Renovations -- what do you wish you had done/what do you regret doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speakers do not date quickly. What dates is the equipment they're hooked up to, which you should be able to change out.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was about to post that tankless HW is a waste of money, but different strokes, I guess.


I would put heated tile floors at the very top of my list.

Why don't you like your tankless?

Its not that we don't like it, in the context of renovation, it adds cost with no value.


Water is either hot, or it isn't. A tankless will cost you $2K more and I personally would much rather spend that on something else. The marketing of tankless hot water heaters, discussion how 'you'll never run out of hot water again' is a little ridiculous. When was the last time you ran out of hot water?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was about to post that tankless HW is a waste of money, but different strokes, I guess.


I would put heated tile floors at the very top of my list.

Why don't you like your tankless?

Its not that we don't like it, in the context of renovation, it adds cost with no value.


Water is either hot, or it isn't. A tankless will cost you $2K more and I personally would much rather spend that on something else. The marketing of tankless hot water heaters, discussion how 'you'll never run out of hot water again' is a little ridiculous. When was the last time you ran out of hot water?

That may be true but they DO take very little space compared to a traditional water heater. In the context of smallish houses where you have to maximize good use of space, tankless heaters do save space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speakers do not date quickly. What dates is the equipment they're hooked up to, which you should be able to change out.

Seems like speakers will all be wireless in the next 3-5 years.

[Anonymous]

Electrical outlets in closets, pantries, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speakers do not date quickly. What dates is the equipment they're hooked up to, which you should be able to change out.

Seems like speakers will all be wireless in the next 3-5 years.

No, they won't. I'm in technology and would never use wireless speakers. Why use wireless when wired is so much more reliable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speakers do not date quickly. What dates is the equipment they're hooked up to, which you should be able to change out.

Seems like speakers will all be wireless in the next 3-5 years.

No, they won't. I'm in technology and would never use wireless speakers. Why use wireless when wired is so much more reliable?

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speakers do not date quickly. What dates is the equipment they're hooked up to, which you should be able to change out.

Seems like speakers will all be wireless in the next 3-5 years.

No, they won't. I'm in technology and would never use wireless speakers. Why use wireless when wired is so much more reliable?

+1000

Agreed, wireless is second best for applications when you can't/don't want to wire. If you can wire in speakers to a central place where you can put an equipment rack to contain whatever is the latest and greatest (e.g., Sonos, though full disclosure I'm less than thrilled with mine, I'd be happy with an ipod hooked up physically), you should do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speakers do not date quickly. What dates is the equipment they're hooked up to, which you should be able to change out.

Seems like speakers will all be wireless in the next 3-5 years.

No, they won't. I'm in technology and would never use wireless speakers. Why use wireless when wired is so much more reliable?

+1000

Agreed, wireless is second best for applications when you can't/don't want to wire. If you can wire in speakers to a central place where you can put an equipment rack to contain whatever is the latest and greatest (e.g., Sonos, though full disclosure I'm less than thrilled with mine, I'd be happy with an ipod hooked up physically), you should do that.

everyone though that about the landline

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speakers do not date quickly. What dates is the equipment they're hooked up to, which you should be able to change out.

Seems like speakers will all be wireless in the next 3-5 years.

No, they won't. I'm in technology and would never use wireless speakers. Why use wireless when wired is so much more reliable?

+1000

Agreed, wireless is second best for applications when you can't/don't want to wire. If you can wire in speakers to a central place where you can put an equipment rack to contain whatever is the latest and greatest (e.g., Sonos, though full disclosure I'm less than thrilled with mine, I'd be happy with an ipod hooked up physically), you should do that.

everyone though that about the landline

True, and also home networking, but we're not there yet with speakers, and if OP wants a system today wired is the way to go. I love whole house audio.

[Anonymous]

We just finished up the renovation you're talking about. Regarding your possible upgrades:


Built-in ceiling speakers - we skipped these and are going to get a sonos system instead.
Heated floors in basement and master bath - I didn't even consider this.
Built-in bookshelves in basement playroom - we did a few built ins but not a lot.
Insulation upgrades - we spray foamed the shiz out of everything. It's great.
Tankless hot water - we got one of these and have been very happy with it.
Humidifier addition to HVAC system - we didn't add this but my contractor said it was easy to add later if we decided we wanted one.

[Anonymous]

We looked at a house that had been wired with built in speakers all over the place. I'm sure it was fabulous for the people who lived there, but the equipment deck was empty (they'd already moved out) and all I could think was that we'd never be able to figure out how things worked. It was a turn off for me on the house.

[Anonymous]

We had Ikea shelves built in to our playroom -- they look great with molding and stuff. Cost less than $1K including installation by our handy man. Quote from a carpenter to do built-ins was $7K

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We looked at a house that had been wired with built in speakers all over the place. I'm sure it was fabulous for the people who lived there, but the equipment deck was empty (they'd already moved out) and all I could think was that we'd never be able to figure out how things worked. It was a turn off for me on the house.

Yes, learning something can be challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speakers do not date quickly. What dates is the equipment they're hooked up to, which you should be able to change out.

Agree with this. but, with wireless speakers, the need for built in speakers is not as necessary.
YES to heated floors in bathroom - top of list for me.
No to built ins - your needs and your decorating changes. It would be easier, and less costly I would think, to get shelves that can be moved. We recently did this - a wall of shelves for books, trinkets, etc. - on one wall - cost for 3 large bookshelves was around $700 and they are NICE shelves - all wood.
Not sure about tankless hot water heater - don’t have one, so I don’t know the advantages.
I would add ceiling fans in every room. We recently bought a house with ceiling fans in every room and it makes a big difference with cooling costs.
I also agree with the wiring for cable/satellite as well as wall mount tv - if you are going that route.
One other thing - if it is possible, outlets in the floor in bigger rooms (office, family room, living room, etc.). We have them and it is worth it!