Most Common Regrets People Have After Building a New Home

Regret #1: “We didn’t really understand what was included vs. excluded.”

This is the #1 cause of “surprise upgrades.” You thought the quote included a finished driveway, landscaping, upgraded trim, nicer lighting… and the builder assumed “base spec.” Nobody’s evil—your contract just didn’t force clarity.

Before you compare any estimate, read this and use it like a checklist: What’s typically included vs. excluded in the builder’s estimate.

Regret #2: “Our contract was too vague, so everything became a negotiation.”

A good contract is not about distrust. It’s about avoiding amnesia. Six months into a build, nobody remembers exactly what was said in the kitchen meeting with the sample boards and the dog barking.

If your agreement doesn’t clearly define scope, drawings, allowances, change orders, payment milestones, and how disputes are handled, you’re basically building a house inside a grey cloud.

Here’s the homeowner-friendly checklist: What should a good construction contract include?

Regret #3: “We picked the wrong builder—or didn’t vet properly.”

A new home is not a haircut. If you “try someone new” and it goes badly, you can’t just wait three weeks and start over. Vetting matters.

At minimum, homeowners should verify licensing status and history where applicable. In Ontario, the official Ontario Builder Directory exists for this exact reason: Ontario Builder Directory.

If you want a full vetting checklist in plain English: How do I find a reputable custom home builder.

Regret #4: “We didn’t lock down allowances early… then the price kept creeping.”

Allowances are normal. Unrealistic allowances are a budget trap wearing a friendly name tag. If your contract has placeholder numbers for cabinets, lighting, tile, fixtures—then every selection becomes a mini-upgrade decision.

Fix: Demand an allowance schedule that clearly states supply vs installed, quantities, and how credits/overages are handled. Pick key finishes earlier than you think you need to.

Regret #5: “We didn’t design for how we actually live.”

A house can be beautiful and still annoy you daily. Most regrets aren’t structural… they’re lifestyle friction:

Fix: Walk through your day on paper. Where do shoes land? Where does laundry pile up? Where do kids dump backpacks? Design for the messy 95% of life—not the 5% when company is over.

Regret #6: “We didn’t build enough storage.”

Storage is cheap on paper and expensive later. People regret skipping:

• Pantry space (or a pantry that’s too skinny to function)
• Linen storage near bedrooms
• Broom / vacuum closets (yes, plural is normal)
• Garage storage wall space (and a place for seasonal stuff)

Fix: Add storage early, then protect it from “value engineering.” Nobody ever says, “I wish we had less storage.” Nobody.

Regret #7: “We made the garage too small.”

Two-car garages are often “two cars if nobody opens a door.” Between bikes, tools, strollers, recycling bins, snow shovels, and a workbench… the garage becomes a storage unit you pay to heat.

Fix: If your lot allows it, add width first, depth second. And plan a real man-door location so you’re not squeezing past bumpers in February.

Regret #8: “We didn’t plan the kitchen properly.”

Kitchen regrets show up fast:

Fix: Tape the layout on the floor if you have to. Stand where you’ll cook. Open imaginary dishwasher doors. Pretend you’re carrying a hot pot and someone walks behind you. If that sounds silly, wait until you live with a bad layout—then it gets real serious, real fast.

Regret #9: “We didn’t add enough outlets, data, and future wiring.”

This one is universal. People regret skipping:

• Outlets where furniture actually goes (not where the drawing looked clean)
• Exterior outlets (front, back, soffit areas for holidays)
• Garage outlets (workbench, freezer, chargers)
• Conduit or spare runs for future tech (easy now, painful later)
• EV charger rough-in (even if you don’t own an EV yet)

Fix: Overdo it slightly. It’s cheaper than power bars forever. Run conduit to attic/mechanical room for “future you.” Future you will be very grateful and slightly emotional.

Regret #10: “We didn’t design lighting—so the house looks… tired.”

Lighting isn’t just fixtures—it’s a plan. Common regrets:

• Too few recessed lights, or too many in a weird grid
• No under-cabinet lighting (dark counters)
• Missing dimmers (your living room shouldn’t feel like a dentist office)
• No dedicated art/feature lighting (everything feels flat)

Fix: Layer it: task lighting + ambient + accent. Put dimmers on the rooms you live in. Your mood (and your spouse) will thank you.

Regret #11: “We ignored sound control.”

Sound issues are sneaky. The house looks perfect, then you hear every flush, every step, every teen’s music, and every late-night snack mission.

Fix: Soundproof the obvious places: bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry near sleeping areas, mechanical room, and any open-to-below spaces. Some small upgrades (insulation, resilient channel, better doors) go a long way.

Regret #12: “We didn’t think through heating and comfort.”

Ontario comfort problems usually come from poor system planning, not “bad luck.” Regrets include:

• Cold floors (especially on slabs and over garages)
• Rooms that are always warmer/cooler than others
• Too much noise from mechanical systems
• Not enough zones (one thermostat trying to control everything)

Fix: Pick a comfort strategy early. If you’re considering hydronic radiant, understand it properly (cost drivers, where it shines, where it doesn’t): Cost Of Radiant Floor Heating in Ontario.

Regret #13: “We skimped on the building envelope—then paid forever.”

If you want fewer regrets, invest in what you can’t easily change later: insulation quality, airtightness, thermal bridges, good windows/doors, and correct detailing. People regret:

• Drafts and uneven temperatures
• High energy bills
• Condensation on windows
• Ice damming issues from poor attic design

Fix: Spend smart on the envelope and ventilation. The house becomes quieter, more stable, and cheaper to run—every single month.

Regret #14: “We didn’t plan ventilation and humidity control.”

A tight house needs proper ventilation. A leaky house needs it too (it just does it badly). Many homeowners realize later they have:

• Bathrooms that stay damp
• Smells that linger
• Humidity swings that feel uncomfortable

Fix: Make ventilation a design decision, not a “buy a fan later” decision.

Regret #15: “We didn’t plan the mechanical room and service access.”

Mechanical rooms are often treated like a closet. Then service techs show up and can’t access anything without doing yoga on your water heater.

Fix: Leave clearances, plan drains, and keep service access in mind. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the difference between a 30-minute service call and a “we need to move this unit” nightmare.

Regret #16: “We didn’t think through exterior grading, drainage, and water management.”

Water always wins. Many new homeowners regret not planning:

• Final grading (where water actually goes)
• Downspout discharge locations
• Driveway slope and runoff paths
• Walkway ice zones (you’ll find them the hard way)

Fix: Treat water management as a primary system, not a landscaping detail. Your foundation and your basement will appreciate it.

Regret #17: “We didn’t plan outdoor living—and now the deck feels like an afterthought.”

Outdoor spaces are easiest to integrate during design: door locations, covered areas, BBQ gas line, lighting, steps, privacy, and traffic flow.

Fix: Design the deck/patio at the same time as the kitchen and great room. That’s how you make the house feel bigger without building more square footage.

Regret #18: “We didn’t plan for future changes.”

Life changes. Kids grow. Parents move in. Work-from-home becomes permanent. Common regrets:

• No main-floor flex room that can become a bedroom/office
• No rough-ins in basement for future bathroom or bar
• Stairs and doorways too tight for aging-in-place

Fix: “Future proofing” doesn’t mean building a giant house. It means building adaptable spaces and adding rough-ins while walls are open.

Regret #19: “We didn’t understand the warranty process or our responsibilities.”

New homes have warranty frameworks and timelines. The regret isn’t that warranty exists—it’s that homeowners didn’t read how it works until something went wrong.

Fix: Learn the basics early. Here’s the homeowner overview: Tarion: What is the new home warranty?

Regret #20: “We didn’t plan the budget for the ‘after the build’ stuff.”

Even when the build is priced correctly, people forget the post-build pile:

• Window coverings
• Furniture that actually fits the new spaces
• Driveway / landscaping / fencing
• Appliance upgrades
• Utility hookups and site finishing details

Fix: Keep a separate “move-in fund.” It’s not pessimism—it’s realism.

Regret #21: “We made big decisions too late.”

Late decisions cause three things: delays, substitutions, and stress. Your contractor is not trying to be annoying when they ask for selections early—they’re trying to protect the schedule.

A quick “Regret-Proof” checklist (print this mentally)

FAQ: New-home regrets