[N8 v2.0]

As most of you know I have a little home building biz I run.

My basic stock home comes with the following:

Ceramic tile in the baths and laundry rooms (tile is always at least 14" and usually 18").

Stainless steel GE Profile appliances (stove is a smoothtop-no coil burners here).

Prewired for home theater and 4 zones of audio (master/kitchen/dining/back patio)

Two phone & cable/networking jacks per bedroom

Ceramic tile or wood laminate in kitchen

Whirlpool tub in master bath suite

14 SEER air conditioner

Large crown and base molding​

My only 'upgrades' are;

Granite counter tops with unde mounted sink in kitchen

Fully sodded back yard

Fenced back yard

Stainless matching frig

Audio/Video components​

What other items do you look for in an average priced new home in your area (except view-we don't have any)...

 

[Heidi]

Fireplace in the master bedroom baby!

 

[Westy]

The average home where I live would also have the options of a chicken coop, car on blocks, appliances on the front porch and a still.

 

[BigMike]

Fireplace in the master bedroom baby!

Thats a good one

Zoned A/C (upstairs downstairs)
Center Cooking isle in the kitchen (if there is room)
Garage?

Bike room

 

[stinkyboy]

 

[binary visions]

Fully stocked harem?

 

[N8 v2.0]

Forgot to mention I stub out a gas line behind the stove and one in the laundry room for a gas dryer.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Thats a good one

Zoned A/C (upstairs downstairs)
Center Cooking isle in the kitchen (if there is room)
Garage?

Bike room

Center cookin islands sound good in theory... but are pretty damn messy in real life.

2 car... no room for a 3.

 

[Andyman_1970]

What are your flooring options?

I'd say laminate (Pergo) would be an upgrade over carpet, and those cool prefinished hardwoods would be an upgrade over laminate.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Fully stocked harem?

The neighborhood is fully stocked with MILFs

 

[N8 v2.0]

What are your flooring options?

I'd say laminate (Pergo) would be an upgrade over carpet, and those cool prefinished hardwoods would be an upgrade over laminate.

Flooring is a frizze carpet... (budget $25/sq_yard with a 6lbs pad). Laminate runs $8.00 sq_ft.

 

[Crashby]

I suppose some attractive landscaping in the front could be bling-ish...

 

[N8 v2.0]

Question:

Tile countertops or laminate (Formica)???

I personally HATE tile, and there are some really cool modern laminates. However, do most of you percieve tile as an 'upgrade?'

 

[Andyman_1970]

Laminate runs $8.00 sq_ft.

Yikes, I hope that is the installed price.........I hope so.

I'd make laminate/hardwood an upgrade for sure..........that would be a must for the misses and myself.

 

[MTB_Rob_NC]

Having just gone through this. I was very impressed with M/I homes specs and upgrade list.

Hardwood floors throughout the common areas is VERY nice and is probably the most noticeable "wow" feature to my new home.

I also would have paid for fencing.

Depending on the elevation a wood deck would be a great option.

 

[N8 v2.0]

I suppose some attractive landscaping in the front could be bling-ish...

Landscaping allowance is $1000. This pretty much gets you some basic landscape and a fully sodded front yard.

 

[Andyman_1970]

Question:

Tile countertops or laminate (Formica)???

I personally HATE tile, and there are some really cool modern laminates. However, do most of you percieve tile as an 'upgrade?'

Aren't tile countertops a pain in the butt to clean???

 

[N8 v2.0]

Having just gone through this. I was very impressed with M/I homes specs and upgrade list.

Hardwood floors throughout the common areas is VERY nice and is probably the most noticeable "wow" feature to my new home.

I also would have paid for fencing.

Depending on the elevation a wood deck would be a great option.

Is it glued to the slab wood flooring or a 'floating' laminate?

 

[DaveW]

higher grade sound insulation on the bedrooms?....double glazed on tose windows maybe?

 

[N8 v2.0]

Aren't tile countertops a pain in the butt to clean???

I think so... and the remind me of the 70's.

However, I can install them for the same cost as formica.

 

[N8 v2.0]

higher grade sound insulation on the bedrooms?....double glazed on tose windows maybe?

Yes, double glazed windows are standard already. I also insulate the interior walls of the master bed room and the laundry room.

 

[hooples3]

Question:

Tile countertops or laminate (Formica)???

I personally HATE tile, and there are some really cool modern laminates. However, do most of you percieve tile as an 'upgrade?'

I prefer tiles... but then there is always the risk of chipping them... or the grout looks horrible after a year from stains

 

[Andyman_1970]

I think so... and the remind me of the 70's.

However, I can install them for the same cost as formica.

I always thought the appliances on the countertop would never sit level.............but anyway.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Having just gone through this. I was very impressed with M/I homes specs and upgrade list.

Hardwood floors throughout the common areas is VERY nice and is probably the most noticeable "wow" feature to my new home.

I also would have paid for fencing.

Depending on the elevation a wood deck would be a great option.

Do you see wood as a clear up grade to tile floors?

 

[hooples3]

wood floors are the way to go!!!!! nothing beats them. tile in the entry rooms/mudroom

 

[Andyman_1970]

Yes, double glazed windows are standard already. I also insulate the interior walls of the master bed room and the laundry room.

I would also say a premium insulation package would be nice too.....mondo insulation in the attic and all the "bling" insulation stuff you can do to the foundation/crawlspace (if there is much).

 

[Westy]

A moat would be cool.

 

[Andyman_1970]

N8 (a bit off topic) - you mentioned on a previous house theread you use cement fiberboard siding (I think)........what your cost per sq foot on that......I'm researching siding options for our current house that is in sore need of new siding.

 

[N8 v2.0]

wood floors are the way to go!!!!! nothing beats them. tile in the entry rooms/mudroom

This has been my trend lately. I can get a good laminate installed for the same cost as tile and after living with laminate in my own home I love it!

 

[Heidi]

wood floors are the way to go!!!!! nothing beats them. tile in the entry rooms/mudroom

My dogs destroy wood floors.

 

[N8 v2.0]

N8 (a bit off topic) - you mentioned on a previous house theread you use cement fiberboard siding (I think)........what your cost per sq foot on that......I'm researching siding options for our current house that is in sore need of new siding.

That is called Hardee Board. I highly recommend it in our moist local.

 

[N8 v2.0]

My dogs destroy wood floors.

Dogs should live outside as god intended.

 

[narlus]

first off, ditch the network cabling cat 6/ethernet stuff...wireless is here to stay. you could also do this w/ the home audio (www.slimdevices.com is awesome, money well spent i'd say).

what do you offer for lighting options? a monorail over the island would be great, esp if you have the ceiling height for it (the reason we ditched on that idea for our house; the 8' ceiling would have made it look dumb).

not a fan of the pergo stuff; pre-finished wood looks a lot better imo.

do people really spec tile countertops? sounds dumb to me.

how about central vacuum?

 

[splat]

If you do tile floor in the Kitchen radiant heat in the Kitchen Floor is very nice

 

[N8 v2.0]

New Question:

Interior colors:

'Builder beige' or something with some life to it?

 

[narlus]

If you do tile floor in the Kitchen radiant heat in the Kitchen Floor is very nice

best decision i ever made.

 

[MTB_Rob_NC]

Do you see wood as a clear up grade to tile floors?

I do, but I am coming from SFL where everything is tile.

 

[Andyman_1970]

If you do tile floor in the Kitchen radiant heat in the Kitchen Floor is very nice

I second that...........

 

[Andyman_1970]

New Question:

Interior colors:

'Builder beige' or something with some life to it?

That olive/sage green seems to be all the rage these days............

 

[I Are Baboon]

MBC and I were happy to just find a used home in our price range that wasn't a hellhole and had a two car garage. We're not picky.