People who have the opportunity to provide lots of input on options that might be able to be included on the exterior of their new home should speak up early and often during the design phase of the home. Over the years I have compiled a list of things I think work well on the exterior of a home. Many of these items are just things I have observed and used on older homes but seem to be ignored on a widespread basis by many of today's builders.

Overhangs are a functional architectural element that seem to be disappearing. Production builders know they add cost to a home, but buyers know they add character and help shield the walls and widows of a house from all but the extremes of weather. The generous overhangs on my home allow me to keep my windows open during rain showers. These same overhangs help keep second floor rooms cooler, because they act as effective awnings. Only early and late afternoon direct sunlight can sneak into the rooms.

Raised foundations seem to be a thing of the past. Virtually every new home I see today has its foundation too deep into the ground. This defect can cause enormous drainage problems and possible building code violations. It is also the source of a common complaint of homeowners who wonder why garden hose bibs are 4 inches off the soil line. In many situations a foundation can extend two feet out of the ground and a builder can still provide a walk-in entrance by creating wide gently sloping ramps for sidewalks, drives and patios.

These sloped yard features are often dream canvases for landscape designers. They allow the landscaper to create layers of plantings that naturally show themselves off.

Plan ahead for future electrical projects. You may not know exactly what you want but you may know something is going to happen. Place two or three-inch diameter plastic conduit pipes in strategic locations under driveways, patios, sidewalks and heavily landscaped areas. Map the locations of these tunnels so you can easily get both high and low voltage wires to where you need them in a hurry. These same blank pipes will work well for irrigation piping and radio fences for pets.

Many people love to hand wash their own cars. But the hard water found in many municipalities can leave water spots on cars. If your plumber invests perhaps 30 minutes of extra time, a special hose bib can be installed near your driveway apron that connects back to your water softener. Using soft water to rinse a car eliminates water spotting.

Try to incorporate a porch or generous overhang at your front door. This structure provides needed shade for those doors that face south or west. Without this protection from the sun and elements, gorgeous front doors tend to require more frequent episodes of painstaking maintenance. Harsh ultraviolet rays from the sun can quickly degrade finishes on natural wood doors and those that try to mimic wood.

These porch enclosures are also appreciated by guests who visit your home during inclement weather. If you have a clever builder or architect they can incorporate into the design a weatherproof hidden storage area for parcels delivered while you are away. All delivery people will use it if you simply instruct them of its presence.

Go retro on your roof. Many older homes used spinning turbine vents to keep attic temperatures down so second floor rooms might be cooler at night. These same turbine vents are still available and they still work well to lower attic temperatures. They save money because they help lower the amount of time your air conditioner will have to run to keep your home comfortable.