Not a week passes without me getting one or more emails from homeowners who are disappointed with their new homes. They complain about the poor quality, lack of detail and overall cheapness of the construction. The fault is often the builder but some of the blame can be placed on the homeowner. They often were simply too trusting when they entered the home building process. I often discover that the homeowners thought this or that was going to happen. They often think that their new house will have qualities like their existing home. Wake up!

Get Involved

If you want your new home to become your dream home instead of your House from Hell, then you need to become proactive. You need to get educated about the process and then pay an enormous amount of attention to detail.

The building environment today is far different than it was just 5 to 7 years ago. The booming economy has created a shortage of skilled workers, builders and project managers. Distributors of products are even hurting. Your lumber package at the lumber yard may not be assembled and shipped correctly. In other words, you can't count on the materials for your home to be right!

The shortage of skilled workers has put a lot of stress on all aspects of the construction industry. This is one reason you have to take on more responsibility as your house is being built. You need to become the overall project supervisor to make sure the right things get done at the right time using the right methods.

Finding A Pro Builder

There are quality builders in just about every city and town. They are honest, trustworthy and will build a fine home. I can assure you that many of them are booked for months in advance. If you want to eliminate the bottom feeder builders who are bidding your job, then you must ask them the right questions. You must also get them to complete a detailed form that makes them tell you what they are going to include in your home. The form should also have a detailed cost breakdown of the entire job. Click here to see an assortment of these helpful forms.

The Building Code

The building code is a set of minimum standards. The people who author it will readily admit this fact. If a house is built according to code it will be a decent structure. If you want a superb home, you must exceed many of the standards in the code.

Fortunately the residential building code has consolidated in the past few years. There used to be several model building codes that were used throughout the nation. The different code bodies made peace and produced a uniform model code that will take effect in the spring of 2000. It is a dynamic document that is fairly easy to understand.

Having your own copy of the code will come in handy. It will allow you to check critical aspects of construction. I know this sounds crazy, but it may save you enormous amounts of stress down the road. If you do end up in a battle down the road with your builder, your copy of the building code, along with construction photographs, will be worth their weight in gold. Want a copy of the code? Click the link below!

BOCA National Building Code

Fifty Must-Have Residential Upgrades

Following is just a partial list of upgrades you should consider for your new home, room addition or whole house renovation. There are obviously more to list, but these will allow you to create a first class project. Some upgrades are not expensive, but others can be budget breakers.

1. Plans and Blueprints - Spend the extra money to get ones with interior elevations, multiple details and written specifications. If you would like to see what a real set of blueprints should look like, click here.

2. Foundation - Nine foot 8 inch walls allow you to create full height ceilings in basement spaces. Be sure these walls are 10 inches thick and go with vertical steel every 3 feet if possible. Click here to learn more about foundations.

3. Structural Steel - If you increase your foundation height do the same with I beams. 12 inch high I beams can often span 16 to 20 feet without support poles mid-span!

4. Insect Control - Do not skip this step. Treat the soil beneath slabs before they are poured. Hire a professional pest control company to prevent termites. To read more on termite control, click here.

5. Electric Service - Install a 40 circuit panel. It may seem like overkill, but you will thank me in a few years.

6. Install Empty Conduits - Install multiple conduits from the panel to attics and other remote locations so you can get future wire to every room of the house easily.

7. Drain Piping - Specify no-hub cast iron piping for all drain lines that run across ceilings and down walls. It is quiet. Vent lines and below slab lines can be PVC.

8. Water Lines - Install 1 inch service from the street to the house. Install 3/4 inch pipe to all fixture groups. Never let a 1/2 inch line feed more than one fixture. Use type L copper.

9. Vapor Barriers - Install high performance vapor barriers, not regular poly. This makes a huge difference in crawl spaces, click here to learn more.

10. Attic or Storage Trusses - These low cost options create instant space. Many builders don't know about these!

11. Skylites - Add wherever possible. They distribute invigorating natural light into key rooms. Buy ones with engineered flashings like the Velux brand.

12. Air and Water Infiltration Barriers - These wonderful products are an absolute must. Be sure they are put in right. Click here to learn more about infiltration barriers.

13. Windows - Buy ones that have AAMA, NFRC and/or Energy Star certification. To do otherwise is a huge mistake.

14. HVAC - This is a key area. Each room (except kitchens and bathrooms) needs a return air duct. Buy AC equipment with 12 SEER or better rating. Find the best HVAC person in your area.

15. Water Heater - If gas, get one with the largest burner. It heats faster. Install an expansion tank.

16. Technology Wiring - Install the latest wiring for telephone, computer and cable. Make sure all wires are home runs. Don't loop wire from room to room. To learn more about wiring click here.

17. Central Vacuum - It may seem like a luxury, but wait till you use it. It will soon become a necessity.

18. Fire Sprinklers - They save lives and property. You can get ones that are nearly invisible.

19. Soundproofing - Caulk under bedroom wall plates. Seal all possible air leaks between rooms.

20. Veneer Plaster - This upgrade is not available everywhere. If you can afford it, do it.

21. Fiber Cement Siding - Looks better than vinyl and requires less maintenance than wood siding.

22. Exterior Steel - Paint all steel with rust inhibitive primer and one finish coat on all surfaces and edges before installation.

23. Brick Flashing - Install self-stick asphalt membrane ones. Do NOT compromise on this! Install a mesh mortar net product to keep mortar from blocking weep holes.

24. Back Prime Exterior Wood - Prime the hidden surfaces of all exterior wood before it is installed.

25. Exterior Concrete- Install steel bars in all exterior concrete. A 2 foot on center grid is perfect. All slabs should be a minimum of 5 inches thick.

26. Ceramic Tile - Be sure all wall and floor tile are installed on cement board, NOT green paper faced drywall.

27. Foundation Waterproofing - Hot spray asphalt is dampproofing. Waterproofing, when done right, will keep your basement dry forever.

28. Laundry Chute - If you can plan and install one, you will fall in love with it.

29. Cedar Closet - Install one of these somewhere in the house for your fine woolen garments

30. Synthetic Wood Water Repellents - All exterior deck lumber should be treated with these, not the heavily advertised brands that are food for mildew and algae.

31. Interior Doors - You can still buy solid wood doors. They have all sorts of interesting profiles. Even if you do go with hardboard doors, get solid doors, not hollow ones.

32. Synthetic Stucco-EIFS - If you choose this surface, then it MUST be a system that incorporates water management. Avoid barrier EIFS systems.

33. Rainwater Management - Be sure all roof water is piped away from the house. Use tough SDR-35 PVC sewer pipe, not the flimsy black corrugated pipe.

34. Fireplace Gas Line - Install a natural gas line to the fireplace. This can be used as a log lighter or converted to gas logs in the future.

35. Attic Stair Access - Choose a top of the line rolling staircase, not the flimsy folding staircases.

36. Plumbing Shut Off Valves - Install ball valves in the plumbing system so different zones can be shut down. This allows certain parts of the house to have water while you work on other parts.

37. Indirect Lighting - Install wonderful indirect lighting in kitchens, family rooms, even the master bedroom for an enchanting effect.

38. Ice Dam and Wind Driven Rain Membranes - Install these wonderful products to stop the leaks that happen in periods of freezing weather or tropical storms.

39. High Performance Glass - Buy the best soft coat Low-E glass with Argon that is recommended for your part of the nation. It will save you money in the long run.

40. Metal Roofing - If you can afford it and it is installed right, you will NEVER have a roof problem in your lifetime. Wait till you see how good the new types look.

41. Pocket Doors - These doors are often forgotten. They can save space and are easy to install during construction.

42. Screened Porch - This is a delightful space and can be an extension of a deck.

43. Plywood vs. OSB - Plywood costs a little more but can tolerate water better than OSB.

44. Shower Seat - If you are going to have a ceramic tile shower, a seat is a must!

45. Algae Resistant Shingles -If you want to avoid black algae stains, get shingles that contain copper.

46. Whole House Surge Protector - This device helps to stop damage to electronic equipment. You still need point-of-use ones too!

47. Wide Floor Joists - If you want stiff floors don't follow the code! Code approved systems are often springy. Upsize to the next size joist.

48. Eliminate Beams - Use deep engineered I joists or floor trusses to eliminate basement beams and columns.

49. Landscape Lighting - This luxury will open up your yard for use until late at night.

50. Framing Connectors - These simple devices help hold your house together during tornadoes or hurricanes. They are inexpensive and provide a continuous connection path from the roof down to the foundation. They may provide the extra few seconds of protection while you run for cover into the crawl space or basement.