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by ryouiki
Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:55 pm
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: Wish List - for a new home
Replies: 50
Views: 8442

Re: Wish List - for a new home

While there are plenty of things that I could think up for a "dream home", most are impractical... I suspect I would be happier with a smaller place without all the whiz-bang, so long as it is well thought out. That said having been in various homes over the years in a very different climates/circumstances, I would probably focus on a number of things:

- Superior insulation/wrap/radiant barriers/window tinting. The upfront costs will pay for themselves.
- If you are heavy on electronics or multiple floors have multiple panels, and make sure your wiring overkill (you can never have too much)
- Whole house surge protection.
- As many have said, excessive outlets (back when I did this type of work, it was standard one every 3-6 feet).
- All rooms wired with Cat5e/6, and coax at a minimum, to a single drop (preferably to multiple panels)

I'm also not horribly impressed by general security in houses nowadays:

- Pre-wire for security system, and at least power run to all entrances should ever want surveillance cameras.
- Sufficiently reinforced frames for entrances, along with solid doors.
- Higher grade locks (Medeco/Kabba Ilco, etc.)
- Sufficient exterior power/receptacles for outside lighting, particularly for darker areas (even if you don't plan to use them).
- If you have lots of excess $$$, locking shutters, or even better automatic shutters (for both security and weather).

Then there are the main annoyances:

- Hot water... so many solutions here, best depends on size/situation, make sure design takes this into account.
- Heated floor cables for bathrooms (I haven't' seen this in the US, but these are awesome)
- Thicker/insulated interior walls so you don't hear what everyone else is doing.

And if your into home theater, baffled walls and extra thick insulation... plus pre-wiring for a projector and 5.1 sound (7.1 is the room is very large).

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