This is our last blog in this series and I want to finish out with what I see as the 5 most common mistakes or things people wish they could have changed if they had to do it over again. There are many, many more things which people say they could have done or wish they had done, and the below list may start a discussion on that, but from my own experience, here are the top 5 in no particular order of things people wish they had done differently.
- Utility room / Boot Room / Plant Room
Most utility rooms in Irish designs are rear access rooms into the kitchen. They may have a toilet room as well around them. And more often than not, people underestimate their value and the size the should have them.
In a lot of cases these days, the utility room will now include your heating source system and tank. It is often the laundry room of the house with a washing machine and maybe a dryer. Chest freezers are another Irish favourite for the utility room. It is often the cleaning products store and with brushes and mops. And then as the years go by, it is the storage place for outside gear, wellies, boots, winter clothing. And we have to fit all of this in a little 2 by 3 metre space.
If you have the chance to put in a decent sized utility, with good storage options, it is certainly a very good idea. Because the utility is used as a link room, you may be hampered with space due to doorways, so a good design with large space and a flow through area can make all the difference.
- Open fireplace
This is now changing bit by bit and its fewer and fewer that we see open fireplaces any more. It is something that Irish people hold close to their heart, at home in their parents house, growing up, a winters day in front of the open fire, filling it with coal and seeing the warmth it generates.
But in your new air tight house, having a big gaping hole to the outside elements leaves your airtightness useless and your lovely triple glazed thermal windows a waste. Some people can be adamant that they want an open fireplace, they love the look of it and they cant get their heads around stoves or even no fireplace at all. But there are so many varieties of stoves now, new ways of mantle pieces or surrounds that can add a huge aesthetic amount to your living room, that getting an open fireplace will be long forgotten.
- Playroom
We discussed this briefly in another blog. More often than not, first time house builders are young couples starting out in life. Having kids may not be a priority or a thought at that stage and overlooking some basic things in a build is common. House proofing it to make it child friendly is one thing, but they do grow old and you have to look at your home as a long term investment.
But one common thing left out that ends up either changing the functionality of a room is not putting in a specific playroom or childrens lounge room. It is an after thought or not something people would consider without having children, but believe me, having a play room can make life and the flow of a household so much easier. Even allowing for a room to be converted, ie having a downstairs bedroom that can act as a play room for the first 10 years or so until they get older could work. But if you have plans on starting a family, and can afford to have a space dedicated to a childs play room, it is definitely worth considering.
- Not enough electrical points
Future proofing your home is very hard. Technological advances change year on year and things move at such a pace it is hard to keep up. But one thing that is always a constant need is the necessity for electrical sockets and outlets. If you are debating between putting in 3 or 4, put in the 4. It is better to have too many than to be going around with extension leads or double adaptors.
Take your electricians advise too when doing your first fix. They will know what Is out there and what you can future proof your house with. With IPTV being a more common way of television service, CAT6 cables wired through your house is a simple way of future proofing things and not having to retro fit in years to come.
Have a spare duct or 2 from your house to your front gate. You may not have fibre broadband now, but who knows when it could be available. You may in years to come put in electric gates and will need power and comms to it. When doing your build, try think ahead of what may potentially be done in years to come.
- Not snagging, half finished, Window tape
It is very common to see people so relieved when their house is finally finished, that they just want to move in and forget about all the trials and tribulations of the construction period. They have seen it develop from a green field site to their beautiful new home and they are so anxious to get in, that they are just delighted to be in and want to enjoy themselves.
However, the build more often than not doesn’t finish once you move in! With all the best intentions of everyone involved, there will always be little niggly bits of work that need fixing. A loose skirting board here, unvarnished door frames, a loose kitchen press door, bits of paint splatters on windows or tiles, mastic sealant drops in the bathroom floor, window locks not working properly. The list could go on and on. One of the biggest ones I see though is safety window tape that comes on window frames when being installed being left on, and in summer months, this tape bakes itself into the frame and is a absolute nightmare to remove. If you install in summer, take the tape off. Yes, it can be helpful to keep safe from plasterers or painters, but if it bakes onto the window, it is a nightmare to remove and makes your windows look worse than a splash of paint or plaster which can easily be removed anyway. Similarly, give plenty of time to let the plaster and concrete dry out. Program it into your build cycle to have it left drying out.
When you move into your home, keep a note of all the little bits and pieces of stuff that need fixing and touching up. If a builder did your house, get them back to fix it. If you self built it, make the list and do it when you can. This list can last years and years and there will always something to be done, but if you finish it off quickly, you’ll feel all the better for it!