what one thing would you upgrade in your house?

[christina0001]

Upgrade wishlist:
-larger back deck
-hardwood floors
-replace popcorn ceilings with flat ones

[Espressoo]

Originally Posted by tcs1366

my neighbor did not put in a door ... and mowing the lawn, you have to go thru the front. Bringing in the wet dog, thru the front ... any time you are working in the back yard and have to schlep tools of any sort.. you have to go thru the front . PITA if you ask me... and i think he regrets it, every time he has to go around, and he sees me going in thru the back. I'd say money worth spent ... as you may kick yourself for not doing it... and having one installed down the road may be a lot more costly.

I have 9' ceiling and with the 36" cabinets... i have room up top to display stuff. Plants, baskets and i even hide things - like unused broiler pans and flat cookie sheets that i rarely use.

I think a side garage door is convenient but depending on what you store in your garage, it may also be an easy access for someone lurking around your house if you're out of town. Around here, the few houses that I've seen with side garage access doors, the door's upper half is glass. That's easy access for an intruder. Even if your house has an alarm, I don't think it covers the garage or has a motion sensor in there. If you're out of town, you can unplug your garage door opener however with the side garage access door, someone can still easily break in undetected. If you lived in a safe area and walk your dog daily, I can see the need for one but it's not like the garage door is hard to open with a push of a button.

[tcs1366]

mine is rear access. Fenced [6' chain link] back yard with motion detector lights.

DH was once robbed as a kid ... that stays with you forever i guess.
we have no glass in any doors and do unplug when leaving for any length of time.

we are constantly [me - especially with gardening stuff] in and out of the garage into the back yard... it would be a certain pain if the door wasn't there.

I do understand the concern though.

[Turtle_Mom]

Things we added to our new construction home:

upgraded carpet padding (wishing we would have done even more!)
upgraded A/C
rounded corners
9 ft ceilings
master bath - garden tub and shower
double oven in kitchen, taller cabinets
side door to garage
radiant barrier roofing (or something like that...)
full brick (basic was brick front only)

Things we are planning to add later or have already done:
tile in kitchen, wood floors in family room
covered deck, wired for fan and gas for BBQ
upgraded light fixtures and bannister (done)
deck (done)
island and silestone counters (done)