to set a budget and avoid taking out a loan as much as possible. However, be prepared for hidden costs or contingencies. Ask your contractor all the questions you have in mind. Take time to sit down and ask for hidden costs. Demand a fixed price and itemized quota instead of single buying estimates. Don’t sign any contract if it has TBAs or “to be announced” expenses. It would catch you off guard. Providing a buffer budget is a practical solution to this.
2. Heated floor
Nothing beats the feeling of stepping onto a heated floor after coming out from a warm bath or stepping out of bed in winter mornings. It is a mood uplifting feature. Moreover, it is economical and easy to install.
3. High-tech and smart home
The digital age requires quick results thru efficient processes. Your home is not an exception. If you want to cope with today’s fast-paced life, leveraging technology can do wonders. Here is some smart home technology you could look into:
- Smart appliances: televisions, lights, refrigerators, and vacuum cleaners
- Home security system: CCTV cameras, security alarms, doorbell cameras, and smart door locks
- Ample power outlets with USB charging points
- Voice control: works like a digital assistant, though it can perform a variety of tasks, from setting a timer to giving you the latest weather update
- Smart thermostat: automatically adjusts the room temperature as you enter
- Built-in speaker systems
4. Sun tunnels
They are also called daylight tubes, tubular skylights, solar pipes, or flexible skylights.
We know that natural light is relaxing, reassuring, and reduces stress. It kills bacteria, too. A sun tunnel acts as tunnel skylights that light a room without the use of electricity. It is airtight and watertight, making them weather-resistant. You could also place them anywhere you want but preferably in the living room, kitchen or bathroom.
An alternative to letting the sunlight get into your home is building a custom deck instead of a window. This allows much light and air to come in naturally. It adds aesthetic value to your home too.
5. Extra electrical outlets
Relatives and friends drop visits once in a while. Chances are, they have their gadgets and would want to stay online all the time. Putting up extra electrical outlets is now a must in every household. Your family members are glued to their devices until the wee hours. So setting up electrical outlet in these areas would ensure continuous performance:
- Garage
- Near the bed
- Entertainment room
- Kitchen island
- Under the windows
- Bathroom
- Awning (for Christmas lights)
- Under the fireplace
6. Garage floor drain
Providing a garage floor drain saves you a lot of headaches when water drainage becomes a problem. It is a big help during unexpected flooding. It allows water to drain off your vehicles, and it also helps you clean your garage easily.
7. Built-in cabinetry
Nothing is more frustrating than bringing all your stuff from your old to your new place, only to find out that you need to discard them. No matter how limited your space is, building cabinets and storage spaces could be one of the priorities. Constructing built-in cabinets is more practical and economical if you don’t intend to live there longer. Provide extra closets for bedding, linens, blankets, and towels to find them easier.
8. Adjacent laundry room
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a large kitchen that has extra space for a laundry room. But if your kitchen has limited space, setting up a laundry room in a small outdoor space would be better. It lends order to your house and removes that damp odor when you hang your clothes indoors.
Transferring to your new house signals a milestone. It is the beginning of a new journey for you and your family. It is where dreams, aspirations, characters, and memories are built. But before you embark on this big project, take a moment to check these house features. Forgetting them could spell disaster that no one wants.
