We also had another house which we never lived on and had been renting out since we bought it. With this one, only repairs and maintenance were done every time we changed tenants. We sold this house recently as the cost of repair is getting more expensive and we expect that over the years more repairs will need to be done as this was not an owner maintained and loved house.
Given this background, we feel like we need to include all the upgrades that are necessary plus the ones that we love during the building process. With this in mind, our budget is now over inflated with the upgrades that we want to add and we'll need a better strategy on how to do this home building wisely without breaking the bank.
At this stage, we are just listing down all the "wants" and we will trim them down at the later stage based on budget. I'm classifying these wants based on the following: Durability and Comfort, Aesthetic and Trend, Energy Efficiency and Environmental Friendliness and Security.
Here are the major items that we have in mind, some items can be classified in others too.
Durability and Comfort
- Porcelain tiles or timber flooring
- Bigger capacity hot water system
- Ducted vacuum system
- Tower robes in master WIR
- Rubbish bin to kitchen
- Broom closet in laundry
- Door stoppers
- Soft close mechanism for drawers and cupboards
- Additional door to ensuite
- Additional powerpoints
- Additional TV point
- Capped gas point for alfresco
- TV wall wiring
- Junction boxes
- Power surge protectors
Aesthetics and Trends
- Higher ceiling
- Higher doors along the hallway and living areas
- Better external and internal doors
- Stone benches in bathroom and laundry
- Category 2 stone benches all throughout the house
- Carpet underlay
- Undermount sink
- Full render facade with feature stones
- Category 2 bricks for the rest of the external walls
- Venetian blinds and curtains for some windows
- Feature walls for bedrooms, living room and rumpus
- Silk finish to all drawers and cupboards
- Feature cabinets, desk and shelves for study nook, living room and rumpus
- Niche walls to showers
- Better tapware for showers, vanity and bath
- Better tapware for kitchen
- Decorative pendants for kitchen, study nook, bedroom and rumpus
- Wall lights to facade and entry hallway
Energy Efficiency and Environment Friendliness
- Double glazed windows and doors
- LED downlights all throughout the house
- 6 star energy rating heating system with zoning control
Security and privacy
- Privacy locks to toilets and bathroom and bedrooms
- Outdoor lights with sensors to front garage, laundry and alfresco
- Additional lights to garage
- Double lock to doors
- Touch screen alarm system in lieu of LED
- Smaller smoke detector
- Translucent glass to toilets, shower rooms
I got dizzy just listing down all these desired upgrades even without thinking of the cost yet. The list also doesn't include the basic things that we need to move in such as drive way, pathway, letter box, towel rail, tissue roll holder, door bell, curtain rods and curtains. I'm pretty sure a lot of these items will be bumped off the list. The extent of upgrade and which ones we will prioritise depend on our income and savings in the coming months so I'm keeping a tight reign on my inner shopaholic self now and in the coming months.
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