Revisions to a New Build Home

[gmcneill]

To those of you who have recently built new or who are in the process of doing so, I am asking for your input and ideas regarding making revisions to the standard home and home site.

I have read previous posts/strings on the topic�I am just trying to keep up with current activity. I am being told that the Design Team folks are becoming more generous in granting their �Mother-may-I� lately.

I know about the room/garage/lanai extensions (get as many as I can afford and what the site can handle) and about having the choice of floor plans and elevation options.

I am interested in hearing about changes additions, revisions, improvements and enhancements, both large and small. Things such as larger hot water tanks, adding/moving windows, light switches, outlets, etc, ceiling fans, high hat lighting

Basically, ANYthing and EVERYthing that you did/are doing or that you have heard what others did/are doing!

Please and Thank you very much!

George

[chiefrose]

To those of you who have recently built new or who are in the process of doing so, I am asking for your input and ideas regarding making revisions to the standard home and home site.

I have read previous posts/strings on the topic�I am just trying to keep up with current activity. I am being told that the Design Team folks are becoming more generous in granting their �Mother-may-I� lately.

I know about the room/garage/lanai extensions (get as many as I can afford and what the site can handle) and about having the choice of floor plans and elevation options.

I am interested in hearing about changes additions, revisions, improvements and enhancements, both large and small. Things such as larger hot water tanks, adding/moving windows, light switches, outlets, etc, ceiling fans, high hat lighting

Basically, ANYthing and EVERYthing that you did/are doing or that you have heard what others did/are doing!

Please and Thank you very much!

George

George:

We are currently having an Iris built in TV. Besides all the stretches that we did, and you mentioned, we also had a couple of minor things done.

1. had them do radius turns on the concrete walkway instead of 90 degree turns.
2. Had the driveway extend to the street in front of the golf cart garage.
3. had a 10 x 10 pad poured in back for a BBQ
4. had them raise the lania floor
5. had a small wall removed in the kitchen so as to open it up into the living area (you do lose one upper cabinet)
6. had the laundry room tub put in the garage so that an extra pantry cabinet could be put in there
7. deleted some ceiling fans so that we could put in better ones.
8. moved some outlets up the wall for televisions
9. had the sliders off the kitchen nook removed and put in windows.

I'm sure there are a couple of other things but that is all I remember right now. Hope this helps and good luck.

Rich

[Happinow]

I think it depends on your designer how much you can do. I've heard that some were very limited and some were very lenient. Our designer was wonderful. There are previous threads on this subject so they may be of great help to you. But, we added many outlets ( not enough outside), put extra outlets outside, we added recessed lighting in the dining room (our sitting room), added recessed listing in the master, pendant lights in the kitchen,added a window and French doors in the master, additional "nook" for soap, shampoo, etc. on the bathroom showers, additional towel rack on the master, took out a medicine cabinet in the master, stretched the house as far as we could on garage, guest room side of the house and lanai, put additional lighting on lanai. Basically, if you have an idea for something, push to get it done! Ifs a fun but tiring process and is totally worth it in the end. You will get many ideas on this forum about what to add or subtract from your new build. Best of luck!!

[batman911]

You may want to check out the "New Villagers in Gilchrist" thread. You will find lots of info there.

[Houselover]

To those of you who have recently built new or who are in the process of doing so, I am asking for your input and ideas regarding making revisions to the standard home and home site.

I have read previous posts/strings on the topic�I am just trying to keep up with current activity. I am being told that the Design Team folks are becoming more generous in granting their �Mother-may-I� lately.

I know about the room/garage/lanai extensions (get as many as I can afford and what the site can handle) and about having the choice of floor plans and elevation options.

I am interested in hearing about changes additions, revisions, improvements and enhancements, both large and small. Things such as larger hot water tanks, adding/moving windows, light switches, outlets, etc, ceiling fans, high hat lighting

Basically, ANYthing and EVERYthing that you did/are doing or that you have heard what others did/are doing!

Please and Thank you very much!

George

George,
We just finished with design for our Sanibel and were able to get sliders where windows were, changed the front elevation, changes cabinet configs. etc..Basically we got most of the changes we wanted but these changes are not cheap..Bring your fat checkbook..:wave:

[keithwand]

We have a Sanibel in Fernandina.
Did you add the slider in the kitchen nook to the lanai?
What did you change in the elevation.
We extended the 3 car garage (now 1,000 sf garage) and had taken out 1 of the doors from the kitchen to the garage and added pantrys which are now standard.
Added extra outlets, can lighting over pool table, deleted medicine cabinets and 1 large mirror over MBR sinks to put in dual wall hung framed mirrors; deleted pool bath but kept lanai screen past that area for "storage".
Wish we would have thought of a shower with glass block wall instead of the guest bath.

[Roaddog53]

George:

We are currently having an Iris built in TV. Besides all the stretches that we did, and you mentioned, we also had a couple of minor things done.

1. had them do radius turns on the concrete walkway instead of 90 degree turns.
2. Had the driveway extend to the street in front of the golf cart garage.
3. had a 10 x 10 pad poured in back for a BBQ
4. had them raise the lania floor
5. had a small wall removed in the kitchen so as to open it up into the living area (you do lose one upper cabinet)
6. had the laundry room tub put in the garage so that an extra pantry cabinet could be put in there
7. deleted some ceiling fans so that we could put in better ones.
8. moved some outlets up the wall for televisions
9. had the sliders off the kitchen nook removed and put in windows.

I'm sure there are a couple of other things but that is all I remember right now. Hope this helps and good luck.

Rich

Good changes and did lots of those too on our Iris. Also:
- Added 4 way switches in liv room
- Added plugs in lanai incl TV
- Added switches for fan lighting in all rooms
- Added extra bib hose in back
- Removed hall door to kitchen and put on laundry room
- Added two rows of closet shelving in all bedroom closets plus other shelving

[Rbgold]

We are currently building a Lantana, and in addition to many of the additional features listed above, we added:
- dedicated outlet in garage for an additional refrigerator
- changed the kitchen cabinet configuration by adding drawers on many of the base cabinets instead of door cabinets
- extra spigots outside
- pocket slider in place of regular slider in nook area

Prior to design appt., we put everything on an excel spreadsheet so we did not forget anything during the process.

Best of luck to you!

[hotrodgirl]

I also made a spreadsheet and prioritized my entries. I closed on Dec 5th and built a LANTANA. I stretched 4 feet in the garage, 2 feet on the kitchen side, 2 feet on the back of the house, 2 feet on the lanai and 6 feet out the front in order to accommodate a 3rd bathroom (attached to the front bedroom) added a second closet to the third bedroom, a "built in cabinet" for a wine fridge, extra electrical outlets inside and out, extra hose bib, extra outlets in the bathrooms, extra cabinets in the laundry, pull-out trash bin cabinet in kitchen and I am sure more that I have since forgotten! All you can do is ask for what you want and hope they will accommodate you to the best of their abilities! Each builder has final say, so it is up to them. But ask for what you want!!!

[Joanned]

To those of you who have recently built new or who are in the process of doing so, I am asking for your input and ideas regarding making revisions to the standard home and home site.

I have read previous posts/strings on the topic�I am just trying to keep up with current activity. I am being told that the Design Team folks are becoming more generous in granting their �Mother-may-I� lately.

I know about the room/garage/lanai extensions (get as many as I can afford and what the site can handle) and about having the choice of floor plans and elevation options.

I am interested in hearing about changes additions, revisions, improvements and enhancements, both large and small. Things such as larger hot water tanks, adding/moving windows, light switches, outlets, etc, ceiling fans, high hat lighting

Basically, ANYthing and EVERYthing that you did/are doing or that you have heard what others did/are doing!

Please and Thank you very much!

George
Hi
We just went thru the design process and did all the above. More high hats,light switches, tv/phone outlets, 5 burner stove top vs four, taller cabinets, moved a wall,changed window, Etc they were easy to work with, of course you'll pay for the additions
Joanne

[jmac1031]

Closed on an IRIS in November. We removed two windows in the master bedroom for additional wall space. We also were allowed to have the home/lanai pre wired for sound speakers and volume controls.

[SukiChu]

We did, or wish we would have:
Insulate the hot water pipes. Takes forever to get hot water in the master bath and the kitchen.
Put in a pocket door between the kitchen and the laundry area. They can do it but they will have to move the outlet to the other wall. We have a partial wall. It helps keep some of the noise out of the living room area.
I would get wood and carpet - no tile. Tile is hard on all body parts. I have to wear shoes all the time. Upgrade the carpet if you can.
Put in your own appliances .
Avoid using the big giant mirrors in the bath.
If you want the windows with the inserts you have to get tHem when you buy. They cannot be added later.
We added an additional outlet in the attic and an additional one in the garage.
Move that little window in the middle bedroom so it is not shoved over in a corner. IMHO, it looks stupid but does put light into the closet.. ...which brings me to....
Have them put light sockets in the smaller closets its dark in there .
We put in lots of big drawers in the kitchen instead of cabinets. Easy to see what is in there with no leaning over to look into a dark cabinet. I have one cabinet with a pull out tray. No wine rack...really needed that extra cabinet. We did not get a big pantry and it has been fine.
We cut our lanai off short and added a covered patio. Love it.
Wish we would have added a cable hookup in the kitchen nook area by the slider so we could watch the news during dinner. No need to catch up during dinner anymore as we are together 24/7 right now ( aghhhhh!). ;-)
We put a cable hookup in the kitchen and we made two outlets plug s into four whenever we could. Kitchen, MB, entertainment center wall and the garage.
We insulated the attic in the garage. Have them put down more particle board decking even beyond the footprint of the vaulted section of trusses.
Have them move the dining room light. They are not where they should be in any of the homes and we all complain about it. The builder really needs to address that issue. The size of that area is hard to work with. I am talking about an Iris and those like it .
Hope this helps.

[gmcneill]

So many great ideas!!

MANY thanks to all of you responders!!

I and other current and near-future "new builders" certainly appreciate that you shared your input.

PS: Houselover, about that fat checkbook: I checked on it after reading your post.
I think that it made a New Year's Resolution to get skinny w/out my knowledge. ;)

[jmm2760jmm]

Just finished our new home. We pre-wired for speakers in the living room and lanai. Had the living room wall reinforced for hanging a tv. Had the lanai plumbed for water and electric for future summer kitchen. Our other adds were all mentioned in previous posts. Good luck!

[Bavarian]

What you can change depends on Desinger and Sales Rep!

We built a Grandview, had walls moved in Kitchen nook to accomodate an large Eckbank group we had custom made in current house. This required windows to be moved up. Also, needed to make Lanai bathroom made full bath with no entrance from house as it would interfere. But the sales rep knew this was a major requirement to building this house.
Had house prewired for surround sound in Family Room which will serve as theater, currently have dedicated one built in lieu of a third car garage. Also, prewired for whole house audio including outdoors. Don't know if I will go thru with entire system as it is expensive, but wires there. Had garden tub put back in Master Bathroom, lost a medicine cabinet though.

Not really any others, other than making a three car garage and golf cart garage, bumped out. Got many tips on the latter from our future neighbors.
If you want something, ask for it, all they can say is "no", then reword and ask again.

[Bryant]

Had a natural gas line run for our BBQ. Best thing we did; never have to worry about filling propane tank. Unfortunately, there were too many things we didn't do and regret. You are wise to ask before building. Wish we had.

[Lpierleo]

We also did many of the above listed, just wanted to add insulated garage doors. Added insulation to lanai roof and had electric put on two of the poles in the lanai for lamps, etc. also placed outlets and cable up high to wall mount Televisions. Good luck.

[kwilson18]

Besides doing as many of the "nice haves" as you can afford it's good to include all the safety and conveniences you may need as you get older...a builder friend recommended widening doors (so if anyone in home breaks a leg or for any other reason needs a wheelchair), easy access...consider higher toilets (when you visit someone and can't get up from their low toilet you will know what I'm talking about), also consider the best level for your bathroom counters for not only your height now but what will be easiest to use ten or thirty years from now....a built in trash container so you don't have to stumble around an extra device in the kitchen is great....just look at your home design from the perspective of safety and convenience rather than only its beauty. Then if you can add a stained glass window in the master bath so you feel the joy of the sun shining thru every morning as you thank The Lord for another day in Paradise!

[ctoboika]

Thank you all for sharing this information - we are starting to do some research and are leaning towards an IRIS... Does anyone have feedback on the garage size (as it comes standard) -i know we can add a 4 ft stretch (assuming our site will accommodate) - how small is the garage if we cant add the stretch? it seems small to fit 2 cards + golf cart? Can I get some feedback?

[Roaddog53]

Thank you all for sharing this information - we are starting to do some research and are leaning towards an IRIS... Does anyone have feedback on the garage size (as it comes standard) -i know we can add a 4 ft stretch (assuming our site will accommodate) - how small is the garage if we cant add the stretch? it seems small to fit 2 cards + golf cart? Can I get some feedback?

It is very small without the stretch. The good news is the new Iris has the furnace room tucked in where the laundry/work area was in the former plan so there is a BIT more room now in the garage for shelving or storage on the cart side. The bad news is you lose the separate laundry/work area that we like.
Even so, the garage is too small if you have 2 cars, cart, bicycles, mowers/seasonal equipment, and tools.
In other words get all the stretch you can!! There is no basement or sheds down here.

[Happinow]

We have a Sanibel in Fernandina.
Did you add the slider in the kitchen nook to the lanai?
What did you change in the elevation.
We extended the 3 car garage (now 1,000 sf garage) and had taken out 1 of the doors from the kitchen to the garage and added pantrys which are now standard.
Added extra outlets, can lighting over pool table, deleted medicine cabinets and 1 large mirror over MBR sinks to put in dual wall hung framed mirrors; deleted pool bath but kept lanai screen past that area for "storage".
Wish we would have thought of a shower with glass block wall instead of the guest bath.

Keith, I was lucky enough to tour the newest premiere models not too long ago and the Sanibel is my most favorite!! What a beautiful home. Lucky you to get to own one. Enjoy!!

[rjm1cc]

Circulating pump for the hot water
Wall oven
Enlarge the storage are for food.
Think of where you will want a light and be sure you can plug it in. Think of putting floor outlets in the great room.
Think about the amount of light in each room. Maybe a skylight or a row or two of glass blocks. If you have a window in the bathroom maybe change to glass blocks.
Slide out cabinet shelves
Lazy Susan in the corner cabinets.
Lights under the cabinets.
Fan/ceiling light in most rooms so you have an option of a ceiling light if you want one in the future.
Built in entertainment center.

[twiceis]

Our design appt is April 10th. Did anybody get a credit for appliances that you could buy at Lowes? What is the dollar amount so we can plan.

[twiceis]

Who was your designer?

[twiceis]

Can you elaborate on the door thing? We're building an iris and appreciate anything you wish to share

[gmcneill]

Our design appt is April 10th. Did anybody get a credit for appliances that you could buy at Lowes? What is the dollar amount so we can plan.

As of this past week, the credit was approx $5900. My apples-apples comparison of HD, Lowes, Sears, Best Buy determined that HD was the lowest of the bunch for each appliance. Cost total savings compared to builder supplied appliances was approx $1700.

An advantage of buying through the builder is that one receives a 2 year warranty on each of the four appliances. And as you will learn, a TV warranty on any item is huge. No vendor or contractor will delay responding to any warranty issue for fear of losing the builder's business.

[twiceis]

We want our refrigerator to look "built-in" so we either need a counter depth (which is quite expensive except for Frigidaire). If I thought they would build out the cabinet above the fridge so it look "built-in" that would be fine and then the standard appliances would work. If we decide to go with Lowes or HD who installs them? Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Karin

[cherylncliff]

I do not know if they will do it but I would recommend a tankless water heater located in/near the master bath. The run from the water heater in the garage to the master bath is long and uses a lot of hot water just to get to the bathroom. A tankless heater will give you instant hot water and save time and a lot of wasted water. This would be a lot cheaper before rather than after.

[skyc6]

One of the best things we did was to do a trayed ceiling on the lanai. I think it is raised 11 inches up and it creates a feeling of space and height that is nice.

[CFrance]

Our neighbors built their Iris (not exactly--the frame version of the Iris) and had all their interior wall corners rounded. It looks so nice.

[elizabeth52]

Congrats to all on their new homes. We were down in Feb and are now preparing our home for sale so that we can buy a home in TV. I would like to know how much all these bump, stretches, and additions add to the cost of the home. The model that we fell in love with is the Gardinia. I would like a pool and an extended Lanai. Not sure if that is possible in my price range. Any info would be appreciated.

[kittygilchrist]

The flexibility depends most on the model you choose. I put a kitchen island in a stretched lantana. Am doing my own light fixtures and fans, but had one lender turn me down because of it. In the master closet, added shelving for shoes on a short wall. You cannot get instant hot water. You can get set up for water filter, but you have to have the filter installed later.

[gmcneill]

An update, FWIW...

The primary revisions we made to our Gardenia are:

Stretched everywhere we could: 6' to garage; 8' to golf cart garage; 4' to the breakfast nook/front door wall; 2' to master bedroom but we used only 1 foot for the bedroom itself, used the other foot to widen the his/her closets; and 8' to lanai (unfortunately, our site is too narrow for more side stretches)

Added cabinets above wash tub in laundry room; raised all cabinets in laundry room to ceiling

Added ceiling fan pre-wired for lights in breakfast nook and dining area (which we will likely use for sitting/reading area)

Added ceiling lights (aka can lights) in laundry room and garage (replacing the despised fluorescent lights) and also in the foyer (replacing the dead bug-collecting and hard to clean hanging light)

Keyless entry pad to garage (so we don't have to bother with remote or house keys on walks, bike rides, visits to neighbors...)

Added bay window to front bedroom

Added an outlet in every closet, for charging cell phones or for who knows what other use

Added hose bibs to each corner of house and to front porch area and to lanai

Plumbed in hot/cold and drain lines for adding an after-build wash tub in garage

Walled in the open side of the lanai on the opposite side the master bedroom sliders for privacy

[bigallis1]

Were the designers cooperative with you on all these things?
Were they reasonably priced?

An update, FWIW...

The primary revisions we made to our Gardenia are:

Stretched everywhere we could: 6' to garage; 8' to golf cart garage; 4' to the breakfast nook/front door wall; 2' to master bedroom but we used only 1 foot for the bedroom itself, used the other foot to widen the his/her closets; and 8' to lanai (unfortunately, our site is too narrow for more side stretches)

Added cabinets above wash tub in laundry room; raised all cabinets in laundry room to ceiling

Added ceiling fan pre-wired for lights in breakfast nook and dining area (which we will likely use for sitting/reading area)

Added ceiling lights (aka can lights) in laundry room and garage (replacing the despised fluorescent lights) and also in the foyer (replacing the dead bug-collecting and hard to clean hanging light)

Keyless entry pad to garage (so we don't have to bother with remote or house keys on walks, bike rides, visits to neighbors...)

Added bay window to front bedroom

Added an outlet in every closet, for charging cell phones or for who knows what other use

Added hose bibs to each corner of house and to front porch area and to lanai

Plumbed in hot/cold and drain lines for adding an after-build wash tub in garage

Walled in the open side of the lanai on the opposite side the master bedroom sliders for privacy

[gmcneill]

Yes. Our design rep, Stacey DeWitt was super. No stress, pressure, or indications of impatience. She offered opinions only when asked, and she was quite tactful if she disagreed with our "perfect" ideas.

I thought prices were quite reasonable.
$160 to run a 220 line to lanai; most hose bibs, outlets and lights in neighborhood of $100 plus/minus; $1900 for master bedroom and his/her closet extensions...

More info???

[Bosoxfan]

Bump

[Bosoxfan]

Had our design meeting today! Building starts April 5th & we close June 10th....Excitng times ahead!!

[Rbgold]

Yes. Our design rep, Stacey DeWitt was super. No stress, pressure, or indications of impatience. She offered opinions only when asked, and she was quite tactful if she disagreed with our "perfect" ideas.

I thought prices were quite reasonable.
$160 to run a 220 line to lanai; most hose bibs, outlets and lights in neighborhood of $100 plus/minus; $1900 for master bedroom and his/her closet extensions...

More info???

We had Stacey DeWitt as well and couldn't be happier with the outcome! I kept adding things and my husband kept cringing! She made outstanding recommendations that we would have never considered. In the end, the final price was well within our budget, so it was all good!! Congrats on your new home!

[herbaru]

We had Stacey DeWitt as well and couldn't be happier with the outcome! I kept adding things and my husband kept cringing! She made outstanding recommendations that we would have never considered. In the end, the final price was well within our budget, so it was all good!! Congrats on your new home!


Can one request a design rep?

[bigallis1]

Thank's for your feedback.
Sound's like Stacey would be great to work with.



Yes. Our design rep, Stacey DeWitt was super. No stress, pressure, or indications of impatience. She offered opinions only when asked, and she was quite tactful if she disagreed with our "perfect" ideas.

I thought prices were quite reasonable.
$160 to run a 220 line to lanai; most hose bibs, outlets and lights in neighborhood of $100 plus/minus; $1900 for master bedroom and his/her closet extensions...

More info???