When buying a new build home, buyers usually focus first on the location, floor plan, and finished look of the home. Those details are important but a time come when they’ll be looking closely at the standard features included with the home. The standard features that can affect the comfort, function, energy use, storage, design, and long-term value of the home.
Some features are easy to see during a tour or design appointment. Others are built into the structure, mechanical systems, insulation, windows, flooring, cabinetry, and daily function of the home.
Continue reading for help in understanding what features are included in your new build and which features matter the most to your lifestyle.
Features That Come Standard
A standard feature is an item, material, finish, or construction detail that is included with the home. This is different from a buyer-selected upgrade or a future improvement that may be added after move-in.
Good standard features will make the home feel more complete from the start. They also reduce the number of decisions that need to be made in the future. This is helpful for buyers that want a new home but do not want to take care of every detail from scratch.
Reviewing standard features
When reviewing standard features, look at both visible and behind-the-wall items. Look at flooring, cabinetry, faucets, lighting, trim, and tiles which all affect the way the home looks and functions.
Things like framing, insulation, windows, heating, cooling and roofing all affect how the home performs over time.
If you’re currently comparing home builders, remember to ask what features comes standard before you compare optional extras.
Review the Floor Plan Before Comparing Features
The floor plan should be reviewed before most feature decisions. A good feature is only useful if it supports the way the home is laid out.
Storage, lighting, flooring, kitchen cabinetry, bathroom space, and laundry areas all depend on how the home works from room to room.
Before choosing a home, review the floor plans for new homes and think about how certain plans can affect your daily routine.
Look at the kitchen, garage entry, bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, laundry area, and main living space. A floor plan should make normal movement through the home feel practical.
Here are a few simple questions you can ask as you compare layouts:
- Is there enough storage near the main entry?
- Does the kitchen connect well with the dining and living areas?
- Are the bedrooms placed in a way that gives enough privacy?
- Is the laundry area in a practical location?
- Will the layout still work as your needs change?
Once the floor plan makes sense to you it becomes easier to judge which standard features will matter most.
Compare Kitchen and Bathroom Features
Kitchens and bathrooms are the most-used areas in a new home so the features in these rooms should be practical, durable, and suited to daily use. Buyers should look at the strength and quality of the cabinetry, faucets, countertops, storage, lighting, flooring, tile and the way each room is arranged.
Custom kitchen and bathroom cabinetry can make a noticeable difference in how the home functions and quality cabinetry helps with storage, organization and the overall finish of the room.
The faucets, tile, lighting and flooring also affect both the appearance and everyday comfort of homeowners, so these features should also be examined to ensure they work well with your style of living.
Jot these points down on a piece of paper when comparing kitchen and bathroom features:
- Cabinet storage and drawer layout.
- Bathroom vanity space.
- Durable flooring and tile choices.
- Lighting over work areas and mirrors.
- Faucets and fixtures that are easy to use.
- Kitchen features that support cooking, storage, and gathering.
These rooms should look good but they should also be easy to use and maintain, and make living your daily life more convenient.
Examine Flooring, Trim, and Interior Finishes
Interior finishes affect the first impression of a home but they more importantly affect how the home feels over time. Things like flooring, trim, staircases, ceiling finishes, drywall corners, and wall details all contribute to the finished look.
When looking at interior finishes, do not judge by colour or texture alone. Think about how the materials will perform in busy areas, how easy they are to clean, and whether they actually fit the style of the home.
Luxury vinyl plank flooring, ceramic or porcelain bathroom tiles, modern trim, finished stair details, and smooth transitions between rooms, are all areas to examine.
Remember that these choices also affect daily cleaning, maintenance and daily wear so make sure your selections are in line with your ability to make sure upkeep is easy and convenient.
Pay Attention to Comfort and Efficiency Features
Some of the most important features in a new home are not the first things buyers notice. You should consider things like heating, cooling, ventilation, insulation, windows and wall construction all affect home comfort and performance.
Features such as central air, HRV, a high-efficiency gas furnace, quality windows, insulation, and good wall construction can all contribute to how the home feels.
Home buyers should inquire for details about:
- Heating and cooling systems.
- Ventilation.
- Exterior wall construction.
- Insulation.
- Window quality.
- Roofing materials.
- Electrical service.
These features may not be as exciting as kitchen finishes but they are highly important to the long-term comfort of the home and it’s good to know the finer details about these features to better understand how your home operates.
Look at Electrical, Lighting and Technology Needs
This section is very important because the placement of electrical and lighting features can affect the overall happiness and convenience of your home.
You need to look at lighting and electrical details that affect daily life in every room. You should examine about how each space will be used, where furniture will go, and where outlets, lights, and switches will be needed.
A custom lighting package, pot lights, electrical amperage, garage features and gas hookups can all make the home more practical.
Each of these details will support cooking, entertainment, working from home, using the garage and spending time outdoors.
Examine certain areas where you may need:
- Task lighting in the kitchen.
- Lighting in halls, closets, and storage areas.
- Extra outlets in bedrooms or office areas.
- Garage power for tools or equipment.
- Exterior lighting near doors, patios, and walkways.
- Gas hookups for a stove or the barbecue.
Electrical and lighting choices should be discussed early on with the builder so as to ensure that they are planned properly.
Compare Standard Features with Custom Feature Options
Some buyers are simple happy with choosing from the available home plans and the standard features, but others may want to customize the home more closely around their lifestyle and/or long-term plans.
Both paths work but they involve different types of decision making processes.
For buyers considering custom homes in Haldimand and Norfolk, the home can be shaped around family size, storage needs, kitchen layout, work-from-home space, garage use, main-floor living and future accessibility.
Custom planning does not always mean changing every part of the home. It can simply mean starting with a plan and adjusting it so it fits your family needs better. This could include custom layout changes, room function changes, custom finishes, exterior styles and details that make the home feel more personal.
Research Where the Home Will Be Built
The location of the home also affects which features will matter most. For instance a rural property, a subdivision lot, a family neighbourhood, and a townhome setting all may all call for different priorities.
If you’re a buyer comparing new build homes in Haldimand and Norfolk you should look at the full features package. Examine the surrounding community, the lot size and location, the floor plan, any standard features, design choices and whether they will all work with your budget.
A new build home in a planned development can give you a clear community setting and available lots while a custom build can give you more flexibility around a specific property.
Either way, the features should fit the way you and your family desire to live in the home.
Note: Timely Decisions Need to Be Made
The timing of decisions matters during a new build too and understanding the process helps buyers ask better questions at the right time.
Some choices need to be discussed early because they affect the construction, structure, mechanical systems and layout. Other choices can be made later during the design and selection stage.
Learning about the new home construction process can help buyers understand when different decisions usually happen and need to be made. This can also help to make the process easier to follow and reduce the chance of rushed decisions.
Structural, electrical, plumbing, window, and layout decisions generally need early attention. Finish selections, colours, fixtures, and some design details may come later but those upcoming decisions still need to be organized early on.
Think About Future Improvements Too
Standard features and design selections are part of the home building process before the move-in date but future improvements are different. Future improvements may include items you’ll want to add later like landscaping ideas, fencing, patios, gardens, sheds, pools, or other outdoor features.
It can still be helpful to consider future improvements in the planning phase. For example a buyer may want to consider backyard use, garage space, exterior access, or basement plans before making any final decisions on the build.
For more ideas you can review these new build upgrade ideas to help you consider items that would matter most after move-in.
