If you’ve built a house recently, what would you change in hindsight? Must haves

House will be a two story on a slab and broke ground on it yesterday.

Here are my basics so far...

On a lake

Natural gas cooktop
NG instant water heater
NG heat pump
NG fireplace logs

Sliding barn doors for main floor room entrances

Master on main floor
All hardwood on main floor
Banister railing looking over the living room with 20’ ceilings

Additional 17’x18’ garage/shop
Plenty of outlets in garage

Additional electrical outlets in the living room floor

What else???

Doors and walk in shower intrance extra wide to fit wheelchair and transfer boards.aster bed and bath on first floor. I have worked with stroke victims and other disabilities and have seen people have to give up their home simply cause they can't fit needed medical equipment in the doors.
Other things. Extra insulation, and a tall ceiling.

in the process now, and it is miserable.

Definitely do spray foam insulation, i prefer to frame the exterior walls with 2x6 for two reasons, 1 more insulation & 2 i like the way the windows trim out better with the thicker wall.

Instead of the NG heat, i would look at the new Mitsubishi heat pumps they have now. They are like a large mini split system and will heat down into the negative temps. From the numbers i have had personal experience with even though they are more expensive up front they will pay for themselves in 5 years with the energy savings.

Hot and cold water ran to outside and garage.

Definitely a covered outside patio off the den with seating, a flat screen, BGE, and a bar area.

Dr. B

I have a relative that lives in a $750,000 home. Despite that,
he says there will always be something you wish you could
go back and change or add on.

If it's big foam it other than that you'll spend more than what your planning on also i wouldnt have barn door on bedroom we have them to mud room and laundry room and thats only place i would want them

Add a 40x60 shop.

Washer and dryer on every floor.

I like this. I’m also a fan of a big wood burning fireplace

A walk-through door in the garage so everyone doesn't use the opener. Extra size AC.

Yer additional garage/shop ain't big enough. If you need one you need one bigger.

Heated floors in downstairs bathrooms.

Ya i cant do crap building but i did my master bath myself for less than $500 its great in winter

If you’re gonna have a generator plan for it in advance. Put a 3 way switch for the bedroom light where you can reach it without getting out of bed.

I wouldn’t use sliding barn doors on bathrooms or bedrooms. They don’t block sound or smell. Spray foam insulation. Radiant heating in bathroom fooors. 0 entry shower. Sink in laundry room, large closets. Lots of closet space. Fireplace in bedroom, screen room.

Wish I had built smaller

Enough storage for extras.
Ports at different heights for defense.
Holsters in each bathroom.

Storm room

No matter what size your master bedroom closet is, it’s not big enough. An outdoor shower ( with hot water) is something I added and have really enjoyed for myself and kids after playing in the creeks and working in the yard.. Dont skimp on concrete drive and parking pad size. I have never heard anyone say they wished they had made their parking pads smaller. Do u have younger kids? If so , down the road your going to need more parking than those two spots for you and your wife. Have a gas line run to back deck for your gas grill and go ahead and get a 250 gallon gas tank so you don’t have to fill it so often. Make sure your contractors have insurance and workers comp. especially those that may fall off the roof. Before you pour driveways and sidewalks, be sure to put a 4 inch pipe(sleeve )under them for future sprinkler system or lighting projects. Also draw out your lot and house on paper and as any underground utilities are buried, draw them on your plot . This will be helpful for future landscape projects, pool installations, septic add ons, and second owners one day. And since your on this board you have to be an outdoorsmen so build that covered deer cleaning shed/fish cleaning station.