The location or town is your choice. But I would check real estate taxes and services that they bring.
A new house is great but there are some good newer used houses too.
But it you do build it's best you pick the builder. Ask around. Talk to as many people as you can. There are some great builders around and some that have a lot to be desired. Big is not necessarily better.
Everything begins on the foundation. Just make sure you have a good foundation and make provisions for a basement pump. Make sure basement is insulated and has been properly sealed. All should be water tight. Make sure you know and understand what a parimeter drain is.
You really have to do some good homework or research. Do you want a metal roof? Shingle? 15 year shingles? 20 year shingles? 30 year shingles? Architectual shingles?
The list goes on and on.
Are you planning on an alarm system? What about structured wiring? Do you even know what structured wiring is?
What about the heating system? My suggestion is to build in some redundant heating systems. Skip the propane althogether for heat. Put in oil and electric or oil and a couple of Monitor heaters. A good wood stove in basement doesn't hurt either.
Everything is in the details. You physically have to "view" every wall, every floor, and every ceiling - and make sure the builder knows what you want.
And then the price or cost. Lowering the cost may mean lower quality doors and windows - and then you are back to where you started.
I have heard some great stories about local builders doing a fantastic job. And I have heard some horror stories. One newer house down the road from me built by a big name builder here had to have all the sheetrock taken down as none of the windows were installed properly. Leaking roofs on some new homes is not uncommon as Ice and Water Shield were not used. One new home I viewed had a high tech heating system. Unfortunately no one could fix it when it broke the 2nd year and the whole heating unit had to be replaced at homeowners cost.
Good Luck!
|