When building your new home, don’t forget these things!

Closet & Organization

• Put outlets in several closets.
• Make sure your closets have enough space for both double hung rods, and singles to accommodate long clothes.
• Include a full size broom cupboard in pantry or laundry room to hide all the cleaning items away from sight.
• Add more closet/linen space than you think you’ll need.
• Include cubbies in mudroom with an outlet in each one.
• Add a motion sensor to pantry and closet lights.

Bath

• Add outlet in master toilet closet for night light.
• Outlets inside vanity cabinets (upper and lower) in bathroom for dryer etc.
• Include heated towels racks.
• Don’t caulk the bottom of your toilet to the tile which could hide leaks.
• Make use of the pony wall in a bathroom by turning it into storage.

Outdoor

• Run conduit under the driveway for future wiring or plumbing needs.
• Prewire speakers both indoor and outdoor.
• Ensure you have hose outlets and power on all 4 sides of your house, and on top of any raised areas.
• Hot/cold outdoor water is good for washing pets.
• Motion sensor pre-wire for selected exterior lights.
• Keypad entry on garage door (Keypad entry on front door is great as well).
• Gas line to grill.

Kitchen

• Outlets in kitchen pantry for charging, or for items that may end up living there.
• With wide islands, put cabinets on the both sides. While they are not easy to get to, they are good for storing seldomly used items.
• Include a built-in paper towel holder.
• Custom storage organization in kitchen drawers.
• Warming drawer in dining room.
• Pantry entrance near both kitchen and garage.
• Custom shelves and a place to plug in appliances in pantry.
• Outlets above cabinets for Christmas lighting.
• Set up for both gas and electric appliances.
• Pantry door on swivel.
• Pantry light on motion sensor.
• Copper tubing for your ice maker from the freezer and until it’s out of the kitchen wall.
• Drawer or below counter microwave.
• Knife drawer.
• Pull-out garbage/recycling/laundry (for dirty dish towels/napkins/bibs!).
• Paper towel holder in drawer slot.
• Drawers for all lower cabinets (more efficient use of space).
• Two soap pumps at sink (one for hand soap, one for dish soap).
• Easy-access place to store frequently used appliances.
• Place to hang hand towels & aprons.

Pets

• Central Vac with vac pans.
• Plan where furnace vents will go instead of letting the builder decide.
• HEPA filtration for allergy sufferers.
• Receptacles for fire extinguishers.
• Where possible, pocket doors.
• Add soundproofing where needed.
• A phone by the door leading into the garage for calls when you are getting in or out of the car.
• An inside button to open and close your garage door.
• Additional support during framing on the top side of windows for curtains.
• Ensure builders don’t “box” off spaces, where storage or shelving could go.
• Plan an elevator shaft in case you want to install one later, in the meantime it will serve as storage closets. (Aging in Place)

Electrical & Plumbing

• Prewire security system & cameras.
• Run wire and prepare roof for future solar.
• Separate 20z circuit with outlets at waist height in garage to
  plug in tools.
• Separate 20z circuit for TV and A/V equipment.
• Pre-wiring for music and speakers, inside and outside.
• iPad controllers in the walls to control whole house music systems.
• Pre-wire for generator to essential areas.
• Carbon monoxide unit on the wall near bedrooms.
• Include a 220V to garage (tools, future electric car, etc.)
• Measure the location of anything under the slab, and various utilities out in the yard.
• Include a drain in the garage to get rid of excess water from vehicles after rain and snow.

Lighting

• Light switch to the attic in the hallway (and remember lights in attic in general).
• Solar tubes in areas that don’t get natural sunlight.
• In cabinet lights and outside lights on timers.
• Check all remotes for ceiling fans prior to construction completion.
• 3 way switches are helpful.
• Master switch from master bedroom that controls all exterior lights.

Master Bedroom

• 4 plug outlets near the bed in the master.
• A light switch at the head of your bed so you can turn out the light once you are in bed.

Holiday Preparedness

• Outlets under eaves for holiday lights, with a switch inside to turn on and off.
• Enough storage for holiday decorations.
• Seasonal closet with hangers for wreaths, and space for storage boxes.
• Outlets for holiday lights: over cabinets, in stairway, in porch ceiling, and under eaves.

Heating, Cooling, and Vacuums

• Central Vac with vac pans.
• Plan where furnace vents will go instead of letting the builder decide.
• HEPA filtration for allergy sufferers.

Overall

• Where possible, pocket doors.
• Add soundproofing where needed.
• A phone by the door leading into the garage for calls when you are getting in or out of the car.
• An inside button to open and close your garage door.
• Additional support during framing on the top side of windows for curtains.
• Ensure builders don’t “box” off spaces, where storage or shelving could go.
• Plan an elevator shaft in case you want to install one later, in the meantime it will serve as storage closets. (Aging in Place)