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Message
Building a house soon, just looking for advice/tips
Posted on 5/9/20 at 7:54 pm
Posted on 5/9/20 at 7:54 pm
Taking the plunge and building my first home. Plan is to use a builder but im purchasing my own land. Really just starting from scratch and looking for any kind of advice i could get.
What are some things that you may have wished you knew before hand that would have been a big help or something you featured in your house or material used that you regret using? Some small features you may wish you had installed to make life easier
Building in south Louisiana in river parishes area, what are some builders you recommend or to stay away from? Draftsman or whered you find plans?
Really anything youd like to share would be appreciated?
What are some things that you may have wished you knew before hand that would have been a big help or something you featured in your house or material used that you regret using? Some small features you may wish you had installed to make life easier
Building in south Louisiana in river parishes area, what are some builders you recommend or to stay away from? Draftsman or whered you find plans?
Really anything youd like to share would be appreciated?
13
Posted on 5/9/20 at 9:26 pm to Relham10
Put a sink in the garage
You probably can’t have too many electrical outlets in the garage
You probably can’t have too many electrical outlets in the garage
Posted on 5/9/20 at 9:39 pm to Relham10
Yeah here's some for you: don't! The bottom is falling out and home prices will crater. But the cost of building is the cost of building. Sit tight and you should have your pick of some nice places for a song. Don't bury yourself up front at this time when you can get a steal.
Posted on 5/9/20 at 9:48 pm to Relham10
Get light fixtures with normal bulbs. Some times I think every light in my house uses a different bulb 
Posted on 5/9/20 at 9:54 pm to Relham10
water outlets on all 4 sides. Electric outlets on all four sides. Attic floored for storage or future rooms.
Posted on 5/9/20 at 11:31 pm to Relham10
Insulate all walls. All of them.
Posted on 5/10/20 at 5:53 am to Relham10
Outlets, outlets, outlets.
Put them all over your garage. Put them in the eaves on the corner of your house. Put them in your flower beds.
I’m not sure if this is allowed but in the kitchen put them right on top of the counter. I can’t stand the outlets on my backsplash that are halfway between the counter and cabinet.
Go to the tech board for more info but plan a central media closet to store router, switches, hubs, etc. run Ethernet and maybe coax to all rooms from there. Buy the biggest tv antenna you can and mount it in the attic.
Put them all over your garage. Put them in the eaves on the corner of your house. Put them in your flower beds.
I’m not sure if this is allowed but in the kitchen put them right on top of the counter. I can’t stand the outlets on my backsplash that are halfway between the counter and cabinet.
Go to the tech board for more info but plan a central media closet to store router, switches, hubs, etc. run Ethernet and maybe coax to all rooms from there. Buy the biggest tv antenna you can and mount it in the attic.
Posted on 5/10/20 at 7:40 am to Relham10
run a gas line to your patio
Posted on 5/10/20 at 8:07 am to Relham10
If you are going custom, design from the inside out. Know the general style and shape you want then Start with how you want your rooms located generalky, but dont put up walls yet. Walls will restrict your design. Then do the kitchen layout and design it. Then connect and design living room. Work out from there. If you are using existing plans, this obviously wont work as existing plans start with walls.
If you design it and pay a draftsman to draw it, the house will reflect that. If you pay an architect, it will look like an architect did it. There is a Huge difference in Both look and price.
If you design it and pay a draftsman to draw it, the house will reflect that. If you pay an architect, it will look like an architect did it. There is a Huge difference in Both look and price.
Posted on 5/10/20 at 8:39 am to Relham10
You purchase land next should be the house layout. Then the footing and foundation of the house. 
Posted on 5/10/20 at 10:58 am to Relham10
quote:
Really anything youd like to share would be appreciated?
Get the measurements off your vehicles and any future vehicles and make sure your garage will be long and wide enough to fit them in AND have enough room to comfortably move around (before you fill it with junk
) Outdoor bathroom if you ever have cookouts or guests over so they don't have to got inside the house. Storage lots and lots of storage. Set up a data network. Walk-in shower. A nice workshop. Gas appliances so you can still use them when the power goes out. Tankless gas water heater. If it's not in the budget set up to add a gas generator later on.
Posted on 5/10/20 at 11:31 am to Relham10
There’s so many threads on this topic scattered between here, the OT, Tech Board, Outdoor Board, and Money Board. Each having a different angle and flavor as it relates to those who frequent each board.
In general, make sure you really evaluate the builder. Get recommendations, and talk to people who used him. Understand your budgets and how they overlap (can you use excess from one budget in another). Make sure they fit the finishes you’re looking for and be detailed on everything he includes in his price.
Depending on the land you buy, there can be a ton of upfront costs with clearing, culverts, access, dirt work/site prep.
For plans, Madden is really popular but he can be an absolute dick to work with. His designs are fairly recognizable and many people like his style. I’d be cautious if you need to make significant modifications to his designs, as it can be expensive and it takes time.
In general, make sure you really evaluate the builder. Get recommendations, and talk to people who used him. Understand your budgets and how they overlap (can you use excess from one budget in another). Make sure they fit the finishes you’re looking for and be detailed on everything he includes in his price.
Depending on the land you buy, there can be a ton of upfront costs with clearing, culverts, access, dirt work/site prep.
For plans, Madden is really popular but he can be an absolute dick to work with. His designs are fairly recognizable and many people like his style. I’d be cautious if you need to make significant modifications to his designs, as it can be expensive and it takes time.
Posted on 5/10/20 at 12:03 pm to Relham10
Larger Garage for car space.
Hot water lines outside for cooking and or cleaning.
Cat 6 cable to any room that you will have tv computer needs.
Smaller master bed room / larger master bath/closet.
Make it as smart home as you can.
Outlets in the eves at all corners.
Timers for outside lights
Tankless water heater
Plywood the attic for walking and storage
LED lighting all over
Outlets, outlets,outlets.
Walk with electrical guys like you would coming and going to make sure the light switches are where you will use them easiest in best location.
The list can be endless, you just have prioritize what is important to y’all. We built late last year and I have a list of things I’d change
It’s fun and enjoy it.
And yeah we customized a couple madden plans, he must’ve liked it b/c he put it on his site. But he can be really dry. Just be upfront with what you want and would do different. We’d work with him again.
Hot water lines outside for cooking and or cleaning.
Cat 6 cable to any room that you will have tv computer needs.
Smaller master bed room / larger master bath/closet.
Make it as smart home as you can.
Outlets in the eves at all corners.
Timers for outside lights
Tankless water heater
Plywood the attic for walking and storage
LED lighting all over
Outlets, outlets,outlets.
Walk with electrical guys like you would coming and going to make sure the light switches are where you will use them easiest in best location.
The list can be endless, you just have prioritize what is important to y’all. We built late last year and I have a list of things I’d change
It’s fun and enjoy it.
And yeah we customized a couple madden plans, he must’ve liked it b/c he put it on his site. But he can be really dry. Just be upfront with what you want and would do different. We’d work with him again.
This post was edited on 5/10/20 at 12:06 pm
Posted on 5/10/20 at 1:04 pm to Relham10
get a landscaper architect to do your yard and add landscape lighting plugs outlets quality native landscape with perennial english style gardens no annuals
electrical plugs switched in the eves for crimmus lights unless you are a heathen
shower sink in garage
laundry room on main level with a sink
insulate interior walls of all bathrooms showers laundry rooms and tv room
detached garage shop
10 or 12 ft ceilings
windows can get expensive quick
use a cement fiber siding there are other brands vs hardie or brick I would not use vinyl
zip wall system
radiant barrier in the attic
make sure they insulate the bottom plate to the subfloor
even if your codes don't call for it once the house is dry in no insulation or drywall
have a blow door test done few hundred bucks and seal the house properly where you have leaks.
electrical plugs switched in the eves for crimmus lights unless you are a heathen
shower sink in garage
laundry room on main level with a sink
insulate interior walls of all bathrooms showers laundry rooms and tv room
detached garage shop
10 or 12 ft ceilings
windows can get expensive quick
use a cement fiber siding there are other brands vs hardie or brick I would not use vinyl
zip wall system
radiant barrier in the attic
make sure they insulate the bottom plate to the subfloor
even if your codes don't call for it once the house is dry in no insulation or drywall
have a blow door test done few hundred bucks and seal the house properly where you have leaks.
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