When building your newly constructed custom home, there are a tremendous number of possible decisions you may elect to make, all starting with the base structure that you choose from our selection of spacious, modern plans. The attraction of working with Schumacher Homes is that the base structure is just the start of the process with the personal customization coming next. Our team of New Home Consultants will work with you to decide if you want to expand the size of a bedroom, add a wrap-around porch, or place a row of windows in your great room to allow a full view of your property. Of course, the base price of the home is the cost of the structure that you decide upon plus all of the included finishes, but all of your customizations must be considered as well for the final cost. We know that staying within your budget with all of the options available to choose from can be difficult, so it is important to prioritize properly. It’s important to spend your money on the items that can add the most value to your home – both for when you live in it and when you’re ready to sell it - and also to be sure you understand which customizations must be done either during initial construction, as there is nothing worse that realizing a few years down the line that it’s too late or too expensive to add that feature that you didn’t plan for up front.
Here are a few new construction upgrades that will give you the most bang for your buck and allow you to live happily in your home for years to come, or sell it for a great profit even years down the line.
Ceiling Height
This is something that absolutely must be considered up front as it’s essentially impossible to change down the line without a complete remodel. Whether you’re thinking about the ceilings in your basement, first floor, or second floor, it’s critical to know what you want for your home at the get-go. Taller ceilings can give your home a grander, more spacious appearance and feeling, but of course you’ll want to consider installing taller interior doors to keep things looking ideal.
Pro Tip: If you choose 10ft ceilings on the first floor, you may want to consider 9ft ceilings on the second floor. You’ll also want to make sure that you use 8ft doors for proper visual balance if you choose to go with the higher ceilings.
Cathedral Ceilings
This is another structural feature that you won’t be able to add on later when your mind, or budget, changes, so you’ll need to decide up front if this is something that will be important for the future of your home. When considering a cathedral ceiling, it’s important to think about where this feature would be ideal. For an open design great room and kitchen, the added air of a cathedral ceiling can really take it up another notch, making it feel even more grand and inviting. Many of our homeowners also love adding a cathedral ceiling to the owner's retreat, making your home within the home have an aura of luxury.
Square Footage
This might seem like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised how often a family can realize after it's already too late that they didn’t plot out the proper square footage for their home. It’s important to work with our team of consultants who can help you fully realize your dream on your particular plot of land. Setting the right footprint on your property is extremely important. Decide now if adding an extra foot to your master suite is going to make a difference in your day to day or if you’ll regret it later if you didn’t add a breakfast nook alcove beside your kitchen. Alternatively, don’t go too big just because it seems like the right thing to do. Too much space can be just as detrimental to not having enough space, leaving your home feeling a bit empty and your backyard cramped.
Roof Design
Schumacher Homes can outfit your new custom home with a number of excellent roof designs, each showcasing different construction and architecture styles. It's extremely important to examine the possibilities and understand what is ideal for your scenario as this can’t be easily changed. Beyond the look of the roof, be sure to consider things like solar panels that might change the way that your home looks or the way that the roof will be used.
Garage Size
This is a critical decision that can come back to bite you if you aren’t careful with your initial planning. Think about your primary vehicles - if you have large SUVs or long trucks, you’ll want to be sure that the garage is tall enough and long enough for them to properly fit. Consider if you’ll want space for any additional vehicles, perhaps for when your children reach driving age, or if you plan on saving up for a weekend roadster. Of course, garages can be used for more than just cars, so determine how much storage space you might want for tools, winter gear, patio equipment, or otherwise. Also be sure to choose the right size garage doors, how many bays you might need, and the size and shape of the turning radius to enter and exit the garage.
Plumb For a Half Bath in an Unfinished Basement
While you don’t need to spend the money up front to turn your basement into an entertainment lair, it’s important that the skeleton is ready for an eventual buildout. Be sure to set plumbing up so that, when the time comes, a small bathroom can be added to the basement without any extensive remodeling needed behind the walls of your home. It would certainly be a shame if you build the ultimate recreational space, but couldn’t add a toilet.
Attic Storage Over Your Garage
If you think you might eventually want a usable attic space above your garage that requires trusses, that is something you’ll definitely want to have the bones in place during the building process. Our team is here to help you understand what would be involved in this process and can show you plenty of examples so that you make the proper decision for you and your family in your custom home.
Basement Beams
You simply can’t change between wood and steel beams. Once you’ve made your decision and the house has been erected, that is what you have. While wood beams can be more economical, steel beams can hold much more weight so they require fewer mono posts.
Home Placement
Once construction starts, you are set with the location of your home. However it is an important item to think about prior to the shovel hitting the dirt. Where does the sun rise and set? Which direct does the wind blow? Will my house plan fit on this plot of land? How do I maximize yard space and curb appeal? There are numerous factors to consider prior to the start of construction, but we’re experts in helping you assess all different types of land scenarios and how to ensure your home is optimally positioned on the land itself.
Windows
It can be possible to add some small windows here and there if you realize that the natural light isn’t flowing quite right but if you are considering a full wall of windows in your great room or for a view of the backyard from your bedroom, that’s a decision that has to be made prior to construction as it changes the geometry of the structure. A wall of windows can be an outstanding feature to add to your home, bringing in an incredible amount of sunlight and making you more at one with your landscaped property from the comfort of your couch.
All said and done, there are dozens and dozens of design elements that can be added to your home later, once you’ve settled in and had a chance to get to know your new home (and save a few dollars), but it’s important to work with your New Home Consultant to be sure that any of these “must dos” are figured out before construction has begun.
About Schumacher Homes
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 22 locations in 11 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 20,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends.