Top New Home "Upgrades" (or Required Completions)
 

We are moving to TV soon and have purchased a brand new home (Veranda-Monroe).

From my research, there are a number of things most homeowners will want/need completed in their first year there which I've listed below in order of priority for us.

REQUEST: Can you please review this list and let me know if there's anything we are missing? We would like to line this up before we move down/in. Thank you!

OUR PRIORITIZED LIST

1. 1. Replace Carpeting (3BR) with LVP
2. 2. Epoxy Garage Floor
3. 3. Install Whole House Water Softener, Kitchen Reverse Osmosis (Culligan?)
4. 4. Purchase/Connect Washer/Dryer and Gas Range (List TV Install for Resale)
5. 5. Improve Insulation, Whole House (including Garage and Lanai)
6. 6. Install Whole House Gutters
7. 7. Install Garage Attic Stairs
8. 8. Build Pantry (in Kitchen Nook, Monroe Model)
9. 9. Touchups (Backsplash, Painting, Lighting, Ceiling Fans

P.S.
This isn't a post to recommend certain contractors - and I'll search on that myself rather than duplicating a number of other threads I'm sure - but I'll happily take and recommendations for any of these by DM/PM. And I was going to post this in the Home Improvement "forum," but that appears to be just a list of rated contractors/advertisements and not posts.

Window blinds, upgrade landscaping, paint driveway, complete interior paint with enamel at wet areas and washable flat wall, garage storage cabs and shelving, solar attic fan, and solar light tubes as needed, plywood attic area for storage, replace bug screen on the lanai with solar screen, front door storm door with pull down screen, roll down solar screens on all west facing windows, pour or pave a rear patio for grilling and entertaining, and more. Bring your checkbook, lol. Enjoy!!

I think your list is pretty good.

Can lighting in the rooms.

1. Built-in closet organizers
2. Landscaping upgrade if the original build is minimal
3. Potential lanai enhancements: shades, awnings, glass enclosure

3. Install Whole House Water Softener, Kitchen Reverse Osmosis (Culligan?)

IMO should be #1 - Contact NOVA

We had Nova installed before we moved in. Then we did just about everything else you listed. We bought resale, so we painted ceiling to baseboards, doors and trim and had LVP installed before we moved in. Some things are easier before the furniture is delivered.

This is excellent - thank you!

I would probably include:

• Your first three: blinds (plantation shutters, to be exact), upgraded landscaping, and painted driveway within my #9 "touchups" one as we'll definitely want to do that, just need to prioritize financially.
• The attic fan and plywood attic area within either the insulation (#3) and/or garage attic stairs (#7) since the contractor(s) will be up there.

And the garage shelving and storage would probably be DIY and definitely will need it eventually, but not immediately so #10+ on the list, similarly with the solar shades and screens, and definitely the patio which we'll probably add a small bird cage over with spa.

RE: the painting - specifically "enamel at wet areas and washable flat" - is it that bad? Definitely something we should probably do now before we're fully moved in, regardless.

Thanks again!

Wow, while we did do some of the items listed quickly, we took YEARS to do some of the items listed. The water softener was done very quickly, the carpeting was years later other items in between, some were never done. My point, you might consider living in the house first, then see what actually needs to be done, your ideas may be very different from suggestions you have read.

Thanks! I've heard mixed reviews about NOVA. While they're certainly better than nothing, we also have seen hard water can do to faucet filters which is kind of gross when you're using that water to brush your teeth. So far, only one glowing recommendation for Culligan from our sales agent who said he checks people's ice cubes to tell: most, including with NOVA, are opaque but his, with Culligan, are crystal clear. It's expensive - over $5K - but, he says, well worth it.

These are the hidden fees with TV...and don't get me started on the bond. :cus:

# 1 upgrade for us, build a pool and plant privacy hedges.

Being able to control the following remotely using a smartphone from 1000+ miles away:

-irrigation
-thermostat
-front door and driveway cameras including 24 hour history
-lock/unlock our front door and open/close garage door

Your sales agent's comment doesn't make sense. When you read all the threads on water filtration and softeners you will find the Nove three stage system is the best and the water softeners, at least the salt type are all basically the same. The difference is in the build quality and cost. Although Culligan is a premium system, and you are paying for it, many are very over priced.

OUR PRIORITIZED LIST

1. 1. Replace Carpeting (3BR) with LVP (We did LVP throughout during the Design meeting)
2. 2. Epoxy Garage Floor (We did polyaspartic/polyurea instead of epoxy; Had this done the day of closing)
3. 3. Install Whole House Water Softener, Kitchen Reverse Osmosis (Culligan?) (We installed Nova filter day after closing)
4. 4. Purchase/Connect Washer/Dryer and Gas Range (List TV Install for Resale) (We did the washer/dryer combo to save space)
5. 5. Improve Insulation, Whole House (including Garage and Lanai) (garage insulation done a week after closing)
6. 6. Install Whole House Gutters (will be done tomorrow by Stipes!)
7. 7. Install Garage Attic Stairs (installed by Stipes)
8. 8. Build Pantry (in Kitchen Nook, Monroe Model) (done by Kitchenwise/Closetwise)
9. 9. Touchups (Backsplash, Painting, Lighting, Ceiling Fans[/COLOR] (builder says this has to be done within a week after closing)

- Security cameras
- Alarm system

5. Improve Insulation, Whole House (including Garage and Lanai)
7. Install Garage Attic Stairs

Do not try to insulate the garage or the lanai. The builder only insulates the living areas. You will not be able to cool down the garage. There is little or no insulation in the garage walls. In the summer, when it is 90 degrees outside. If you touch the inside walls, you will see how hot they are. It is like a sauna in the garage.

Throw away your old stuff. Do not store it above the garage. Plastic and rubber material will surrender to the heat. If the stuff was important to keep, you would store in an air conditioned space.

Maximize birdcage size.
Security cameras.
Front door area screening and lanai door screening to be able to open both and get a cross breeze.
Upgrade plantings (after birdcage finished lol)
Paint driveway.
Crown molding if you like it (I dont) ditto plantation shutters.

We didnt take out our carpeting. After 4 years it still looks and feels great and it has saved me numerous trips to the store to replace electronics.

We only have minimal gutters. Dont need them. Replaced our mulch with stone. We did add a rain barrel to attach to rear gutter since we have a lot of plants.