What are Your Must Haves When Building a New Home?

1. Wood floors in the main living area. Whether you choose hardwood or luxury vinyl plank, wood floors add beauty to your home. When the sun beams in, the grain in the floors is stunning! Carpet is great in the bedroom, but when it comes to the main living area—including the kitchen—you won’t go wrong with wood floors.

2. Main floor owner’s suite. The convenience of having this suite in close proximity to the main living spaces of the home can’t be overstated. It also adds to the home’s resale value and allows for aging in place.

3. Oversized showers. Always go for the bigger shower in the owner’s suite! You’ll never regret having more space in a space you use everyday. Add a built-in seat and whatever else you need. You’ll be thankful when you plan ahead to make your shower more functional.

4. More drawers in the kitchen. When planning your new kitchen, drawers in the bottom (base) cabinets are a smart choice. Drawers are so much easier to use than cabinets. Pull out a drawer to find what you need rather than dig around in a cabinet.

5. Built-in microwave. Get that appliance off your counter! Have it mounted into a space within your cabinet area or above your stove. You might even want to put your microwave under the counter on your kitchen island—anywhere but cluttering your counter space.

6. Ample under-cabinet lighting. The countertops under the cabinets are often too dark to make it a safe and useful workspace. Under-cabinet lighting brightens up the area and expands your kitchen’s usefulness.

7. Flex spaces. Some floor plans have a room by the front entry and call it a den, office, bedroom, or study. Maybe you don’t want your flex space right by the front door. A den or studio, for example, would benefit from privacy and quiet to promote relaxation or creativity. Look for a floor plan that offers flex space where you really want it. (Maybe even a bonus room upstairs!)

8. Closet organization. Shelves are a great start, but wouldn’t you like to move into your new construction home and find closets that give you more ways to organize? It’s so much easier to do before you start stashing your stuff here.

9. Laundry room near the owner’s suite. Most laundry (bedding, clothes, and towels) is generated near the bedrooms. It’s easier, safer and more sensible to situate the laundry room near the bedroom.

10. Storage, storage, and more storage. When buying a new home, storage is something that can easily get overlooked… until you move in and don’t have enough room for all the holiday decoration boxes, luggage, or whatever else you’re storing! Even if you are right-sizing, you want a home that utilizes every bit of space in all those nooks and crannies that most builders don’t take advantage of.