What features would you like to see in a new house? (Charlotte: wood floors, mover)

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by pink caddy

I spoke to a friend last nite (engineer---and property owner in CLT). His response to why CLT doesn't build basements is bc builder/buyers do not want to spend the money. He pointed out to me that CLT is 850 feet above sea level vs. Savannah Ga which is 35-50 feet above----no reason other that $$$$$. Clay would not make the difference at all since all you do is dig down and pour the structure.

I tend to agree with that....we did not have a basement put in our house, but back in the bubble days, the builder was asking 40-50K for an UNFINISHED basement in our neighborhood....


In 2012 prices I believe have been cut in half for extras like that...

[JaneinJune]

A good lot on an interior street, logical use of space, ie. no loft as its wasted area in a 2000 sq ft home. A little character on the exterior face of the building. Good school district.

[coastalgirl]

Good grief. Only in Charlotte would a 2000sqft home be considered small.

Pink, I think most people would be impressed with quality - tile floors (not the type w/the stickers on top to make them look like tile, but real tile) in wet areas, hardwoods elsewhere, 9in baseboards, etc. Very well insulated, excellent quality windows and efficient lighting. Someone else mentioned solar landscape lighting. That's good.

I also saw something about laundry on the second floor. We "upgraded" to have our laundry on the second floor and I don't like it. It's nice not to have to go up and down the stairs, but the problem is that if you're doing laundry, you're stuck upstairs. Unless the living space is up there too, it's not a convenient spot for laundry, particularly with kids. Mudroom downstairs is a much better idea. Include built-in shelving and storage for shoes, jackets/scarves, etc, a bench, and wainscoting on the walls for easy clean up.

[southbound_295]

Having had a basement in Piedmont clay, no thanks on a basement. However, my parents house has a walk-up attic, which was fantastic.

I can't post a direct link, but go to the real estate website of your choice, search Cherry Hill, NJ, Barclay Farms, Farmington model. Make that model within your constraints & budget & you'll have a home run. (The models were built during the early 60s, so there should be no problem, legally.)

[Whatsthenews]

Originally Posted by BBSLM

Traulsen UR48DT fridge
Thermador gas range, electric stove
Vent-a-hood
Miele dishwasher
stainless counters

Some mix of concrete, tile, and salvaged hardwoods or Bolefloors Bolefloor

At least one exposed brick wall

Lots of windows

Mid-century modern design

Yes!

There are a great series of books (well I only have the creating the not so big house-but have looked at some of the others), great ideas of how to have an open floor plan whilst creating the feel of their being different areas in the home eg by using half walls, glass etc.
NSBH: Books and Articles by Sarah Susanka

[Whatsthenews]

Originally Posted by pink caddy

I spoke to a friend last nite (engineer---and property owner in CLT). His response to why CLT doesn't build basements is bc builder/buyers do not want to spend the money. He pointed out to me that CLT is 850 feet above sea level vs. Savannah Ga which is 35-50 feet above----no reason other that $$$$$. Clay would not make the difference at all since all you do is dig down and pour the structure.

Not sure where I saw it. It though that the clay is more time consuming costly to excavate, but I googled and found this and a few other articles
http://ezinearticles.com/?Basement-Construction-in-Clay-Soils&id=724976 (broken link)

this
Vital windows facing away from the sun to avoid extreme heat exposure in the summer.

It's well known that when building an energy efficient more green home that windows should be on the east and south sides mostly, correctly positioned to reduce solar gain in the Summer, but allow it in the winter ie lower down. This is also where decidous tree shade and roof overhangs come into play in the summer.

[BBSLM]

Originally Posted by Whatsthenews

Yes!

There are a great series of books (well I only have the creating the not so big house-but have looked at some of the others), great ideas of how to have an open floor plan whilst creating the feel of their being different areas in the home eg by using half walls, glass etc.
NSBH: Books and Articles by Sarah Susanka

Thank for the link.

As with everything else in life, it's quality > quantity with homes, too. I've never been a fan of needlessly big spaces.

[Native_Son]

Originally Posted by pink caddy

expand pls ergo laundry and 2 points above.

Sorry, I missed your inquiry.

Laundry... I think coastalgirl has touched on it too, but you want your laundry room to be near the source and final destination of the laundry if possible, and it's nice to have room to sort, hang, line dry, iron, and store laundry-related items (ironing board, iron, starch, detergent, bleach, stain remover, etc.) It's also nice to have a utility sink in the laundry room, but honestly mine doesn't get much use there.

The natural stone is really more of a preference. I prefer natural stone tile and countertops, but they can get pricey. Someone mentioned that engineered materials are superior and they may be.

Bathroom... nothing irks me more in new construction than a lovely new home with a plastic bath/shower combination. It's like giving up at the finish line. Spend some time and money picking out fixtures for the baths... it's more expensive but the relative cost increase is probably very small. I've remodeled several bathrooms in the last few years and I now have a "standard bathroom" which is white subway tiles on the walls to about 4' and in the shower area (to ceiling or 8', whichever is lower). Black and white mini-tile in some pattern that strikes me, a pedestal sink (been using Kohler with great satisfaction) and, being a tall guy, I like the large tall commodes from Kohler too. Make sure the exhaust fan is big enough for the space.

Something I didn't mention earlier but thought of later... If I ever build a new home from the ground up I will build an uber-modern super efficient house. Something with lots of concrete and glass. Geo-thermal heating and cooling... capture of all roof water... low/no VOC materials... efficient use of spaces and site characteristics... you know, all the star trek stuff.

But probably the best advice I can give you?

Find a architect you respect and admire, and pay them for a design. No one does it quite like a professional and they will have ideas and understandings that none of us are capable of. If you go that route, don't be afraid to select a young architect if you like his/her portfolio. This is especially good advice if you're building on an open lot in an already-established area.

[Whatsthenews]

Originally Posted by Native_Son

Sorry, I missed your inquiry.

Laundry... I think coastalgirl has touched on it too, but you want your laundry room to be near the source and final destination of the laundry if possible, and it's nice to have room to sort, hang, line dry, iron, and store laundry-related items (ironing board, iron, starch, detergent, bleach, stain remover, etc.) It's also nice to have a utility sink in the laundry room, but honestly mine doesn't get much use there.

The natural stone is really more of a preference. I prefer natural stone tile and countertops, but they can get pricey. Someone mentioned that engineered materials are superior and they may be.

Bathroom... nothing irks me more in new construction than a lovely new home with a plastic bath/shower combination. It's like giving up at the finish line. Spend some time and money picking out fixtures for the baths... it's more expensive but the relative cost increase is probably very small. I've remodeled several bathrooms in the last few years and I now have a "standard bathroom" which is white subway tiles on the walls to about 4' and in the shower area (to ceiling or 8', whichever is lower). Black and white mini-tile in some pattern that strikes me, a pedestal sink (been using Kohler with great satisfaction) and, being a tall guy, I like the large tall commodes from Kohler too. Make sure the exhaust fan is big enough for the space.

Something I didn't mention earlier but thought of later... If I ever build a new home from the ground up I will build an uber-modern super efficient house. Something with lots of concrete and glass. Geo-thermal heating and cooling... capture of all roof water... low/no VOC materials... efficient use of spaces and site characteristics... you know, all the star trek stuff.

But probably the best advice I can give you?

Find a architect you respect and admire, and pay them for a design. No one does it quite like a professional and they will have ideas and understandings that none of us are capable of. If you go that route, don't be afraid to select a young architect if you like his/her portfolio. This is especially good advice if you're building on an open lot in an already-established area.

Yes-us too and this is one of the reaons I have been looking at the prefabricated modern homes.
The last Dwell magazine was all about prefab building companies.
It does seem that some of them require quite a lot of on site assembly and work,whereas I would chose something that came to site as finished as possible.
Dwell

BTW-don't like pedestal sinks as despite having the medicine type cabinet over the sink I think the under sink storage is beneficial, but I'm a woman!
Have broken cosmetics as they fell out of the skinny med cab and into the sink.
I don't like the fancy, but impractical ,IMO, bowl type sinks that are set on top of the counter top, or inset sinks that are very wide and shallow either.
My choice would be something similar to this.
GODMORGON/ODENSVIK Sink cabinet with 2 drawers - white, 47 1/4x18 7/8x17 3/4 " - IKEA (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S39879593/ - broken link) with the cabinet mounted on the wall.

[vmaxnc]

Originally Posted by coastalgirl

Good grief. Only in Charlotte would a 2000sqft home be considered small.

I was thinking the same thing when I read those posts.

There were a lot of great ideas here. Some I agree with, some I don't. Everyone has their own preferences. My question is, would a 2K sq ft home with all these amenities and design be in a neighborhood of other similarly sized homes, or would it be priced considerably higher? What does that do to the resale opportunities? Sure. it would be nice to have McMansion quality and features in a much smaller package, but is that practical in the mainstream?

Or is that not part of this discussion?