Building a house allows you to customize your home and get all the cool features you typically won’t get in a move-in-ready house. Want a large, light, open-plan living area with high ceilings? How about maximum storage space? Maybe an outdoor oasis sits high on your list. When you build a semi-custom house, you can have all of this and more. There are even some new and noteworthy things to include that future-proof your home and might even put dollars back into your bank account. Here are the top 5 cool things to include when building a house:

1. Smart home technology
2. Deep pour basement
3. High ceilings on main floor
4. Out-of-sight storage space
5. Outdoor living space with indoor conveniences

#1 Cool Home Feature to Consider When Building a New Home: Smart Home Technology

When you build a home, consider integrating technology and smart devices to enhance convenience, efficiency, and security. The upfront costs are typically offset by efficiency, lower energy costs, and sometimes better insurance rates.

Technology can include simple additions, such as tamper-resistant plug outlets with built-in USB ports. These can be useful in common areas and bedrooms where we typically charge smart devices. No more chargers taking up valuable electrical plug sockets!

Other simple technological upgrades include automated lighting that turns on and off when you enter and leave a room, thermostats that adjust to your schedule, and smart appliances, all controlled with apps.

Want to have a fully integrated smart home? Speak to your builder about utilizing technology to its fullest. Beyond lighting and thermostats, you may want to add a smart security system, a voice-controlled assistant, and other smart-home technologies controlled by a central hub. It will learn your habits and preferences and adjust settings accordingly.

Why does the builder need to “wire” smart home technology if it’s all Wi-Fi and app-based? “A whole-home system needs to be wired with a data network to use the connectivity offered. Smart wiring is being revolutionized by PoE (Power over Ethernet), which is the ability to use Ethernet cable to transmit electrical and network signals, which points to more smart wiring and less electrical wiring in homes of the future,” explains Chris Dezie from the Family Handyman. “In a more complete sense, smart home wiring involves hardwiring a data system throughout the home.”

Smart Home Technologies

• Thermostats
• Door locks
• Doorbells
• Indoor/outdoor cameras
• Audio systems and speakers
• Smoke alarms
• TV/home theater
• Indoor/outdoor lighting
• On-demand water heaters
• Kitchen appliances
• Household monitors
• Smart plugs
• Lawn irrigation
• Combination outlets
• Garage door openers
• Pet feeders

According to House Digest, depending on demographics, you could spend $2000 to $6000 to automate your new home. This investment could increase the value of a $400,000 home by $12,000 to $20,000.

#2 Cool Home Feature to Consider When Building a New Home: Deep Pour Basement with Exterior Doors

One of the 5 coolest things to include when building a house is a finished basement. But not just any finished basement! it’s smart to add one foot to the ceiling height (from 8 ft. to 9 ft.). Eight feet seems like enough, but as soon as you enclose the rafters with a ceiling and add light fixtures, it’s confining. That extra foot will provide the light, airy feel of being on the main floor and make it more appealing as a living space (and provide enough room for that massive new TV!). Also, consider adding doors to the outside. In Missouri, we call this a “walk-out” basement or lower level. If you have a pool or outdoor living space with a grille or entertainment area, having access to it from the lower level is a convenient way to keep foot traffic confined to a separate area of your home. The combination of tall ceilings and exterior doors awards you additional living space with its own exit/entrance for maximum enjoyment.

#3 Cool Home Feature to Consider When Building a New Home: High Ceilings on the Main Floor

We love space and light in our homes, and high ceilings, even in a smaller home, provide the openness and light we crave. Traditionally, higher ceilings have been cathedral, tray, and vaulted, and those with exposed beams.

Now, you’ll find new homes with regular, non-vaulted 9 ft., 10 ft., or 11 ft. ceilings. Most often, these will be in entryways, great rooms, kitchen/dining areas, and the master suite. Vaulted ceilings, beams, and tray ceilings are also still popular, usually in more formal rooms (living rooms, dining rooms, libraries, and studies). Whatever you love, ask your builder if they can provide these options.

CMS Homes builds many homes with 10 ft. and 11 ft. ceilings with transom windows for an incredible light-giving experience. Once customers tour our display homes with this feature, they’re hooked! And our windows are double-glazed for maximum efficiency, so the extra windows are not an energy issue.

#4 Cool Home Feature to Consider When Building a New Home: Out-of-Sight Storage Space

There never seems to be enough room for all the recreational, daily living, and hobby “stuff” we collect and cycle through over the years. This makes building a home the most ideal time to get enough storage space. Think you’ve asked the builder for enough? Think again and add more, if possible. Want to avoid rooms full of shelves or in-your-face storage space? Here are some cool ways to add out-of-sight storage space.

Great places to add subtle home storage space include:

The pantry! Make it bigger (perhaps a Butler’s Pantry?) and add practical shelving and cubbies (a barn-style door can give you even more space).
The master bedroom closet … his and hers, and hers, and hers. So much potential here!
The linen closet. Add additional square footage to the hallway closet or include a second or third closet in your home plan, depending on how many floors and bathrooms.
The entryway closet. Expand it to hold more than just coats — hats, scarves, mittens, umbrellas, shoes, bags, dog toys, and more.
The mudroom. We recommend a stylish built-in organizer and shelving, as well as extra space for wet boots and clothes. Think about a pet area where you can store food and accessories, all behind a closed door.
Laundry room. No space for a mudroom? The laundry room can do double duty. Add space for the above mudroom items, multiple loads of laundry, hampers, a folding area, and ironing space. You’ll also need to store an iron, steamer, ironing board, vacuums, brooms, dustpans, and cleaning supplies. You’d be amazed at how much you can accomplish in this room and keep the door closed to the rest of the house.
A dedicated office space or study. Not only will this provide a quiet space for work or reflection, but you can also add attractive built-in bookshelves, desks, tables, and an extra closet to collect all the stuff you’ll likely accumulate over time.
The garage. A third garage is a must-have if space allows. In the Troy, Missouri area, a third garage could add up to $50,000 to the resale value of your home, not to mention the value of protecting and organizing your outdoor and automotive stuff. Makes a great workshop too!

#5 Cool Home Feature to Consider When Building a New Home: Outdoor Living Space with Indoor Conveniences

In most of Missouri, we can enjoy the great outdoors year-round with a well-planned outdoor space with indoor conveniences. Contemplate multi-level deck space, some covered, some for sunning; a gorgeous gazebo or mediation area, wood and gas fireplaces and firepits, cozy built-in seating, and maybe even a bar. If you love al fresco dining and entertaining, mull over an outdoor kitchen equipped with energy-efficient appliances that can withstand the weather (outdoor kitchens have an ROI between 100-200%!).

When building a house, this is the best time to think through your outdoor living goals. So many new construction homeowners regret not doing this. They say they’ll wait until later, and then later never comes, or it becomes a code or permitting issue. Factor it in now and you’ll never have to worry about it again, and you’ll have a legit extension to your livable space.

These 5 New Construction Home Ideas Go Beyond to Cool to Must-Have

As you can see, these top 5 cool things in a new construction home go beyond just being “cool,” they tiptoe into “must-have” territory. Each contributes to more enjoyable daily living and may increase the value of your home if you ever sell.

Building a semi-custom CMS Home in the Troy, Missouri area, offers an opportunity to bring your vision to life in a carefree, turnkey process and incorporate these features into your house. So, unleash your creativity, embrace innovation, and craft your dream home from the ground up! Our full-service, in-house team is here to help, from providing a free, comprehensive estimate to designing and building your dream home. Contact us today to learn more.