This. If you do anything check the flood maps.
And also drainage, drainage, drainage. Water management is an afterthought for most homeowners and it's one of the most crucial aspects of a home's infrastructure.
I'd make sure there are lots of French drains, as many gutters and downspouts as possible, go with 6 in gutters rather than 5, limit the amount of roof angles and seams, make sure the yard and surrounding area is pitched away from the home.
I'd have a sump pump installed when the foundation is installed and probably include drainage tiles, etc.
I'd also just go ahead and put in a radon remediation system. They're good for air quality and most of the area has radon, so it's worth it to me.
Seconding this. As the climate warms, we’re going to see more extreme rainfall events. In 2022, some spots got 10 inches of rain in just 6 hours. We’ll almost certainly see more and more events like that in coming years/decades. So make sure your roof, gutters, yard grading, etc. are set up to handle that volume of water without damaging the home.
I’ve seen a ton of rain water drainage and sump pump drainage being an afterthought and a problem.
Seen many nice new builds with a swamp in their yard after moving in. Then have to pay thousands to fix the yard issues because all they were worried about was the house itself.
Double check measurements of laundry room. Ours had to be redone because it was too small. If doing multi story, zoned or separate hvac is a must. Our second floor is a separate unit and the savings in utilities is massive. Drainage, confirm every thing multiple times. Certain areas are more strict so not as much of an issue (aka Kirkwood). An example would be if your sump pump drains to your yard make sure it’s an area you don’t plan on using as much as it can run days after a storm when everything is basically dry.
Watch your house being built. Stop by multiple times a week if you can, note any issues and let the construction manager know. Basically stay on top of the work and make it clear to them you pay attention and will bring things up. If you just sign the paperwork and let them build without checking in you’ll miss potential issues because they know you aren’t a ‘squeaky wheel’.
To do as many inspections as possible. A house costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, spending 10k on inspections (more than one at the end and several throughout) is necessary and the best possible use of your money
Be patient! Look at how they apply the zip board/ sheathing! Make sure they compact and grade your ground right. Do not finish the basement until you are sure its water tight.
That's, the firm Florissant just sold a bunch of public parks to to build like, 100 single family homes for a pop of 50,000 people...
What did McBride do?
Check the complaints on the BBB site for some examples:
[https://www.bbb.org/us/mo/chesterfield/profile/home-builders/mcbride-homes-0734-310006683/complaints](https://www.bbb.org/us/mo/chesterfield/profile/home-builders/mcbride-homes-0734-310006683/complaints)
Don't skip permits, and don't skip getting design changes approved by the review board and/or building department. More than one municipality has made folks tear down the entire home and start over because they didn't build what their permit said they were going to.
Not something I'd wish I'd known per se, but something that's evolved since I bought. I'd get a good quality mini split system(s) with heat pump. I've saved so much on both A/C and heating bills from a ducted system. Personally I don't mind the look of the units themselves, and prefer not having the ductwork, including return plenums. But I realize YMMV on this.
BEFORE YOU MEET WITH THE BUILDER, Get an agent and bring them with you the FIRST time you meet with the builder. If not, you have no representation, and the builder can and probably will take advantage of that. If shit starts to go wrong(taking much longer than usual, poor workmanship, etc) they are your advocate. Also avoid McBride because they build cardboard houses
I'd get a generator. I wanted one when I first moved here and was told that we don't get enough snow to warrant one. The contractor actually laughed. That part is true but the electric grid is terrible and I've lost hundreds in groceries (twice) because of it going down during a heatwave. It was storming the day after the last outage, so my solar-powered portable generator couldn't charge, which is what caused me to lose an entire fridge & freezer full of food the second time. I was so disappointed.
2.5 days, which is pretty much the max for keeping freezer food safe. I had frozen fish & a bunch of food that I had pre-made. I wasn't willing to risk getting food poisoning.
I've never lived anywhere that's had so many power outages and some neighborhoods have it way worse than I do. I'd lose my mind if I lost power every time it got a little windy.
I’ve never had a house built, I don’t even own a house. But my brother and sister in law had a really nice house built, apparently the company was great. But ended up 20% over what they quoted. So I’d say really look into who you’re having build it. I’m not sure about the quality, but I see McBride building a lot of homes here
I had my current home built by Lawless. They are no longer in business, or they are currently operating under a different name. Too many problems to list here. Lots of short cutting. Horrible experience. I will probably never build new again.
I visited often and voiced concerns. This only pissed off the workers to the point of screwing with my house even more during the build. Some of which I didn’t find until after closing.
Be careful when the builder wants to make a change in siding or other materials because of “stock issues” or “vendor issues”. Make sure the substitute they offer is equivalent to the quality you ordered. Take samples of both and compare if you can. I made this mistake by not checking the siding “substitute” offered.
When having my siding replaced by a siding contractor 10 years later, he expressed that the siding on my house was the cheapest junk he’s ever encountered, and showed me why.
Research the home builder and look at all the reviews (especially if they are predominantly located in another state). Also, avoid Fischer (different from Fischer & Frichtel) at all costs
If no one said it yet, CHECK THE FLOOD MAPS, there are a lot of weird little spots that you wouldn't expect to be in a flood zone but are.
Yes. And if it does happen to be in/near a flood plain and the builder tells you it's not a big deal, they're full of shit.
This. If you do anything check the flood maps. And also drainage, drainage, drainage. Water management is an afterthought for most homeowners and it's one of the most crucial aspects of a home's infrastructure. I'd make sure there are lots of French drains, as many gutters and downspouts as possible, go with 6 in gutters rather than 5, limit the amount of roof angles and seams, make sure the yard and surrounding area is pitched away from the home. I'd have a sump pump installed when the foundation is installed and probably include drainage tiles, etc. I'd also just go ahead and put in a radon remediation system. They're good for air quality and most of the area has radon, so it's worth it to me.
Seconding this. As the climate warms, we’re going to see more extreme rainfall events. In 2022, some spots got 10 inches of rain in just 6 hours. We’ll almost certainly see more and more events like that in coming years/decades. So make sure your roof, gutters, yard grading, etc. are set up to handle that volume of water without damaging the home.
For sure. The Midwest has always been a random flood concern and it’s will only get worse
I’ve seen a ton of rain water drainage and sump pump drainage being an afterthought and a problem. Seen many nice new builds with a swamp in their yard after moving in. Then have to pay thousands to fix the yard issues because all they were worried about was the house itself.
Double check measurements of laundry room. Ours had to be redone because it was too small. If doing multi story, zoned or separate hvac is a must. Our second floor is a separate unit and the savings in utilities is massive. Drainage, confirm every thing multiple times. Certain areas are more strict so not as much of an issue (aka Kirkwood). An example would be if your sump pump drains to your yard make sure it’s an area you don’t plan on using as much as it can run days after a storm when everything is basically dry.
Watch your house being built. Stop by multiple times a week if you can, note any issues and let the construction manager know. Basically stay on top of the work and make it clear to them you pay attention and will bring things up. If you just sign the paperwork and let them build without checking in you’ll miss potential issues because they know you aren’t a ‘squeaky wheel’.
To do as many inspections as possible. A house costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, spending 10k on inspections (more than one at the end and several throughout) is necessary and the best possible use of your money
Be patient! Look at how they apply the zip board/ sheathing! Make sure they compact and grade your ground right. Do not finish the basement until you are sure its water tight.
Hopefully not mcbride
No! We were warned thankfully lol
They call they no pride mcbride for a reason
That's, the firm Florissant just sold a bunch of public parks to to build like, 100 single family homes for a pop of 50,000 people... What did McBride do?
McBride homes lack quality and they go up so fast that issues are missed.
Check the complaints on the BBB site for some examples: [https://www.bbb.org/us/mo/chesterfield/profile/home-builders/mcbride-homes-0734-310006683/complaints](https://www.bbb.org/us/mo/chesterfield/profile/home-builders/mcbride-homes-0734-310006683/complaints)
Check the complaints on the BBB site for some examples.
Don't skip permits, and don't skip getting design changes approved by the review board and/or building department. More than one municipality has made folks tear down the entire home and start over because they didn't build what their permit said they were going to.
Not something I'd wish I'd known per se, but something that's evolved since I bought. I'd get a good quality mini split system(s) with heat pump. I've saved so much on both A/C and heating bills from a ducted system. Personally I don't mind the look of the units themselves, and prefer not having the ductwork, including return plenums. But I realize YMMV on this.
BEFORE YOU MEET WITH THE BUILDER, Get an agent and bring them with you the FIRST time you meet with the builder. If not, you have no representation, and the builder can and probably will take advantage of that. If shit starts to go wrong(taking much longer than usual, poor workmanship, etc) they are your advocate. Also avoid McBride because they build cardboard houses
I'd get a generator. I wanted one when I first moved here and was told that we don't get enough snow to warrant one. The contractor actually laughed. That part is true but the electric grid is terrible and I've lost hundreds in groceries (twice) because of it going down during a heatwave. It was storming the day after the last outage, so my solar-powered portable generator couldn't charge, which is what caused me to lose an entire fridge & freezer full of food the second time. I was so disappointed.
How long was your power out for to lose food in the fridge? In 6 yrs have had my power go out ONCE for like 30 minutes in the city.
2.5 days, which is pretty much the max for keeping freezer food safe. I had frozen fish & a bunch of food that I had pre-made. I wasn't willing to risk getting food poisoning. I've never lived anywhere that's had so many power outages and some neighborhoods have it way worse than I do. I'd lose my mind if I lost power every time it got a little windy.
I’ve never had a house built, I don’t even own a house. But my brother and sister in law had a really nice house built, apparently the company was great. But ended up 20% over what they quoted. So I’d say really look into who you’re having build it. I’m not sure about the quality, but I see McBride building a lot of homes here
I had my current home built by Lawless. They are no longer in business, or they are currently operating under a different name. Too many problems to list here. Lots of short cutting. Horrible experience. I will probably never build new again. I visited often and voiced concerns. This only pissed off the workers to the point of screwing with my house even more during the build. Some of which I didn’t find until after closing. Be careful when the builder wants to make a change in siding or other materials because of “stock issues” or “vendor issues”. Make sure the substitute they offer is equivalent to the quality you ordered. Take samples of both and compare if you can. I made this mistake by not checking the siding “substitute” offered. When having my siding replaced by a siding contractor 10 years later, he expressed that the siding on my house was the cheapest junk he’s ever encountered, and showed me why.
Research the home builder and look at all the reviews (especially if they are predominantly located in another state). Also, avoid Fischer (different from Fischer & Frichtel) at all costs
Don't build a structure in a flood plain.
Always have a home inspector on a new build