We are about 4 months away from finishing our new construction home that we’ve been building in an owner-builder program! It’s been quite the journey full of ups and downs, and for everyone in our group, there have been some regrets too.
Designing your own home? Today I’m sharing these common new home regrets so you can avoid them!
I’ve compiled a short list of the regrets my neighbors and I have had during the building process as well as tips from friends and family that they wish they’d considered for their home.
Regret #1: Home Plan Choice
My husband and I spent hours and hours analyzing the different house plan choices as we waited to hear from the USDA about our loan application.
The homes built in the program aren’t customizable, so we wanted to pick the plan that best fit our needs and lifestyle both now and in the future with as few modifications as possible.
Some may say we spent too much time thinking about the plans, but up until we applied for the program we’d only dreamed of being able to afford a brand-new home and we didn’t want to take this opportunity lightly.
During the building process, we spent tons of time talking to our neighbors. As we got to know each other better we were shocked to hear how little time and thought some of them put into what is, in our opinion, a major decision!
Some chose their plans primarily based on the front of the house with little consideration for the interior. Others never walked through an open house and missed out on the chance to see their favorite plans in person. If you have a chance to look through floor plans in person I highly recommend it, especially if you’re a visual person like I am!
Unfortunately for them, they also realized they should’ve put more time, effort, and research into the process, albeit a little too late. Many had regrets about their house plan choice, design selections, or other aspect of their future home.
Us on the other hand? The only thing we’re unsure about is our countertop as it’s the only design selection we haven’t seen in a home. Those tiny sample squares are so hard to visualize throughout the house! Everything else we’ve been really happy with and feel like we made the right choices.
Regret #2: Under-Thinking
Like the home plan choice, there are many other choices involved in a new construction home that you need to think about before you make any final decisions.
One of these things is the direction of your lot. Think about the direction the sun comes from and what that will mean for icy driveways in the winter, shade in the backyard, sun for the garden, etc. Prioritize your lot based on what matters most to you, even if it’s something non-weather related like the view!
With your design selections make sure to think about items that will stand the test of time, wear well, and match your vision for the space.
If you get to choose additional locations for electrical outlets, add insulation for soundproofing, or add an unfinished basement for space to grow into, make sure you run through your day-to-day tasks and find the most helpful additions to make sure they’re included.
While overthinking typically has a negative connotation, that’s not necessarily the case here! In fact, I think you’ll have regrets about your new home if you’re under-thinking your decisions.
Regret #3: Not Planning for the Future
As you’re thinking through all of these big decisions, make sure to think about your future too!
Planning to have kids? Make sure there’s enough space in the home, a nice backyard, and if possible some soundproofing insulation so you’re not tiptoeing around after their bedtime.
If you’re thinking of staying in the home for only a few years or tend to move frequently, choose a home that’s easier to sell; for example a single-family home instead of a townhome.
No matter what your future plans hold, think about how your new home will fit into those plans and make it work for you!
Regret #4: Assuming It’s a ‘Starter Home’
This new home regret is all too common! So many people move into a home thinking it’s just a starter home but end up staying for years and years!
Between the additional cost of a bigger, better, or newer house, the difficulty of moving on you, your family, and your wallet, and the constantly changing housing market, your starter home can quickly turn into your permanent residence!
We’ve been looking at our new home as our ‘forever home’ in the sense that we’re making choices assuming we’ll be living there long term. If that changes, so be it, but already having a well-thought-out house is much easier than trying to fit your starter home into a forever home cookie cutter.
Regret #5: Early Project Planning
Currently, this is the only new home regret I’ve had during the building process. By nature I’m a planner, so I’ve got the jam-packed Pinterest board, prioritized house project to-do list (some are even sketched out), and a home improvement section of our savings account in our monthly budget.
If you’re building a new construction home, it’s so important to keep in mind that your home will vary from your floor plan. Those variations will likely be slight, but they can really throw off projects if you have something specific in mind.
I planned to build a shiplap accent wall in our living room for our TV with built-in storage cabinets, a mantle, and an electric fireplace insert. Then an air return vent was placed into that wall.
The built-in master closet I designed using Ikea PAX and dimensions from the floor plan? There’s an HVAC tube in the corner so I can’t fit the PAX units in there nicely like I originally planned.
Are these things going to stop me from planning? Definitely not, but I’m now a little more cautious as I’m planning, focusing more on ideas and concepts versus drawing out a plan with a specific location and detailed project in mind.
Learn from my new home regrets and don’t completely plan out your projects before you know exactly what you’ll be working with!
Regret #6: Pre-Planning Major Changes
Planning major changes to your home is one thing if those changes are made during the initial build. However, if you can’t customize your home and find yourself saying things like ‘this plan will be perfect if we just rip down that wall!’ you need to stop and think.
Will you actually finish that project? Do you know how to do it yourself or can you afford to hire it out? Is there another plan you like better as-is than this plan as-is?
When moving into a new (or new to you) home, everyone has plans and aspirations for what they hope the space will become. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time, money, or motivation for the follow-through.
Be honest with yourself so you don’t end up making a home choice that you’ll regret later as it sits in its permanent place as your house project to-do list.
The home-building process is quite the journey, even if you’re not doing any of the labor yourself! If you keep these 6 common new home regrets in mind when making decisions about your new home, you’ll be much more likely to create a space that will work perfectly for you and your family!
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