Building a home requires a certain level of attention to even the most minuscule of details. Your builder will help you in planning out the architectural style and design of your home, but you are the expert on how you want your home to function. To ensure you don’t forget the small things in your home design, I’ve compiled a list of key items that can be easy to miss.

1. Light Switches and Power Outlets

The placement of your light switches and power outlets can have an effect on your daily routine. Consider where you will most often use power outlets or switches. Some common places include the bedrooms, kitchen countertops, bathrooms, garages, home offices, basements, laundry rooms, and outdoors for landscaping or lighting purposes.

Your next decision is to find the most logical place for your power outlets and switches. For example:

• Is it more convenient for the light switch in your pantry to be on the right side or left side as you enter?
• If you charge your phone on a nightstand next to your bed, where will you place the bed, and how close to the power outlet?
• Where will your TV be located in the room?

You’ll need to discover what works best for you and deliver this information to your builder.

2. Television Location

Generally, families gather around chairs in the living room that face the television: it’s a central point to the living area. Choose a spot for your TV that feels the most comfortable for viewing, and where you’ve got the most suitable placement for power connections.

Cables can be quite an eyesore and tangle if your TV is not close to a power source. Placing your TV close to the wall, on the mantle, or in an entertainment center can help to seamlessly blend cables in the background.

3. Kitchen Cupboards and Cabinets

When building your home, you probably considered the big details of where you would like your stove, microwave, fridge, and more. Maybe you even thought about the small details of the cabinet colors and handles, but what about the storage space?

Select cabinet features that support your kitchen supply needs. For example, deep cabinets below for large pots and pans and pull-out spice racks below for easier access. Imagine what you need within an arm’s reach and go from there with your design.

4. Door Swing Direction

The correct door handing is pivotal to the flow and function of your home. Ensure the attachment of every door opens in the direction that makes the most sense. Sometimes the builder’s plans do not logically flow based on the way the door would typically be used.

If two doors are perpendicular to each other, you’ll want to make sure they do not interfere when opening at the same time. Or, if your door interferes with racks it can make storage accessibility difficult.

5. Verandas or Covered Patio

Shade is a necessity, especially during the summer in Arizona. Verandas or covered patios make enjoying the outdoors much more possible without the prospect of direct sunlight. Whether you prefer obstructing the sunlight or letting in some sunshine can help determine how low and in what direction you will place your veranda or other shading structure.

If you would like to create an entertainment space outdoors, keep in mind how much of the outdoor living area your family and guests will occupy under the veranda or patio to ensure coverage. In addition, an outdoor ceiling fan, for example, can assist with adequate ventilation for guests to gather comfortably.

I know my way around homes being a homesite and land lot specialist for over 30 years. In your search for a place to build your dream home in Tucson, AZ, get in touch with me! Call 520.918.5477 or email me at rick@buytucsonlots.com. I look forward to talking lots with you!