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Lot Type - Walk-Out, Daylight, Flat

scottie33

scottie33

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2006
2,710
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Ames, Iowa
Fanatics,

Our family will be building a house this summer and we are currently debating between Walk-Out, Daylight, or Flat lot.

Wanted to get a feel for everyone's pros & cons of the various types of lots and what we should consider in choosing what type of lot to build on.

I will say a walk-out lot is roughly $6k more than a flat-lot for price of lot only and $7k add to finish the walk-out portion of the house, sliding door, added windows, patio, etc. Day Light lots would be in between each of the before mentioned figures.

We have a single child now and will have several more children; we are in our late 20s if any of that matters.
 
How long do you plan on being in the house? I have no experience, but personally I would go with walk out just because that is what my preference would be. Cost doesn't seem that much more for the value it adds.
 
IMO if you can afford and justify the cost, the walkout is the way to go. Much better living space.
 
ajk4st8 said:
I think it makes the 'man cave' feel lessen. Wife loves it.
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This is why I would like the walk out. You get to have your man cave but it's also more functional for entertaining with the ability to open to the outside for sitting, drinking, grilling, etc.
 
Definitely go walk out, at least day light. 6k is nothing for a walkout compared to a flat lot.
 
Is its a ranch I would do walk out but if 2 story I wouldn't because of square footage in the basement. I would do e gress windows with a two story though and not have to screw with cutting them in later.
 
I'm currently building a walkout, and IMO if you can swing the cost you should go for it. We lucked out with the last lot in our neighborhood that could do a walkout easily. Our realtor has emphasized how much it helps with resale (at least in Wichita). We really liked the fact that we can have a deck off the main floor and a little patio under the deck off of the basement.

We don't have kids, so I can't really comment on that. It's an extra entry into the house and adds some stairs and height off the deck that could maybe be tough with kids, but otherwise I think it's a really nice addition to a house.
 
Walkout hands down. Make sure to do 9 foot ceilings regardless. You won't regret it.
 
We won't be finishing the basement right away but there will be a point in time in a few years that I'd like to finish it out where the walk-out would become preferred and more usable.
 
ripvdub said:
Definitely go walk out, at least day light. 6k is nothing for a walkout compared to a flat lot.
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In-laws have a flat lot and while the basement is small it is usable but doesn't have that inviting/open feel to it.

Dad has a daylight and that would be our 2nd option after walk-out.
 
scottie33 said:
$6k is just the difference in lot price; there is $7k add from base house price for added siding, sliding door, patio, windows, etc.
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That's not much on a 30 year note, plus I would almost guarantee you get that back in resale assuming you live there a few years.
 
Do something like this:
I'll be there for the house warming party.

fire-pit--walk-out-basement.jpg
 
We have a walk out and it's marginally useful. Id rather not have such a high deck though if I had to choose between the two. A flat backyard would be nice.
 
cyflier said:
That's not much on a 30 year note, plus I would almost guarantee you get that back in resale assuming you live there a few years.
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I agree wholeheartedly on what you are saying, our realtor has even said the same thing on numerous occasions. We are building this house with the assumption that it will suit all of our future needs and there isn't a need/desire to resell house in the foreseeable future and upgrade our living situation.

We are even paying off PMI upfront in a lump sum payment so we're not paying it off for 8-10 years (assuming minimum payments and no upgrades value of house increasing).
 
CloneinWDSM said:
Cowgirl will have a 100 page report on each style if you ask her.
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nah, not enough grade on our lot so walkout was pretty cost-prohibitive for us. So I don't have too much to say about it ;)

So while we don't have one, I would go for it especially if it's a ranch. And definitely the 9-foot ceilings. Our builder didn't do that railing you see in a lot of basements and has nice windows in ours - it's unfinished yet but definitely doesn't have that typical basement feeling.
 
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