Any advice or tips from folks who have been in a new home for several years?

Such as: "Things I wish I would have done/improved as soon as I moved in."

Any input is appreciated. TIA

Edited to add more specifics from responses:
This house is already built but is a new construction. We weren't actually in the market for a new construction originally, but we ended up finding a finished new build that is a perfect fit and within our budget. We will be closing on it within the next month.

We are also 1st time homeowners.

I'm thinking more along the lines of "preventative maintenance" type things that most builders don't already do. (sealer on the floors, scotchgard carpets, mods to plumbing/electrical, etc.) Also, things that start happening to a house when it gets to be 4-5 years old that could have been mitigated by preventative maintenance.

Window screens
No carpet
Storage. Storage. Storage. Storage. New builds don't seem to build cabinets/pantries/linen/float closets like older homes.
Irrigation system
Elevated outlets for tv mounts
Added insulation in attic

All of those above. Also.


French drains on property lines so your neighbors don't flood your yard.
Gutters (preferably connected to French drains)
Incoming gas line big enough to support tankless water heater.
Piping for softened water to only affect inside lines and not water hoses.
Internet closet switch box in central part of house.

I should qualify further:

This house is already built, but is a new construction. We will be closing on it within the next month.

We are also 1st time homeowners. I appreciate any advice y'all can give!

Stay on your builder's ass and do not let any imperfection slide. Once you close the house, they tend to be less motivated.

SoulSlaveAG2005 said:

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Window screens
No carpet
Storage. Storage. Storage. Storage. New builds don't seem to build cabinets/pantries/linen/float closets like older homes.
Irrigation system
Elevated and Recessed outlets for tv mounts
Added insulation in attic

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Sounds like you waited too long to ask this question...

It is a new house, you have a warranty... but don't expect that warranty to mean it will be fixed anytime soon. Once the builder is paid you will never hear from them except maybe a christmas card.

You are going to quickly find out all the things you should have asked before the construction was finished, many of which have already been listed above. You are also going to find out where the builder went cheap and put in something that looks pretty, but when you start using it, the quality really shows.

The only thing I can think of is air filters, they will give you a house with the thinnest of air filters in place. Just swap them out, its peak pollen season, plus all the VOC's in your house from the paint and floors... buy a good air filter asap.

NUMERO UNO..... have a gas line ran to your incoming electrical panel and prewire for a standby generator.
NUMERO DOS ......if possible have an outdoor bathroom built near wherever you plan to put your outdoor kitchen and pool
NUMERO TRES....surround your house with triple the hose bibs AND electrical outlets that the builder plans.

Foamcows said:

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Sounds like you waited too long to ask this question...

It is a new house, you have a warranty... but don't expect that warranty to mean it will be fixed anytime soon. Once the builder is paid you will never hear from them except maybe a christmas card.

You are going to quickly find out all the things you should have asked before the construction was finished, many of which have already been listed above. You are also going to find out where the builder went cheap and put in something that looks pretty, but when you start using it, the quality really shows.

The only thing I can think of is air filters, they will give you a house with the thinnest of air filters in place. Just swap them out, its peak pollen season, plus all the VOC's in your house from the paint and floors... buy a good air filter asap.

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Yes. You are correct. We weren't actually in the market for a new construction originally, but we ended up finding a finished new build that is a perfect fit and within our budget.

I'm thinking more along the lines of "preventative maintenance" type things that most builders don't already do. (sealer on the floors, scotchgard carpets, mods to plumbing/electrical, etc.) Also, things that start happening to a house when it gets to be 4-5 years old that could have been mitigated by preventative maintenance.

is the house stucco? If so, the best preventative maintenance item I can think of is move before you hit the 4-5 year mark.

tsuag10 said:

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Foamcows said:

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Sounds like you waited too long to ask this question...

It is a new house, you have a warranty... but don't expect that warranty to mean it will be fixed anytime soon. Once the builder is paid you will never hear from them except maybe a christmas card.

You are going to quickly find out all the things you should have asked before the construction was finished, many of which have already been listed above. You are also going to find out where the builder went cheap and put in something that looks pretty, but when you start using it, the quality really shows.

The only thing I can think of is air filters, they will give you a house with the thinnest of air filters in place. Just swap them out, its peak pollen season, plus all the VOC's in your house from the paint and floors... buy a good air filter asap.

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Yes. You are correct. We weren't actually in the market for a new construction originally, but we ended up finding a finished new build that is a perfect fit and within our budget.

I'm thinking more along the lines of "preventative maintenance" type things that most builders don't already do. (sealer on the floors, scotchgard carpets, mods to plumbing/electrical, etc.) Also, things that start happening to a house when it gets to be 4-5 years old that could have been mitigated by preventative maintenance.

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I would still get irrigation if you don't have it already...
Look at the insulation in your attic and then double it
Check the seals and caulking in wet areas (shower doors, bathtubs, etc)
Change air filters as mentioned above
Test your gfci outlets.
Test smoke/CO alarms, change batteries
Start saving to replace carpet with something other than carpet. After 5 yrs the builder grade carpet will look rough even after professional cleanings every 6 months,

The house is already built everyone.

Thank you.

Insulation: Currently has the blown-in white fiberglass (supposedly R-38). Would you recommend blowing in more on top of it, or wait for it to settle somewhat and then add more? On the exterior walls, there is only R-13 batting. I think the answer is no, but is there any way to "supplement" that?

Also; Have any of you done spray-foam under the roof decking in addition to the blow-in insulation that sits on top of the sheetrock?


Carpets: Would most of you recommend putting down a protective spray (Scotchgard, Teflon, etc.)? The carpet is in the bedrooms only. We do have small kids.

something to note is the builder doesn't get very long to try to find mistakes made during construction. Things like a leaky roof, or maybe a bad window caulk job, or if the air conditioning dampers are not setup correctly to avoid hot/cold zones are hard to catch in the 3-4 months it takes to make a house nowadays...

The best advice I have is just pay attention. Don't assume that its new and it was inspected, therefore it was done right. If its raining outside, maybe go up in the attic and look for any leaks or signs of water getting in that they might not have seen. Watch your walls for signs of water penetration. Watch your yard to make sure the water flows away from the foundation and doesn't puddle up next to the house. Look for spots in your ceiling below your shower (assuming you have an upstairs)..

I cant think of anything outside of water penetration that will come back to kick your butt in 5 years.

Excellent advice. Thanks.

Nope. Brick. I did notice some cracking, etc. on some of the 5-10 yr old homes we toured when shopping. I've never lived in a stucco home, so I'm not well versed in how it ages.

tsuag10 said:

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Thank you.

Insulation: Currently has the blown-in white fiberglass (supposedly R-38). Would you recommend blowing in more on top of it, or wait for it to settle somewhat and then add more? On the exterior walls, there is only R-13 batting. I think the answer is no, but is there any way to "supplement" that?

Also; Have any of you done spray-foam under the roof decking in addition to the blow-in insulation that sits on top of the sheetrock?


Carpets: Would most of you recommend putting down a protective spray (Scotchgard, Teflon, etc.)? The carpet is in the bedrooms only. We do have small kids.

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Give it time to settle. And then Add on top, check for low points where they didn't blow in well or could have been compacted due to worker traffic. (Corners, behind equipment/rafters)

In my opinion the scorch guard just attracts more dirt. It is easier to clean off, but to me it gets dirty faster with the protection on it. Kind of a trade off.


Edit: also, I would get gutters installed if you haven't already along with irrigation. Help protect your foundation and water the new sod they put down so it doesn't die in July

Fortunately, gutters and irrigation were already installed.

Something you will need to do in 9 months will be a Warranty Inspection. They will come in and inspect for any leaks, other defects that you might not have caught that fall within most builders 1 year warranty.

Other things about a new house that you need to take care of now:

1. Make sure you get good air filters, it will help a ton. And change them monthly/quarterly.
2. I get all carpets steam cleaned twice a year. With young kids they will get crazy dirty super fast, no matter what you do.
3. Make sure you know how you want to handle your lawn. Pay someone to mow? Fertilize/Weed Control?

It's amazing how so many little things will go wrong and you have to figure out, even in a new build. Learn how to google and always trust the HI board here. I've change light switches, fixed indoor and outdoor plumbing, all with help from here.

Another thing that may help is get to know the plumber and electrical guy that is working on your house. When something goes wrong, see if he would be willing to help "off-the-clock" so that you don't have to pay a huge fee to those stupid companies to fix things.

My mom did that and now I use him to do stuff at my house all the time for much cheaper/cash.

Now is the time to epoxy the garage floor while there is no stuff in it and it is clean. Once you move in, it will be really hard to get everything out to get this done. This assumes the concrete is fully cured.

I also had the front and back porch stained. It looks so much better than the grey, boring concrete. Though this can be done at almost anytime.

Take advantage of the warranty. We had a few minor warranty issues the first year here and our builder (Newmark) took care of things in a timely manner.

Invest in some basic power tools (particularly drills and accessories for them), stud finder, level, tape measure, a step ladder, and 10 to 20 foot ladder as you will constantly need these things over the years for various small projects around the house.

Get an older refrigerator for the garage for drinks and extra space. Doesn't need to look good, just function.

Organization stuff for garage like some basic plastic shelving and hooks to put into studs for hanging stuff on the walls.

IMO I think some of the suggestions regarding insulation are over kill. These newer homes are vastly more energy efficient than even 10 year old homes. I keep a 3000 sq foot 2 story home in the low 70s all day long in the summer for under 2000 kwh per month in Houston area.

Might be worthwhile to hire a home inspector to verify everything is built properly to current code if you are concerned about the builder. People do this routinely when buying homes that aren't new.

All of the recent suggestions are great. I look forward to leveraging the knowledge and experience of this board in the future!

Congrats and T&P for being a home owner. It is a blessing and a great responsibility. Welcome to the club!

MouthBQ98 said:

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Might be worthwhile to hire a home inspector to verify everything is built properly to current code if you are concerned about the builder. People do this routinely when buying homes that aren't new.

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This x 1000. Your builder is motivated to close, they are less motivated to honor your warranty. We hired an inspector (absolute) and found a few minor issues with the house that were easy to get the builder to correct (e.g. some nails on the roof that needed to be sealed, etc.) and meant we didn't have to deal with finding that through leaks.

Our neighbors didn't get an inspector because it's a new house, should be perfect and we have a warranty. They didn't find out about their leaks until a big rain (we were dry) and they had a few other issues that took the builder a while to fix.

We hired an inspector. I'm going through the home with him late this afternoon.

Great ideas all around. Any other specifics that I should focus on during the inspection? I have confidence in the inspector, but it never hurts to double check.

Absolute is who I used also. They found several areas where cold air was leaking out and helped get them sealed.

Get an inspection a month before the warranty expires.

Thomas Ford 91 said:

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Get an inspection a month before the warranty expires.

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THIS.

tsuag10 said:

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Fortunately, gutters and irrigation were already installed.

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That's cool but make sure the gutters drain at least a few feet away from the house. Builders typically terminate the downspouts right at the foundation so if the grade isn't correct it will cause issues. It might be as simple as going to HD or Lowe's and purchasing some plastic expandable gutter extensions. Bottom line is make sure you have proper drainage around the entire perimeter of your house.

Good point. The downspouts come out right at the bottom like you said. I'll have to get some of the flex pipe to divert it away from the slab.

I prefer the slash pads over flexible extensions. The corrugations in the flex extensions tend to trap leaves and clog easier.

hodgesco said:

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I prefer the slash pads over flexible extensions. The corrugations in the flex extensions tend to trap leaves and clog easier.

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I agree. Try find some good concrete ones, the cheap plastic ones at HD or Lowe's just get torn up by your edger/lawn mower. If you have a landscape or hardscape store you frequent they can usually get them for you. Sometimes you can find them at HD Or Lowe's but it hs been hit/miss in my efforts.

You can also cast them yourself using the plastic ones as a cast/form. Just spray the inside with a release agent like this

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kleen-Kote-32-oz-Water-Based-Industrial-Concrete-Release-and-Anti-Corrosion-Coating-Spray-Bottle-30820/206965027?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CTHD%7CG%7C0%7CG-BASE-PLA-AllProducts%7C&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_7SmuuyC2gIVhjyBCh1migymEAsYAyABEgLvbfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=COKHjd3sgtoCFQUUgQodAOsIRw


and mix up some quuckrete, pour in underside and let it cure. Pop out the pad once done and repeat as many times necessary.