When I was designing our dream home 15 years ago, I was chasing around our toddler while laying out rooms and selecting finishes. Luckily, builders know the life of a new home is a journey, and have consultants who help you fast-forward your thinking about features you can install now that will make life easier later. I brainstormed with a couple of executives from Toll Brothers and Ryland Homes about some forward-thinking, new-home options. On a related note, see how people are reinventing their living rooms. Grab bars aren't just for our later years. They're also good for kids and aching weekend warriors who need a little help getting into and out of a tub. Unless you're psychic... Lisa Kaplan Gordon is an avid gardener, a member of the Fairfax County Master Gardener's Association, and a builder of luxury homes in McLean, Va. She's been a Homes editor for Gannett News Service and has reviewed home improvement products for AOL.
Back then, I didn't let Ben out of my sight and couldn't imagine a time when we wouldn't be attached at the hip. So, I selected new-home options perfect for parents of a 16-month-old, never questioning if they'd work for parents of a 6-year-old, or 16-year-old.
Here are things that seemed like a good idea at the time:
Kitchen/great room combo: I figured one big space would be great for watching tiny Ben while I was cooking; he'd drum on a pot while I fixed him buttered noodles. But Ben grew up and now likes to watch "Law & Order" on TV while I talk on the phone with my mom, and my husband runs the disposal after dinner. The room sometimes sounds like Grand Central, and I now dream of a separate family room and a little less togetherness.
Two main-floor bedrooms: We downsized our master suite to squeeze in a second bedroom next to us -- perfect for soothing a preschooler's nightmares. Turns out kids outgrow nightmares, but skimpy closet space is forever.
A pass-through instead of cabinets: I gave up two kitchen cabinets to cut a pass-through from the kitchen to our mud-cum-crafts room so I could keep an eye on Ben's finger-painting sessions. Ben hasn't dipped a finger in paint in 12 years, and I could really use that storage now.
The Future is Now
If I were buying a new home today, I'd do things differently: I'd crystal-ball my thinking and plan for my future needs. That's the beauty of buying new construction: You can focus on want-to-dos, rather than to-dos -- even if you can't anticipate all your wants.
But choosing options for tomorrow is one perk of buying new. These forward-thinking selections can mean years of enjoyment as your family changes, and can make it easier to sell if moving -- and buying new again -- turns out to be the best alternative.