Building a home
 

How many bathrooms will it have?

Also, before choosing a builder, ask for references from clients who purchased homes he built and see if you can get a review of the quality of his work. Showhomes can be deceptive.

Amen. I'm ditching my condo and going back to renting as soon as I can.

Dont take anything for granted even with a reputable builder. The boss may be a good guy but the guys actually pounding in the nails may be *******s. Do the research and (at least) spot check their work. Try to think ahead a few years and imagine future problems. For example: dont plant a tree near a sprinkler head or septic tank, will the location of the rain down-spouts cause a flood if you have a heavy rain or snowmelt.

Can't stand renting. Douchey landlords, living on their terms, etc. Twice in my short life the place I was renting, the owner decided to sell. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/rolleyes.gif

This is my main concern. I've tried to do as much research as possible but it's impossible. I imagine if I ask for references they'll give me people where everything was 100% perfect.

I did find a JD Powers & Associates survey on customer satisfaction for all of the major builders in the city, and there's quite a spread. That's all I've got so far.

One of the homes we toured had an entirely glass shower, all 4 sides, that could fit about six people comfortably inside. And it was included somewhat randomly near the middle of the master bedroom.

The saleslady actually called it the infamous "porn shower".

Some of the sales people seemed mildly annoyed that I came prepared. I'd downloaded floorplans and off-the-shelf customization options from their website, downloaded the 20-year master plan for the region from the City's website, etc. So while they kept showing me "great lots" which "backed on to greenspace", I'd note that the greenspace will become a 6-lane artery within 20 years and they would reluctantly show me other lots.

After 2 years of wrestlign with improving the wife and my condo, I am ready to throw in the towel. Except I can't get over pay 350 a month in HODs and no mortgage.

Good lord!

Now I know I'm old http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/frown.gif

I'd hire someone from the trades to act as an inspector for you while it is being built.

There's some really suspect stuff going on in the construction industry, and the inspectors you'd think should stop it don't seem to be very effective.

will the location of the rain down-spouts cause a flood if you have a heavy rain or snowmelt http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/frown.gif I've spent a few years discovering and repairing drainage mistakes, but god knows why they put a sump pump inside instead of just using gravity to drain the sides of the house - we're on a hill damnit. They literally bring the water inside to be pumped out maybe 15 ft away from the wall they're bringing it in thru http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/mad.gif

We also got a 6 in foundation instead of 4 in, we got a bunch of clay in our soil and it apparently aint too good for foundations - traps water more I guess. The upper sections got more 6 in planks than the usual 4, not that'll matter much in an F3 or F5, but a solid roof is nice in heavy snow country. Not as nice as an A frame http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif but they take a pounding from wind.

gl Asher, sounds like you're doin yer homework - check into hard and soft water too, our place is 30+ years old and the hard water is having its effect

My father once designed a southern home for upstate New York and wondered why the heating bill was so high.

NW...we're building in Sage Hill.

We were also leaning towards Morrison Homes if only because I've heard nothing but good things. And they've won Builder of the Year 10 years in a row, top of the JD Powers survey, etc.

You have covered the main things in doing your homework and doing your best to get a reputable builder. I would also recommend

- check in at the home often ( we found where the builder super would put his deficiencies list and then would note everything down and check it afterward-- we liked that our super seemed very picky)
- watch out for upgrades-- Its easy to know about the added cost of granite or hardwood but often the spec for carpets, plumbing and light fixtures etc etc is crap and you will have to pay more-- Our sales guy was very upfront on those points from the start and we budgetted extra even before we signed -- For example the "applicance allowance " is often pathetic and you will pay way more. These all add up and what you get for the allowance is not what you might want.

Have to run now but if I think of more I will let you know-- have to go vote!! http://www.discussworldissues.com/im...ons/icon14.gif Thanks

Yeah, we have very hard water here. As the home is being built, I'm planning to have them install at the same time central air conditioning, a water softener, and underground sprinklers in the yard. http://www.discussworldissues.com/im...ons/icon14.gif

Just make sure it is Zombie Proof.

http://all-that-is-interesting.com/p...ie-proof-house

Thats how they're built. You can put stuff in after but it means tearing the house to pieces. See Holmes. Think ahead, put in fiber optic cable throughout.

As for sprinklers, again think ahead. I just spent days dealing with a sprinkler head that the previous owners had planted virtually at the foot of a tree. Here's a fact, tree's (and their roots) grow. As the tree grows the roots **** up the underground pipes. Fixing that simple problem is a ****ing ***** requiring a lot of hard digging. Also watch the placement of the solenoids. Above ground can be ugly but below ground is more work to fix when they break (and they will). I have 7 underground for our garden (so 7 zones). They are jammed together, which makes for a fairly tidy group of two almost unseen boxes that the previous owners must have thought was nice. Fixing a leaking solenoid (which is fairly simple once you get to them) is, again, a ****ing ***** that requires a shitload of digging. Again, look for trees.

Make sure the bastards use pvc pipe throughout ie check what they're doing before they hide it. I found out have a few connections and pipes that are metal making any repairs 10 times the effort to fix. Try cutting a metal pipe 2 feet underground with regular home tools!

If you have a big yard, dont buy an electric lawnmower. The idea is nice but I swear at mine cos of the cord every time I use it. I'd like to try those robots but I have too many obstacles and parts of the front yard are too steep.

Spend money on mega insulation, best windows, energy efficient devices. It pays for itself in a very short while.

Live close to a Home Depot and become friends with power tools.

Each room is wired with Cat6 right now. You think it's worth it to put fibre in?

As a sidenote, the home is built with Fibre to the Home installed. http://www.discussworldissues.com/im...ons/icon14.gif

As for sprinklers, again think ahead. I just spent days dealing with a sprinkler head that the previous owners had planted virtually at the foot of a tree. Here's a fact, tree's (and their roots) grow. As the tree grows the roots **** up the underground pipes. Fixing that simple problem is a ****ing ***** requiring a lot of hard digging. Also watch the placement of the solenoids. Above ground can be ugly but below ground is more work to fix when they break (and they will). I have 7 underground for our garden (so 7 zones). They are jammed together, which makes for a fairly tidy group of two almost unseen boxes that the previous owners must have thought was nice. Fixing a leaking solenoid (which is fairly simple once you get to them) is, again, a ****ing ***** that requires a shitload of digging. Again, look for trees.

Make sure the bastards use pvc pipe throughout ie check what they're doing before they hide it. I found out have a few connections and pipes that are metal making any repairs 10 times the effort to fix. Try cutting a metal pipe 2 feet underground with regular home tools!

If you have a big yard, dont buy an electric lawnmower. The idea is nice but I swear at mine cos of the cord every time I use it. I'd like to try those robots but I have too many obstacles and parts of the front yard are too steep.

Spend money on mega insulation, best windows, energy efficient devices. It pays for itself in a very short while.

Live close to a Home Depot and become friends with power tools. Thanks http://www.discussworldissues.com/im...ons/icon14.gif

You're more of a techie than I but if you have fibre to the house then I think it definitely makes sense.

Get a canned laughter track ready, and play it every time you get told the budget.

No housebuilding project ever stays inside budget.