If you’re thinking about building a home, you’re not going to want to miss this blog post! Building a home is a very exciting milestone for most folks, but you definitely need to do your research before beginning construction. After all, building a home can be a long and complex process if you don’t hire the right builder! Unfortunately, it’s common for homeowners to have regrets once they move into their new construction home. In this blog post, we’re sharing a few of the most common regrets when building a new home so that you don’t make the same mistakes!

If you’re stumbling across our blog for the first time, welcome to Hearthside Homes of Kansas City! We’re a semi-custom home builder based in Liberty, Missouri. Since 1987, we’ve built nearly 2,000 long-lasting homes. We currently build in the Kansas City, Parkville, Kearney, and Liberty areas. Our homes range in price from $350k-$700k. You can check out our available listings here. Don’t forget to check out our gallery! You can click here to learn more about the other communities we build in. We hope you enjoy this insight regarding the most common regrets when building a new home! 

Lack Of Storage Space

Many people often forget how much storage space they need, leading to regrets about not including enough storage in their new home! In your floor plan, be sure to include a walk-in pantry, plenty of linen and coat closets, as well as somewhere to store cleaning supplies. It’s also important to consider where you’ll store seasonal decorations, memorabilia, and gym equipment. 

No Family Entry

When returning home from an outting, where are you going to drop your everyday essentials such as shoes, coats, and purses? If you have children, where will they hang their backpacks? A family entry near the garage offers a designated space to contain all of your belongings. A drop zone with cubbies, lockers, and hooks is often considered a necessity in many households! 

Not Planning For The Future

It’s important to plan for the future when building a home! For example, if you plan on living in your new home for the foreseeable future, you might want to consider putting the primary suite on the first floor. This way, you won’t have to worry about walking up and down the stairs during your golden years. Furthermore, if you’re thinking about expanding your family, it might be a good idea to include an extra bedroom in your design plans. Will your parents ever end up living with you? In this case, creating an in-law suite in your basement might be a smart idea! 

Laundry Room Placement

You’re going to want your laundry room to be near all the bedrooms, especially if you have a full house! Who wants to drag their laundry baskets up and down the stairs multiple times a week? Carefully consider laundry room placement when building your home. 

Forgoing The Home Office

Even if you currently work outside the home, it’s a good idea to include designated office space in your design plans. After all, what if you end up switching to a remote position in the future? Having a quiet space to tackle your to-do list is beneficial for the whole family! Consider a pocket office with built-in desks and storage to maximize productivity. 

No Plans For The Basement 

Of course, most folks would love to have a finished basement, but that isn’t always practical for financial reasons. Even if you aren’t ready to finish your basement yet, it’s a good idea to have your builder plan for the future! It’s much easier and cheaper to finish a basement that already has the right plumbing and electrical work established. Make a plan for your basement before solidifying your floor plan details with your builder!  

Omitting An Outdoor Living Space

Outdoor living spaces are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason! An outdoor living space allows you to enjoy some fresh air while entertaining those you love most. Most of the time, it’s much cheaper to build an outdoor living space while you’re home is being built. If you have the space and budget, definitely consider a covered deck or patio. If you like to enjoy meals outdoors, you may even want to screen in an area to prevent mosquitos from ruining the ambiance. Want to go all out? Add a fire pit or fireplace!

No Sprinkler System

Your new home isn’t going to have very good curb appeal if the yard is dead. If you don’t want the hassle of having to manually water the grass, don’t forget to install a sprinkler system! This is a relatively inexpensive addition that can give you more free time and a better-looking yard.

Going Way Over Budget

It’s no secret that building a home can be an expensive process, but many homeowners regret not staying within their budget. Staying within your budget helps prevent financial anxiety. Plus, going over budget can actually even lead to delays in the build process, as you may need to secure additional funds before the project can proceed. Not to mention, by staying within your budget, you can get the best value for your money and ensure you are not overpaying for excessive upgrades or features. This can help you maximize your investment and get the most out of your new home! 

Skipping Inspections

One might think that a new construction home doesn’t need a thorough inspection, wrong! Not getting a home inspection can be a costly mistake. A home inspection can uncover potential issues that need to be addressed before closing. Just because a home is new doesn’t mean it’s perfect! 

Hiring The Wrong Builder 

Hiring a good contractor is key to the success of a home-building project. Homeowners who work with a poor contractor often regret not going more research. Before you sign a contract with a builder, make sure they have plenty of experience and good reviews from previous clients! 

Peace Of Mind With Hearthside Homes

We hope you enjoy this insight regarding the most common regrets when building a new home! Ready to learn more about the efficient and quick home-building process at Hearthside Homes? To request more information, fill out this form on our website or call (816) 781-0234. We’d love for you to follow all the behind-the-scenes fun on our social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! 

Explore Move-In Ready Listings

Want to speed up your home-buying journey? Click here to view our current listing! At Hearthside Homes, our buyers can either purchase one of our expertly designed spec homes or build with us from the ground up. To learn more about our efficient and stress-free home-building process, click here. 

Third-Party Inspection Process 

At Hearthside Homes, we understand that buying a home is a big deal! You want to make sure the home your purchase isn’t one you’ll regret in the future. That’s why all of our homes are inspected by third-party experts. In other words, we hire impartial third-party industry leaders to review each of our new construction homes! This comprehensive assessment involves a: 

  • Cosmetic inspection
  • Third-party HVAC duct cleaning
  • Third-party sewer line inspection
  • Third-party home inspection

Many home builders don’t subject themselves to these extensive inspections. At Hearthside Homes, we want our buyers to have confidence in their purchase! That’s why we hire impartial pros to look over our work. 

12-Month Warranty

In addition to completing a thorough inspection process, we proudly offer a 12-month warranty on all of our new homes. We even have a Warranty Manager on our team to make sure you have a go-to contact to reach out to if needed. You’ll have peace of mind when you buy with Hearthside Homes! 

Hear From Our Happy Homeowners

At Hearthside Homes, we prioritize customer experience and satisfaction. Did you know Hearthside Homes of Kansas City has over 100 5-star reviews on Google? Click here to check out our Google reviews and hear from some of our happy customers. Our client, Cassandra, shares:

Our new home is a dream come true! From communication through the building process to going above and beyond to make our home the best fit for our family it was an amazing process! We love the details and the quality of our new home and cannot wait to build so many memories with our family ! I can’t tell others enough how much we recommend working with hearthside!

Want to hear more from our happy homeowners? Click on the video below to watch a customer testimonial. Jeff & Becca are so thrilled they trusted Hearthside Homes with their new build! After years of searching for the right floor plan and builder, they finally decided to go with our team. Now that they’ve had time to settle into their new home, they are so happy they made the right decision to choose Hearthside Homes!