Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [new-home]

Questions relating to moving from one home to another. The destination does not have to be NEW, just new TO YOU.

107 questions
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Central Vacuuming: Is it worth it, and how does it compare to normal vacuuming?

I am in the process of buying a brand new home in the US through a builder. The home will be approximately 3,000 sq ft and I was given the option of buying a central vacuuming system for the house. It looks really nice and convenient. The price…
MisterStrickland
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Are cracks in a newly poured concrete basement floor a problem?

I'm having a new home built and found a large crack in the newly poured concrete basement floor and wanted to see if it's something I should be concerned about. The floor was poured sometime in the past two weeks; I need to check with the builder…
viatheether
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What are some of the best books/resources on home inspection for first time home buyers?

I'm looking at buying my first home. Considering the amount of money involved, it seems logical to make sense the inspection is solid. (I've seen a few "Holmes Inspection"s to have the reinforced.) I know "Holmes Inspection—Everything you Need…
Bill
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Do ceiling joists need to rest on cross beams?

I am having a new home built by a national builder. They are framing now I see that ceiling joists in one area are not resting on a beam that divides two open rooms. See the photo. The beam that runs in from the left side separates two open rooms.…
AngerClown
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1 answer

What should I look for during a deficiency walkthrough?

I'll be taking possession of a brand new town house next month and we'll be doing a deficiency walkthrough to catch any issues before we move in. This is not a home inspection, but our ability to get the builder to fix any deficiencies from the…
Gary Richardson
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9
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10 answers

How can I learn the basics of Home Improvement projects?

I am a new homeowner and know literally almost nothing about home improvement. I would like to learn basic concepts by doing things one at a time...but I can't just jump in and do most things. Are there any good resources (websites/books) that…
novacara
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Should building a new house include considerations about radon?

By chance I saw that there are a lot of radon questions here and it got me thinking: Do I need to concern myself with potential radon levels when planning to build a new house? My question is based on long-term health considerations, and not so much…
Torben Gundtofte-Bruun
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Why aren't all houses equipped with fire sprinklers?

Fire sprinklers are common in office buildings but not so common in people's houses. How come? I'm thinking of adding such a system to my house but... I don't know... maybe there is a reason for why that is? Might not be a good idea? Too expensive?…
user982364
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Water leakage in new house - is this common or an issue?

I am planning to purchase a house from some builder and I have finalized some properties. All are newly constructed houses. In one of it, I can see some water leakage in walls due to rain. Is this fixable, if yes, can I ask the builder to fix it…
Dhanapal
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3 answers

How to tell if my new, unfurnished apartment has bed bugs?

I just signed the lease on a new apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I did so after looking up the address and seeing that it had been listed twice in the bed bug registry. In 2009, a tenant said a few units had been infested. In August 2010, a…
samthebrand
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Resource for ballparking current home construction costs?

We're about to move several states away and have begun the house hunting process. We're moving to a region that, like most in the US, has seen housing costs tank, though it is a small enclave of relatively higher costs homes due to location…
DA01
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Possible to refinish hardwood floor without messing with quarter-round baseboard?

I am evaluating a quote to refinish my hardwood floors and stairs. The contractor mentioned that they would not be removing the quarter-round below the base board and it would require touch up after the job is done. The alternative is to remove the…
Chase
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Are most contractors capable of building any home?

I know very little about building homes. However, I have a vision of what I want my next home to be like. But when I look at the websites of local builders and contractors, it looks like they only have preset designs and plans for the homes that…
justspamjustin
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What should be on my pre-purchase house self-inspection checklist?

I’m looking at several homes and may purchase one, but realized that I’m probably missing important details when trying to identify potential money-pits. I have a simple checklist so I can save the time and money of hiring an inspector if there are…
Workman
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Is it within code to leave unused romex wire within a stud cavity for future use?

I'm installing pendant lights, instead of wall sconces, for a bathroom vanity in a new construction home. However, I'd like to be able to have the option of adding the wall sconces and remove the pendant lights in the future. Is it ok to leave…
Ryan Lazuka
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