What did you not include in your house design plan on a small lot that you wish you did (new build)

[Anonymous]

We are building a new house inside the beltway, on a very small lot. We are going with NDI, using an existing plan with modifications. Since we are on a small lot, we have to use the space we have very carefully. We are including a laundry room on the upper level and are able to carve out a space for an office on the first floor. I just want to make sure I am not missing anything. What changes did you make?

[Anonymous]

We didnt do a new build, but added on extensively. We need a mud room and the laundry upstars. Another closet would be nice.

[Anonymous]

We also built with NDI inside the Beltway. We didn't include a mud room and we wish the bathrooms were a bit bigger. Our plan is the Fairlington which we customized quite a bit.

[Anonymous]

We built the NDI Westover model with a few modifications. Also moved the laundry room to the 2nd floor and put a breakfast nook in its place. We added a screened-in porch on the back. The one thing we really missed was not upgrading the front door to one with a window. As it is, there's no way to see who is at the front door without walking around the corner and peering out a side window.

[Anonymous]

How much did you pay for site work with NDI. Basically tear down and utiltiies (everything before NDI came in)

[Anonymous]

Site work, including all the permit fees, can run anywhere from 60k up to 100k. Depends how much tree work, regrading, whether sewer lines have to be redone, etc. we had NDI handle the site work for us - not sure if we could have saved money by handling it ourselves, but there's no way we had that kind of time available. Also, they know all the ins & outs with the county, permitting, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Site work, including all the permit fees, can run anywhere from 60k up to 100k. Depends how much tree work, regrading, whether sewer lines have to be redone, etc. we had NDI handle the site work for us - not sure if we could have saved money by handling it ourselves, but there's no way we had that kind of time available. Also, they know all the ins & outs with the county, permitting, etc.

So how much was it w/ NDI? I was quoted 20-30k from a reputable company because the house i wanted to tear down had no basement, was on a flat lot

[Anonymous]

When you say site work does this include landscaping after the new home is done?

[Anonymous]

Or the engineering work? Is that paid separate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you say site work does this include landscaping after the new home is done?

Whatever it takes to get a home demoed, utilities /permits etc... lot prepared up till the point NDI comes in and takes over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Site work, including all the permit fees, can run anywhere from 60k up to 100k. Depends how much tree work, regrading, whether sewer lines have to be redone, etc. we had NDI handle the site work for us - not sure if we could have saved money by handling it ourselves, but there's no way we had that kind of time available. Also, they know all the ins & outs with the county, permitting, etc.

So how much was it w/ NDI? I was quoted 20-30k from a reputable company because the house i wanted to tear down had no basement, was on a flat lot

PP here - it wound being only about $40k with NDI. But we had unusually low costs - flat, easy tear down, minimal tree work, no issues with the county, etc. at the time, NDI was recommending that people budget $80k. (2008). I think it also depends on what county you're in. We are in Arlington - I think Fairfax might be more $$$.