Steiner Ranch New Home

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Some of the upgrades suggested are frivolous and silly. Here are my two cents:

Radiant barrier roof decking

5' storage option on garage. It depends on how large your lot is. Don't get a 3rd car garage unless you are building a home over 400K.

Granite

Stainless

Convert living room to an office if available, no one wants or needs living rooms anymore.

Built in appliances, cooktop, built in over, micro. Ranges are passe unless they are very high end

These are items that people are looking for if you have to sell. Always think about options in terms of resale.

A $400k house in Steiner Ranch is probably just an average size house.

Good call on the "formal" living room - they are a waste of space unless converted to an office/library/study.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

This. Make sure they also run the appropriate connections (multiple HDMI's, etc) to another location for your cable box/XBox/etc. Looked at one spec home where the sales person was proud of the fact that she thought ahead and added it above the fireplace but only included a coaxial connector and a power outlet. I guess you just gotta set your DVR on the mantle.

You'll get a crick in your neck lookin' at a flatscreen mounted that high....unless you're recliner is 20' from the screen.

[cBach]

I'd like to add:

* Place some extra faucets around your lawn. Usually there are only two spigots attached to the house. It's well worth some extra money to run the lines out to various areas where you know you'll have flower gardens/etc... that may need extra water than just what the sprinkler provides, especially during the mandatory summer watering restrictions. Hose watering is never prohibited so if you have those spigots you won't have to lug feet and feet of hose around trying to water your garden.

[AustinBound]

So far all of the comments have been very helpful, thank you everyone. I do have a questions though, what is Radiant barrier roof decking?

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by AustinBound

So far all of the comments have been very helpful, thank you everyone. I do have a questions though, what is Radiant barrier roof decking?

Here ya go:

Georgia-Pacific Thermostat Radiant Barrier Sheathing

It would be hard to imagine building any home (above some $ threshold) without radiant barrier decking here in central Texas, IMO. That is, unless you are completely covered by trees .

[CarnivalGal]

Pretty much what everyone else covered. I would definitely do a sprinkler system. Ours is invaluable. Walk-out attic storage, if possible. Extra water faucets and electrical outlets outside. 3 car garage. Definitely convert the living room to an office.