[rrb48310]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

I am not sure you are going about the design process in the best way. Your question reads like you don't know what you want in a house before you even start! so it looks like you are designing your house from the cost versus your preferences.

So, I would recommend that you prioritize your wants, but I would make one recommendation: get it as right the first time, instead of thinking cost savings and getting it done cheaper by someone else. In today's world with the florida independent contractor world, i think it will be more of a hassle doing it a second time, if you are buying a designer.

So, we don't know your preferences, but here was my starting prioritization, from big / do it right the first time, down to the I can upgrade that later myself.

1 house size and lot size and view. more view less house. . .
2 make sure the house will fit on your lot size, and then stretch now because the cost is small to value.
Do you want a longer house or a wider house, or both for the stretch?
Now sure about your DIY skills, the more DIY the larger the garage you want.
Also, garage is a large storage area, as interior storage area is not generous, unless you design it in
3 Lanai stretch or house stretch? where do you want to spend more time? pool or no pool?
Also know that you can move walls around, changing closet sizes, bedroom sizes, etc. its a custom design. . .
4 Flooring - tile or carpet or something in between, another do it now as its a big job. Bedrooms different or same?
5 Counter tops next, then cabinets. . . higher end in kitchen, lower end in bathroom. . .
6 Air conditioner capacity, don't skimp, its florida
7 Gas appliances or electric?

So those are the big expensive items to have a good idea what you want

Then the lesser costs, but done at time of construction:
Network quality for streaming and work office, hard wired to rooms where tv outlets are for streaming
wireless overhead access points for phones and laptops. . . extra outlets for entertainment centers, computers, monitors, printers if you are going to work remotely or have a working office, or an entertainment center with devices.
Solar tubes, enlarged windows/ more glass blocks for more lighting.
gas outdoor grille cooking or not? ( put a gas outlet in the back of the house.)
Chandeliers or ceiling lights?
Outdoor lighting? patio in front? extra outside outlets for laptops on front patio?
extra hose pipes for washing the house?
Central Vacuuming?

All these are part of the permanent house design, which you should have an idea of what you want, as your lifestyle desires, because its a pain in the ass to have any of these items installed after you move in. . .

The rest is cosmetics, relatively smaller decisions, which some can be redone yourself. . . cheap lights, appliances of your choice. . etc. even insulation can be added later, not expensive. . .

Just have an idea of what you want ahead of time will save alot of panic and last minute decision making. Start looking at houses for sale for the weeks to start getting an idea of what other people have done.

sportsguy

Thanks sportsguy, I appreciate all your advice.

My intention was to get an idea of some of the costs so as not to get sticker shock at the design center and to compare price of having it done by the builder or after closing ie flooring, appliances, lighting etc. I like being prepared, the more information/ammunition you have going into battle the better. I have a model picked out, and have been planning moving walls and stretching.

Getting it done right the first time is my objective but my pockets aren’t deep enough to satisfy everything I, or should I say we want. Lots that cost 200k + may not make the cut.