What is your ideal custom home?

[miden851]

if you looking for design then you out to look to California, specifically well off neighborhoods/ single houses; I personally like simple yet classy houses

however, now its not time to go big, why would you be that slave to the lender in this environment

this economy will unravel pretty badly in coming years most likely, and it wont be fun, the least

 

[E365]

I’d do a modern version of an “American FourSquare” design. Big veranda. Maybe out of SIPS (panels). Highly insulated. High-end quality windows. Maybe radiant in-floor heat throughout.

 

[Owen Lucas]

As mentioned earlier, what ever you do, make sure to have an inspector come by the site frequently to make sure all construction is up to your standards.

 

[PandaBear]

Assuming you already have the land and you cannot change the location:

1) 5 bedrooms, at least 2 master bed
2) Good insulation
3) No trees too close to the foundation
4) 4 car garages with at least 2 that can be converted to inlaw units or entertainment center
5) Backyard with access to kitchen / dining room
6) EV charging access
7) Rain water collection from room for lawn (if in drought area)
8) South facing roof with solar panel (it is cheaper to install when building the house)
9) Sun room
10) 2-3 offices for work from home
11) Lane for RV / boat parking if I get old one day
12) location for geothermal HVAC heating loop in the ground if I decide to use that one day
13) if you are old add a small elevator for wheelchair between floors
14) Loops in flooring in case you want to go hydronic heating.
15) Maybe too crazy, build the house inside a transparent dome or greenhouse?

I think most of them are pretty normal for wish list.

 

[clinebarger]

I’d do a modern version of an “American FourSquare” design. Big veranda. Maybe out of SIPS (panels). Highly insulated. High-end quality windows. Maybe radiant in-floor heat throughout.

View attachment 83148View attachment 83149

That's pretty much what I'm going to build on the empty lot next to my house....50x50 with the Kitchen, Living Room, & Small Bath on the first floor. Master Bedroom & Master Bath on the second floor.

Want a Basement Garage & Utility room....My land is on a hillside which makes it feasible.

Got a hold of a few contractors & they acted like I was crazy for wanting a basement, Then I contacted these guys North Texas Basements & they seem competent.

Lots of planning & work ahead, The biggest hurdle is moving the house I'm living in over 1 lot to make room for the new house. Going to pour the footings/beams/Piers along with stubbing in Plumbing, Sewer & Electrical before having it moved.
It's in too good a shape to tear it down, I need somewhere to live while the new house is being built, And it'll make a great Guest House/Rent House after the new house is finished.

 

[Tomioka]

Shop style warehouse with a two-story mezzanine floor living area.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I bought a nice parcel on 3.2 acres that will allow for a home with a walkout basement. What would you build for up to $750K if you already owned the land? I'm looking forward to your input.

One thing I forgot to add. I don't know where in the US you live in but it's worth mentioning the builders are generally fearful of building better than code-minimum because they're on the hook for screw ups. So, it's best to stick with construction methods which they're familiar with and try to tweak them.

Take insulation for example. Spray foam is a royal PITA to apply properly. Instead spec blown in fiberglass or cellulose or better yet go batts (Fiberglass, Mineral Wool) insulation and require grade 1 install.

Here's a link to most current code. Remember the states are free to adopt whatever code they want whenever they want. Pay attention to tables 402.1.2 and 402.1.3

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IECC2021P1/chapter-4-re-residential-energy-efficiency

 

[Wylie6G72]

3,500 sq ft ranch. 4 br, 3 ba, 2 masters, 3 car oversized garage, large, functional laundry room (my current one is a joke), high-end vinyl waterproof floors throughout. Kitchen skylight and open concept are must-haves. Vent hood vented to outside. Large doorways, no thresholds, roll-in shower in at least one master bath, (I'm not disabled, but time marches on), metal roof with tornado-resistant decking and roof/wall attachment, 100% brick façade (no siding), eves / soffits all Hardie. High-efficiency laminated glass windows, 500 sq ft (minimum) attic floor, 48" (minimum) attic blow-in in non-floored areas, dual-A/C oversized by 1 ton. Centrally-located coat closet engineered as a tornado shelter.

My weirdest requirement: No gate valves allowed on the property. Main line & all supply lines controlled by high-end ball valves.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I bought a nice parcel on 3.2 acres that will allow for a home with a walkout basement. What would you build for up to $750K if you already owned the land? I'm looking forward to your input.

Would it be a walkout to the front or a walkout to the back. A walkout to the front will appear like a two story home from the front view. Also, being a rural building site, would you like it to look “rustic”, or contemporary or something else.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I would earmark a small chunk of land for a shop or garage with enough height for a lift and run 3 phase 220v for EV charging & welding.

Other than that...happy spouse happy house IMO

And have the electrician pay attention that he needs 50 amps each for the car chargers. Doesn’t matter if you use them or not.

 

[64bawagon]

We live in the 3rd house we have built. There is no "perfect" house. After completing each and every one of them I have stepped back and thought about things I would change based on a variety of factors. The house I am in now is unique and suits us very well. Fortunately for me the pole barn has more square footage than the house

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I'd love a nice single story ranch with a finished full basement. That's what I would build. Maybe set up a theater / entertainment room in one of the basement rooms. Maybe 2.5 bathrooms - 2 full with shower and a half bath for guests.

Attached 2 stall garage for the daily drivers, nice pole barn with lift for projects.

 

[Astro14]

I built the dream home years ago, forced to sell by a divorce and company bankruptcy.

I had six acres of woods in Stowe, VT. I cleared about an acre and a half and built on that. We had power and telephone brought to the site. Water and septic were on site. House was two story, colonial style, clapboard.

3600 square feet*
5 bedroom, 4 bath
Wide plank pine floors
Cherry cabinets with granite counter tops
Eat in Kitchen Formal dining room
Library with brick fireplace
Guest bedroom and study over garage
Walk in closets
12/12 Pella windows. Pella doors.
2x6 framing for extra insulation (about R20 in walls, R35 in ceiling). Insulation in interior bedroom walls for sound.
Separate entry way ("Mud Room" in Vermont) with tile floors, laundry room, deep sink, full bath, and built in cubbies for coats/boots/skis.
28 foot/extra deep 2 car garage
Basement wood shop of 800 square feet with separate electric sub panel for lights, three 120V circuits, and three 220V circuits
Standby power for essential systems: well pump, sewage pump, furnace, fridge, bathroom lights
Oil heat with six zones: upstairs, downstairs, basement, mud room, bedroom over garage and hot water tank
Artesian well with water filtration and softener system
Flagstone patio
Back Deck

* Zillow lists it as 4472 square feet. I was not including the basement, with its workshop, nor the bonus room over the entryway, which we used for the kids' playroom in my description above.

It sold in a couple days. A nice lady from New York City paid cash. Zillow suggests that it has sold again.

 

[DwightFrye]

I want to build a replica of the Wicked Witch of the West's castle. Made of black stone, high on a mountain craggy peak and with a drawbridge. Complete with parapets and towers. Maybe hire a small contingent of Winkies armed with halberds to keep solicitors away.

Of course the drawbridge would need to be powered and I would need a six car garage and workshop within the walls, propane or natural gas to keep all the torches going, a home theater, 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, gourmet kitchen, full outdoor kitchen and firepit and maybe a dungeon to toss a few political prisoners into.

 

[nomas]

One thing I forgot to add. I don't know where in the US you live in but it's worth mentioning the builders are generally fearful of building better than code-minimum because they're on the hook for screw ups. So, it's best to stick with construction methods which they're familiar with and try to tweak them.

Take insulation for example. Spray foam is a royal PITA to apply properly. Instead spec blown in fiberglass or cellulose or better yet go batts (Fiberglass, Mineral Wool) insulation and require grade 1 install.

Here's a link to most current code. Remember the states are free to adopt whatever code they want whenever they want. Pay attention to tables 402.1.2 and 402.1.3

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IECC2021P1/chapter-4-re-residential-energy-efficiency

My son builds houses . He'll build anything the client is willing to pay for , as long as it will pass inspection . Going above and beyond is not a problem and is done all the time .

 

[twouvakind]

Three hot's and a cot.

 

[SatinSilver]

I bought a nice parcel on 3.2 acres that will allow for a home with a walkout basement. What would you build for up to $750K if you already owned the land? I'm looking forward to your input.

I thought you already built one recently on 5 acres unless I'm confusing you with someone else.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Here is some advice for young couples building dream homes. Make sure you have a plan B in case you lose the income from one of you, be it raising kids or illness or something else. Once you see the plans have discussions on the level of finishing, ie granite, hardwood, wood or plastic windows. Will the walk out level be of the same quality as the main level.

Here is something many people don’t realize. Getting the house to lock up stage, structure up, roof and roofing on, windows in and doors locked, can be only 50% of the cost. I’ve seen couples divorce when they built a dream house to lockup stage and then ran out of money.

Also, check prices of other nice homes in the area and try make sure you don’t greatly exceed their prices, otherwise you will have too much money locked in your house that you cannot get out. Read the second sentence again. Not to be a Debbie Downer. A dream home can bring a lot of fulfilment.

 

[supton]

Personally I'd go simple, unless if I had enough money to pay someone to clean it for me. The bigger and more fancy it is, the more work it is to keep it up. Which is fine if it's your cup of tea, but it's not mine. Also there tends to be a tax implication (more value = more cost every year).

We have a ranch which offers single level living, but with a full basement, we have the option of having lots of stuff downstairs for the years where stairs aren't a problem. I do wish the basement had a higher ceiling and a second door though.

I like @WylieCoyote requirement for ball valves. And a bigger garage would always be nice! Wasn't very long before I realized that, no matter how many garage doors you have, it's always 1 less than what you want...

 

[930.engineering]

If you have never done a custom home prior you will not get it right unless you do your homework.
Go around and visit new homes in that price range and figure out what you really need and want.

Very good point, perhaps one of the most important. First you need to know what you want.

Styles are personal.

Definitely. I still love the 1958 Stahl House: