We asked the Builder Brigade audience what they regret not deciding earlier in their build. Here are the biggest lessons they shared.
Not Planning the Infrastructure Early Enough
One of the most common regrets came down to missing things that had to be planned before framing, wiring, or concrete.
Once those stages pass, even simple changes become expensive.
Not planning for things like floor outlets for living rooms, extra electrical outlets throughout the house, RV hookups, generator wiring, or dedicated circuits in garages will leave you with regrets.
You also don't want to realize too late that you need to run plumbing for a future bathroom or wet bar in unfinished spaces. Don't forget about sump pumps, additional CAT cable, or wiring for smart home devices!
Not Thinking Through Electrical Layout
Electrical planning showed up repeatedly in the responses.
Homeowners mentioned switches hidden behind doors, lights positioned incorrectly in closets, and missing outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor areas.
These aren’t catastrophic mistakes, but they’re the kind of things you notice every single day once you move in.
Walking the plans room by room and thinking through exactly where outlets, switches, and lighting should go before the electrical rough-in stage is a must.
Not Planning for Future Space
Another major regret involved spaces that could have been built out cheaply during construction but became expensive later.
Things like a finished attic space, bonus rooms, or basements should be thought about while the house is being built.
You don't want to regret not planning for plumbing for future bathrooms, making storage areas larger, or framing spaces differently to allow future bedrooms or additions.
Not Making Rooms Slightly Bigger
Most people also rarely regret making spaces bigger.
Bigger laundry rooms, mudrooms, closets, garages, and bathrooms or generally adding just a few extra feet to certain rooms.
Garages were a particularly common regret. Some homeowners realized too late their trucks barely fit. Others wished they had added a third bay or wider garage doors.
Not Understanding the Plans Deeply Enough
Many regrets come from not fully understanding the details on architectural and engineering plans.
Things like structural beams blocking future HVAC runs in the basement or rooflines that need to be designed before framing begins.
You also want to spend enough time reviewing mechanical plans like HVAC duct placement, insulation systems, or load calculations.
These are technical details that are easy to overlook early on, but they shape how the house performs long term.
Not Protecting Themselves in the Contract
Another big category had nothing to do with design at all.
It had to do with builders and contracts.
Several homeowners said their biggest regret was not hiring a construction lawyer to review their contract before signing.
Others wished they had required multiple subcontractor bids, detailed allowances, or clearer pricing structures.
Some regretted choosing the wrong builder entirely.
One response summed it up well: builders have done this dozens of times. Most homeowners are doing it for the first time.
Having someone on your side who understands construction contracts can prevent expensive surprises later.
Not Thinking Through Comfort and Performance
Some regrets only show up once people start living in the house.
Like adding more insulation for soundproofing, installing generators sooner, or planning better drainage and landscaping around the property.
You might also want to consider water heater placement, HVAC return locations, or better insulation strategies to avoid noise and temperature issues.
These aren’t aesthetic upgrades. They’re performance decisions that affect everyday comfort.
The Biggest Lesson From All These Regrets
Looking at all the responses, one pattern becomes clear.
Most regrets happen because you are focused on finishes during the planning phase.
But the things that are hardest to change later are the structural and infrastructure decisions hidden behind the walls.
Those decisions have to be made early, long before drywall goes up.
Decide Earlier Than You Think You Need To
Building a home involves hundreds of decisions, and many of them happen before you realize how permanent they are.
That’s exactly why the Ultimate Home Building Checklist exists. It walks through these decisions step by step during the correct phase of construction so homeowners don’t miss details that become expensive regrets later.
Because the biggest regrets rarely come from things homeowners added.
They come from the things they didn’t plan early enough.
