Came across these videos searching for ideas for our electrical in our new build. Your videos are wonderful and do helpful. We are making so many decisions so fast it gets overwhelming. Thanks for reminding me that it will come together and if it’s not exactly everything I had envisioned that will be ok too. I hope you have settled in nicely to your new build. Love the pup too.. that will be a decision I’ll wait on for a bit but anticipate adding some fur clean up in my future.

Closets. Every new home build that I see in Florida has tiny closets that aren't even adequate for a first grader with small size clothes and a limited wardrobe. I'd consider any closet smaller than 8' x 8' to be insufficient for a single person.

I grew up with a walk-in pantry. It wasn't an efficient use of space, and once you have appliances in there it's going to warm up and your food will degrade faster. If you have hot moist appliances like a microwave or coffee machine in that space, that's a whole lot worse. My ideal is a similar floor area, but arranged as a wall of pull-out pantry units for serious storage, and zoned air conditioning gently wafting cool dry air up the inside of that space - not cold enough relative to the rest of the room to trigger condensation when room air gets inside the pantry cupboard, but enough to qualify as a cool dry place for storage. An appliances garage in the kitchen is the perfect place for appliances, and once you close the garage door they're all out of sight the same as if they were in another room - except they're much more convenient to use in the kitchen.

All those things that are not cars or bicycles, or tools directly related to maintaining and repairing cars and bicycles, do not belong in the garage. You need a garden shed. Also the US needs to sort out its laws that promote big ugly dangerous inefficient vehicles instead of sensible family cars, and then the vehicles you're trying to fit in your garage would probably fit - including being able to open the door and get out.

Any plumbing services under the slab are inaccessible for the life of the home - which means if a pipe cracks, or someone pours something down the drain that sets too hard for a drain clearer to shift, that pipe is ruined and cannot be repaired. If you make the basement a little deeper and install a false floor above the slab, the pipes will be accessible for future maintenance and repairs.

Making a child climb on a step to reach the basin is a quick way to have your child fall off that step. The multigenerational home option if you have the space is two basins at different heights. Otherwise, a basin mounted on a height-adjustable base with clear space underneath is ready for anyone - child, tall adult, person of any age in a wheelchair, you name it.

As an electrical contractor i masssivly advise the home owner to visit home consultants for the reason of being , knwing what the fuck the dumb arse clients wants , cause really the client got the money but no fucking clew what they want or need, the client does nt even know what size oven or hhot plates they may be installing , ss NFI so us contractors love these home consulyts do the eletrical layout for us prior to quoting the job , its a lot more efficeint for the client and the ontraactor ,,, cause us contractors get pissed off like fuck when we got to tell the client what they really need , we dont paid extra for that shit , thats why it pisses the fuck put of us doingt clients plans for them, , 80 % OF CLIENTS R LOADED BUT DUMB AS FUCK AS TO WHAT THEY REALLY NEED

This was so helpful. We are starting a full kitchen remodel early January. My biggest concern is our dining is right next to the kitchen. I want a chandelier over the dining table but not sure if we should eliminate the chandelier with recess light. So much to think about😫😫😫

Great point about extending downstairs flooring into a bit of the second floor. Nice budget-friendly tips. My #1 priority for a new build: it's difficult to retro-fit a home for energy efficiency, and there are long-term (very expensive) cost consequences if this isn't in the discussion AHEAD of final decisions.

I’m buying a 3 story townhome and it took almost 3 hours 😮

So how many days was it actually

I Thought i read bikini try on haul. Dont mind me …

Get rid of all your carpet. It’s the one of the worst thing ever for indoor hygiene and health.

The big ones are ugly and in your face. There are small ones that are modern looking.

So helpful, and you are beautiful!

We spent $8k on electrical upgrades. $6k on lighting and fans. $20k upgrading cabinets. $10k for quartz counters. $22k for LVP thoughout. $4k upgrading faucets. Then stone, black windows, black trim... the list is 6 pages long. Think $100k to $200k in upgrades is easy. So stressful, but we love it. We don't have any grays inside.

Was your home built by a production builder?

Great advise!

For the bathroom vanity situation Go taller, have a kick out step under sink (convert into a hidden drawer when kids are grown) Definitely agree with the garage situation Not only the width but the depth I hate having to open the garage door to get around husbands truck

Bla bla bla.

Treat the third party inspection as a required step. You're building a home that you plan to live in for a long time. The cost of an inspection at each phase (including pre-pour) is something you will never regret.

Thank you ❤

I am heading to decor center soon and I have white cream colours in mind and pale oak flooring. This is a great reminder that tastes change and a neutral pallet is wise.

Take out those horrible big glued on mirrors and put your own, they look so much nicer. Hardwood the whole house and raise the kitchen cabinets to ceiling so there is no gap to collect dust and more storage. Adding kick plate drawers in kitchen as well to store cookie sheets and cutting boards etc.

I have never had a new home built but I’m planning on a new build soon. This information is very helpful.

you should take a building inspector with you

What color is the green on the walls in the first photo in the fireplace section?

5 months to build a home in my opinion is far too fast. I suppose it depends what you are building, but I'm most cases you're not going to build a quality home in 5 months.

Sounds good Nicole!

Nice video and I believe you did mention it but I think one of the most important factors to emphasize is figuring out what to upgrade at the design center vs upgrade yourself after closing. Things which are more expensive and difficult to upgrade after closing such as cabinets, tile flooring, countertops, etc should be done at the design center. Also I think most builders will or should be able to give you a digital design center book that you can flip thru for weeks before your design center appointment which should make things a bit easier and more efficient at the appointment.

I just started watching you. is would be interested in how you found your contractor and what questions you asked.

its called a MASTER BATHROOM

We recently installed the white IKEA Bodbyn kitchen and I wanted to put my 10 arm chandelier above my 7 foot island because it would give me good light. I’ve seen a lot of videos where people have white kitchen cabinets and marble style countertops with crystal chandeliers over the island, so why are people telling me that a chandelier wouldn’t look good? How do you feel about them? Also, if I do end up putting pendant lights instead do I need to match the pendant lights over the island to the light that I put over the sink?

Consider motion sensor switches for closets, pantry, laundry room. Any space you may access frequently with your hands full is a good candidate for a motion sensor switch. I wish I had added motion sensors to bathroom fans for those inconsiderate folks who don’t remember to turn the fan on. They also have timers that automatically switch them off.

Is the pre construction meeting one we should have our realtor for?

I do not need carpets except when I get up from sleep. My feet want to touch carpets, and I think carpets are placed in the winter, but in the summer they are placed in the storeroom. Half the wall is tiled in the bathrooms, except for the showerhead. Thank you, knowing that I struggled with translation to understand part of the topic.

I do not need carpets except when I get up from sleep. My feet want to touch carpets, and I think carpets are placed in the winter, but in the summer they are placed in the storeroom. Half the wall is tiled in the bathrooms, except for the showerhead. Thank you, knowing that I struggled with translation to understand part of the topic.

I’m overwhelmed. I need a booth to go in to get it to lift from me. Builder has met with me twice, and promises another meeting. I hope I can make decisions I can love. I’m so afraid I will regret some. ❤ BTW you’re amazing. I hope you love your new place. You’re so sweet. 🥲

Nicole, thank you for this. M gong through this myself. Right now, my builder, is just guessing I’ll need two for a 7 feet island. I’ve been nervous that it’s gonna look wrong.

Congrats on the new home. Thx for the tips to keep a record of everything. I have not caught any errors yet. So far pleased with my builder because they go over everything verbally, in writing, and then a third tie before we sign. But I am still watching…

As a short adult my opinion is: Stools get old fast.

She is not kidding about that vanity height and counter heights! It matters! Make sure you have enough counter space too.

Hi Nicole can you share what colour did you use on the exterior of entryway door ? And what is the ceiling height on the main floor?

Just found you. Hope you get to a place you can make updates!

No open shelving you will regret that big time. One more thing to have to clean all the time. And the taller window just put some artwork above the window. Problem solved you save $2000.

One thing to add, is your furnishings and your artwork or what makes your home I’ve never had anybody come to my house and said oh my gosh you only have 4 inch baseboards. But I have had people coming into my home and say oh my gosh, your artwork is absolutely incredible. Sometimes you have to prioritize what’s important ,to me the things that are in my home just as important as what the builder is going to build, but some things aren’t.

Incredible video and information, thank you so much!!

What are your thoughts about using the same granite/quartz on all of your kitchen and bathroom counters?

Super helpful video - BUT, why does everyone with something to say related to homes use the mouse clicking sound for every picture. How does it even make sense to use? And why does it always have to be twice as loud as the rest of the content? I think the info is great to have, but not even a few minutes into the video I cry from my ears and have to turn it off. I can't be the only one.

Exactly 💯