REASONS TO MOVE

There must be a reason why you have decided to build and most likely it is to get what you don't already have or can not achieve with the home you currently own. Smart builders know this and work hard to produce a home that is more than just another address change. Whether it is more energy efficiency, more technology features, more ergonomic amenities or more solid construction, you can build the house of your dreams, as long as you keep in mind that certain features must be planned and added at specific stages of construction.

Now the real work begins as you have only a certain amount of time to make plan changes with the builder if you want to have the upgrade features listed below. Part of ARG's job as your agent is to help you understand the building process and to provide important advice during your new home's construction process.

After working with hundreds of new home buyers ARG has developed a list of sought after features you should consider if you are going to build a new home from the ground up. Adding them during construction is not only cost effective, but may be the ONLY opportunity you will ever have to add these features to your new home. Getting your home right NOW may mean having less and less reasons in 5 years to want to move again (and go through all the expenses associated with moving). The key is to get pricing from the builder during contract discussions and then to add those items to your contract BEFORE construction starts.

TIME SENSITIVE UPGRADES YOU NEED TO CONSIDER

• Nail Down Hardwood Floors. The reason this makes the list is the fact that IF your new home is a 2 Story your entire Staircase will be affected. If a RUG or TILE is in front of the bottom Step then ADDING a Nailed Down Wood floor AFTER your home is built will mean your bottom step will be about 1.5" SHORTER then all the rest of your steps. Builders always determine STEP HEIGHT by the floor material that is in front of the staircase. IF you plan on adding Wood Floors AFTER you Close then you will want the builder to make sure they add WOOD Floors in the Hallway where your Staircase is located. This way you will avoid the "Short Step" problem later on when you complete your Hardwood Floors.

• Sink in utility room - Make it as deep as possible. Plan before foundation is poured so plumbing and drains can be set.

• Adding a Bathroom. Sometimes some floorplans just don't work because they lack a needed bathroom. This addition needs to be known before the cement is poured.

• Refrigerator or Freezer power plug in utility room or garage. Frame Stage.

• Ice maker water line to 2nd refrigerator. Before Foundation is poured.

• Closes Dryer gas line. Frame Stage.

• Gas and Electric Drops for Kitchen Cooktop. If in Island, this must be known by your builder before the cement is poured.

• Wet bar prep that installs power, Cabinet Lighting Switches, plumbing drain and water supply. This will allow you to install a new wet bar later on if you don't have the builder install one during construction.

• Install additional recessed "can" lighting - especially on 2 Story homes. You really need to look at this closely as many homes have insufficient lighting. It is very expensive and difficult to install additional 1st floor can lighting into homes that have a 2nd story above without making a lot of holes in sheet rock. This needs to be added no later than Frame Stage.

• Sconce wall lighting in Media Room. Frame Stage.

• Sconce Staircase lighting. Add at Frame Stage.

• Flat Panel Cable and Power Drops in Bedrooms, Master Baths, Garage or any other "Special" location that will allow you to mount a Flat Screen without having unsightly power and cables running up your walls. Add at Frame Stage.

• Video and Power Drop for Media Room Front Projector. Frame Stage.

• Whole House Internet wiring and Plug-n-play tech center for all TV, Telephone, Internet and Network equipment, routers, amplifiers and modems. The fact is wireless is a DOWNGRADE compared to secure hardwire communications. Wireless can be much less secure if unencrypted as your network signal can be picked up all around your home. Add at Frame Stage.

• Extra Network drop for your home office. I recommend 2 Drops. Add at Frame Stage.

• Adding Fiber Optic Cable Network. Yes ARG has had clients who have installed fiber optic light pipes in their home. Fiber optic communications will be lightning fast and it is now only a few years away. Add at Frame Stage.

• Whole house intercom or speaker wiring for whole house background music. Add at Frame Stage.

• Extra Closet Storage Shelving. This way if the Builder puts a nail in a PIPE behind the wall, he will catch it during construction. Add before paint stage.

• Outdoor Speaker Drops. Frame Stage.

• Outdoor Video and Power drop for outside TV. Frame Stage.

• Front and Rear Entry Video Cable Drops for Security Cameras. Frame Stage

• Christmas Light Outlets under roofline. Frame Stage.

• Outdoor Spotlights, Tree Lights added to exterior of home. Frame Stage.

• Built-ins like Garbage pull out, Wine Lattice, Pasta Bins, Butler Pantry and entertainment built-ins. Must be known a few weeks before cabinets will be installed.

• Shower Head in Master that is HIGH ENOUGH!!! Frame Stage during Plumbing installation.

• Extended Patio. Known at Foundation design especially if you want Patio to be part of the foundation structure.

• Outdoor Gas Line to Grille. Frame Stage.

• Outdoor plumbing and power drops for outdoor kitchen. Before Foundation is poured.

• Extended driveway for added parking opportunities. Known before foundation is poured. It is cheaper for builder to add this from the Cement Truck then to mix up individual bags afterwards PLUS all the Cement mathces.

• Extra Power drops in Garage, speaker drop and video drop. The Garage is a UTILITY ROOM so give it MORE UTILITY! Like to spend time in the Garage? Maybe these features will help! Add at Frame Stage.

• Locate a logical space in your attic for storage. At Frame Stage.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES

Energy upgrades are CRITICAL for many reasons. Not only will it save you money on utility bills and help lower our national dependence on Mideast oil, it will also provide increased year round comfort.  A drafty cold house in the Winter, followed by a difficult to cool home in the Summer combined with high utility bills will be a huge let down especially if you went through the trouble to build your home from the ground up. During the Summer of 2006 ARG studied a variety of the Metroplex's best new home builders and combined with our own research can help you understand the energy options that are available to you. As an ARG Client we want your next new home to be the best new home you have ever owned.

Here are key suggestions that have proven to help:

• Whole house Radiant Barriers that go under bricks and 2nd floor cement siding. If this is not added during construction you will forgo having this critical energy efficient feature.

• Adding Attic Radiant Barriers other than foil Barriers that are glued to the inside your new home's roof decking. Proper placement of Radiant Barriers is critical if you are to achieve maximum benefit.

• Whole House Perforated Cement Soffits for increased attic ventillation. ARG can show you what to look for.

• adding additional Roof Vents using Turbines and Ridge Venting. Attic airflow is critical to achieving a cooler attic. A cooler attic means your AC System works in a cooler environment and heat absorption into your home is lessened.

• Vinyl Windows for South and South West Facing window locations that are not shaded by trees or a porch. ARG can help you understand your choices in these critical locations.

• Blown Cellulose insulation in exterior walls, 2nd floor walls that face attic space and Ceilings. Cellulose provides ~ 1.5x more R value per inch. Combine this with Foil Barriers for a very noticeable difference in your new home. IF you install this into your home you will be need to downsize your AC tonnage as your home's efficiency will increase.

• Install an energy brace backing sheathing on all 2nd floor walls PLUS Radiant Barrier Foil that face any unconditioned attic space. This actually allows insulation to perform better and hence better temp control for your 2nd story living space.

• AC Ducts must be laid out properly if you are to achieve maximum SEER capability of your AC Units and to properly distribute air throughout your home. 14 SEER AC Systems matched to an inefficient Duct means poor distribution of air flow, uneven temperatures and increased energy usage. It is somewhat shocking to see how many builders do not require energy efficient duct placement, Radiant Barriers and upgraded insulation options as these upgrades are EXTREMELY COST EFFECTIVE and will pay back quickly. As an ARG Client we will help you understand what to look for and how to insure your home will perform to its maximum capability.

CONSTRUCTION ISSUES TO CONSIDER

Builders are forever trying to find a more cost effective method to providing a finished new home. Over the years many of the traditional materials used by builders have changed to man made materials. But what do you really need to have a quality built new home? Here is where ARG can help.

• Plumbing - Copper or Plastic? What is best? What lasts? What are the potential hazards or future problems. Many new home builders have switched to plastic water pipes in their new homes. The Question is are you aware of this?

• Structure - What sheathing to use on the exterior frame. What you must do to achieve a more solid wall construction.

• 2nd Floor Decking - Real Plywood versus OSB? Weight Bearing considerations for heavy 2nd floor furniture

If you have other suggestions you want to share, please send them to me at mike@askinsrealtygroup.com