Home Removal Services Blog

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments youll make in your life. It can be a daunting task, with so many steps in the process and so many questions to ask. If you are considering buying a new construction home, there are specific considerations to take into account. Before making an offer on a newly built house, make sure you make the following inquiries of the homebuilder.

The Home

What options or upgrades are available? If the home you toured was a shell home or a model home, it was likely built without a specific buyer in mind. By asking what types of customization options the builder is willing to offer, you can end up with a new home that is just right for you and your family.

What type of foundation is the home built upon? Your homes foundation is one of the most important elements of the property, as it will carry the entire load of the structure. There are three basic types of foundations available for new homes. These types of foundations include:

- Basement – Crawl space – Slab

Make sure the type of foundation used in the new property is appropriate to the local conditions and the local building tradition.

How thick are the walls? Wall thickness in new homes can be either 2×6 or 2×8. Some builders prefer double wall construction. Thicker walls mean better insulation from the outside elements, which in turn reduces what you spend on heating and cooling.

Does the property have rain gutters? It may seem like a silly question, but you would be surprised. Make sure you find out if the gutters (if they are included) are seamless.

What appliances are included? Find out if you will need to buy a refrigerator, oven/range, dishwasher or washer and dryer, as this will add to your costs if not included.

The Builder How long has the builder been building homes in your area?

Have you ever thought about how much storage space you really need in your next new house? It’s understandable that it’s not the first thing on your mind when you are figuring floor plans and where the home entertainment center should go. But designing your closet storage in your new home should be almost as important as any other area.

Let me help you with some inventive ideas for realizing how important your closet storage design really is. A properly designed system for keeping your things organized and easily accessible is the key to a happy home.

These days, closets are much more than a simple square box with a clothes rod and shelf overhead. Closets now have turned into specialized storage spaces, with shelves and boxes and hangers specially suited to the objects they will house. The trend towards walk-in closets has also continued, so much more though needs to be given to the effective and efficient use of these larger storage areas.

So the first big question when designing each of your storage areas is whether it should be a walk-in or not. The biggest factor for most people will be the space (and therefore cost) that a walk-in closet requires. If that’s not a concern for you, then the second question should be “do I really need a walk-in closet”? Remember, if you have too much storage space, it will typically be used, and the danger of clutter is just as much a concern as if you have too little room to store your items.

You may decide that you just don’t have room in your new house to dedicate to a walk-in closet. In this case you have to make sure that you allocate enough room in your house design to the old standby – reach in closets. Be sure to pay attention to the design of your closet, however big or small. Access is the most important part of a closet – you must be able to easily access the contents in your closet, so make sure not to stick a tiny door on a wide closet and not be able to get to the corners in your closet.

Whether your closet is large or small, it will be essential to install good lighting, which will light all corners of the closet. There is nothing worse than not having enough lighting so that you can’t see what is at the back of shelves or under ledges. Make sure that the lighting you install is positioned in a way that the shelving and objects stored don’t block the light, and also keep in mind the shadow you will cast when you are looking for something in your closet.

Finally you want to think about the shelving itself, whether it will be built-in or freestanding, if you need boxes or drawers, and if you are going to use hangers and a rod, or hooks. A little research into modern closets will reveal a huge advancement with inovative storage systems. Designing closet space so you have a tidy space for all your everyday as well as seasonal belongings is less of a chore when you install storage units specially designed for the items you want to store.

Properly designed closets make life better. I think that good closet design is the unsung hero in any home. Put some time and effort into designing your new closets and you will be handsomely rewarded.