As Determined by TWM: Must-Haves for New Home Construction

I’ve lived in my little house for almost 12 years now, and no matter how much I love it (and I really love it!), I still find things that I wish had been included when the previous owners remodeled it. Recently, a member of the Tanglewood Moms group who’s building a new house asked, “What are some of the things you added to your home that just make sense, and what do you wish you had included when you built your home?”

As they always do, the members of TWM had the best answers. We’ve gathered them here and added some of our own, so be sure to bookmark this post for when you remodel your existing house or build your dream home!

• Drawers for lower kitchen cabinets instead of shelves
• More than one washer and dryer
  • As a corollary, a laundry room accessible from the master closet
• Drinking fountain outside so the kids aren’t slamming the door every two seconds in the summer!
• Wash sinks in the laundry room and garage
• Two ovens
  • A warming drawer
• Second sink in the kitchen
• Storage under the stairs or a room for Harry Potter
• Pot fill over stovetop
• Water faucet on each side of the house so no moving hoses
• Rolling shelves in cabinets
• Either walk-in attic or stairs instead of a pull-down ladder for easy access
• Touch faucets
• Toilet closets in bathrooms
• Kick toe lighting in bathrooms
• Butler’s pantry with sink
• Extra electrical circuits for garage
• At least one bedroom and bathroom that is wheelchair accessible (you never know when you might need it)
• Tankless water heaters
• Dog wash station
• Built ins in playroom and kids’ rooms
• Room for second fridge in laundry room
• Christmas tree/holiday closet (think room for all decorations, wrapping materials, etc.)
• A generator
• An interior safe room or storm cellar (if possible) for our North Texas Crazy Weather™
• Pop-up mixer stand in a lower kitchen cabinet for the heavy kitchen mixer (Editor’s Note: A friend has this, and I am so jealous that he doesn’t have to waste counter space for his KitchenAid. And it has a pull-out shelf underneath for all the mixer’s accessories. It even has an outlet so it’s ready to go once it’s popped up into place!)
• Lots of it.
• Clothes steamer in master closet
• No carpets. Hardwood and tile all the way.
• Bookshelves in every room. (This is my absolute dream!)
• Bench in shower
• Pull out trash, recycling, and compost containers in lower kitchen cabinet
• Plantation shutters
• Mud room/utility room with mop sink that can serve as a dog wash
• INSULATION both exterior and interior
• Guest suite
• Underfloor heating in bathrooms
• Whole-house water filter

And the number one thing people has suggested is…

OUTLETS

• Extra outlets in every room
• Outlet behind the toilet
• A dedicated charging drawer with surge protector and USB ports
• USB ports on outlets
• Outlets under cabinets instead of on the backsplashes in the kitchen
• Outlets in whichever room you designate as the Tornado Room
• Outlets high on walls and/or over mantles where TVs might go
• Outlets on the floor in offices and living areas
• And the one we’re in love with is OUTLET ON THE EAVES FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

If you have more suggestions, be sure to leave them in the comments below!