New Home Construction. Some Build Out Items You Want to Watch for:

As a Stager I see many types of homes. I work in an area that has a lot of 'new builds'. I get to see how the buyers use these spaces. I come across so many blatant design issues.

I have to wonder if the builders have ever tried to live in the homes they build. Have they ever tried to place furniture in them?

One of the most common issues is the placement of ceiling fixtures. For example, in this picture the chandelier is not centered correctly. Instead of centering it to the space where the table will sit, it was centered to the full width which takes in the hall. I've also seen this in other models with living/dining combos and in kitchens. So often the buyer ends up swagging the fixture over the table. So if you are buying a new home make sure you take a look at where you think your table will go in the space. Address this while the placement can be changed.

Then there is the sliding doors you can't get to if you have a kitchen table. The moving door is always on the side where the table has to sit. If they had reversed the door, the traffic flow would be so much better. The dish washer or frig might have been in the way occasionally but the table is in the way 24/7. Think about the kitchen dinette set you have and where it should sit for good traffic flow outside. If you catch it at the right stage it too can be changed.

And once again, the ceiling light is in the wrong place so most buyers seem to raise the chandelier or swag it. It can be hard to visualize these issues with no dry wall up so talk to the design consultant and contractor.

 

 

 

 

 

Let's not forget the en suite privilege baths with the doors bumping into each other. I realize this is a nice feature in smaller homes but couldn't they use a pocket door?A pocket door could be an upgrade but it could be worth the investment.

I don't have a picture to demonstrate my next point. It's cellar stairs. They design them with a landing and bend. This means if you finish the basement you can't get the large scale furniture ,so popular today, down the stairs. I had one client who managed to get a sofa down the stairs but had to cut it up to get it back out.

Don't forget to think about the placement of electrical plugs. In the bathroom, think about using electric toothbrushes and hair dryers. In the kitchen think about small appliances and how you would use the island. Where do you envision placing bedroom furniture or sofas and chairs. Where will the TV sit in the Great Room or your bedroom? Do you want a lamp on a hall table in your foyer? These have to be done before the dry wall.

Most of these things are small and easily corrected. If the buyer is savvy they can ask the builder to correct these items during construction. Unfortunately, inexperience usually means they miss them.

 

 

 

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