About 1.5 million new homes go up in the U.S. each year. If you’re planning to put together building plans and break ground on a new house soon, begin by hiring the right new home builders in Eugene, OR. They can lay down a strong foundation and get your new home construction project off to a fantastic start.
The best Eugene home builders can help bring any big ideas you have for your new house to life. Tell them about your must-haves when building a new home, and they’ll leave you with a house you’ll be proud to call your own.
You might already have a few features on your list. But if you aren’t up on the latest trends in new home builds, you could miss a golden opportunity to incorporate some incredible features.
Check out our top 10 must-haves when building a new home in 2024.
1. Built-In Delivery Boxes
A recent study revealed the average American household receives over 160 packages annually. A separate study also found that over half of American households have groceries delivered to their homes at least occasionally.
If you’re constantly expecting deliveries, one of your top must-haves when building a new home in 2024 should be built-in delivery boxes. You can use them to keep everything you have sent to your house safe until you’re ready to retrieve it. There are even delivery boxes that can ensure refrigerated items stay cold when you order groceries online.
2. Convenient “Costco Door”
Garage pantry access doors have been used in certain pockets of the country for years, but they’re enjoying a viral moment in 2024 after a mom showed off hers on TikTok and coined it a “Costco door.”
A “Costco door” is a discreet door leading from a home’s garage into its pantry. It’s designed to help homeowners quickly unload large grocery hauls. Adding this feature makes sense if your new home’s layout has your garage sharing a wall with your pantry.
3. Dedicated Dog Wash Station
Over 65 million American households have dogs. If yours is one of them, you probably love your dog like family — but you might not like having your whole house turned upside-down when they come inside with muddy paws and run all over the place.
Here’s a simple solution: Create a dedicated dog wash station right in your mudroom so you won’t have to worry about where to wash a dog when it gets dirty anymore. You can keep your dog’s messes in your mud room and, as a bonus, utilize your dog wash station to clean off your kids’ muddy shoes.
4. Modern-Day Butler’s Pantry
Butler’s pantries first emerged in the 1750s. They were typically used to store food, large serving dishes, silverware, and more.
Modern-day butler’s pantries, also known as prep kitchens or “dirty kitchens,” are different. They’re full-fledged kitchens where people can prepare meals while hiding messes from guests.
Let your imagination run wild by making a modern-day butler’s pantry one of your must-haves when building a new home in Eugene, OR. You can include just about anything you want in it, especially if you equip it with its own electrical components and plumbing fixtures.
5. Handy Trash and Recycling Chutes
Are you tired of taking out the trash? Surveys suggest that about half of American households take out the trash several times each week, making it one of the most hated household chores.
In a state like Oregon where the recycling rate is on the higher end of the spectrum, dealing with trash is an even bigger challenge. This is why you may want to ask new home builders to install trash and recycling chutes. They can help you avoid having to walk outside every time your trash and recycling cans fill up.
6. Double Kitchen Islands
Open-concept kitchens are back and bigger than ever. This has opened up the opportunity for people to install not one but two kitchen islands.
If you and your family spend your fair share of time in the kitchen, double kitchen islands might be the perfect addition to your new home. You can use one island for food preparation and the other for eating meals, working, and entertaining.
7. En Suite Laundry Room
Dragging dirty clothes from the main bedroom to the laundry room is never fun. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could simply toss these clothes into an en suite laundry room and call it a day?
Putting a laundry room like this into an existing home isn’t always possible since it involves tearing apart walls and insulation to make room for plumbing pipes. A better option is working plans for an en suite laundry room into your main bedroom plans from the beginning.
8. Smart Home Technology
Smart home technology has come a long way since the 1960s. Today, homeowners can incorporate many smart home technology devices into their homes, including:
- Smart thermostats
- Smart lighting
- Smart door locks
- Smart security cameras
The problem is that smart home technology sometimes looks out of place in older homes. This won’t present any issues when you’re building a brand-new house, where you can seamlessly integrate smart home technology to make it look and feel more futuristic. You’ll also appreciate how such details make everyday living much easier, especially if you have a growing family and all the commitments that come with it.
9. Strategically Positioned USB-C Electrical Outlets
It’s always nerve-racking for homeowners to commit to technological touches like this when building new houses. What if USB-C is no longer used in a few years and electrical outlets with built-in USB-C ports suddenly seem outdated?
While these are valid questions, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about this happening with USB-C electrical outlets, as USB-C has become the universal charging standard in Europe. This has forced smartphone manufacturers to adopt USB-C ports for all their devices, so there’s a good chance you’ll charge your phone with USB-C charging cables in the foreseeable future.
10. Green Living Features
Oregon routinely lands on lists of the “greenest” states. The Beaver State uses more renewable energy than almost every other state. If you’re someone who cares deeply about the most important home of all — planet Earth — then a new home allows you to make good on that promise.
Why not help Oregon keep its reputation for being one of the most environmentally friendly states in the country by adding green living features to your list of must-haves when building a new home in 2024? Several great options include:
- Solar panels
- An electric vehicle charging station
- A geothermal heat pump
Features like this can improve the energy efficiency of your new home. Choosing the best insulation for new home builds in Oregon can also make your house more comfortable throughout the year.
Invest in These Must-Haves When Building a New Home in 2024 With Our Help
If you want to make sure you love your home in Eugene, OR, when you’re finished building it, rely on Schar Construction. We can discuss home construction costs in 2024 and your must-haves when building a new home. Contact us now to schedule a consultation!