I wish I knew for certain - I've had it done twice. Our house is 40 years old and we had the duct work cleaned 20 years ago after we put on the 2 story addition. We had it done again last year when we renovated the basement and bathroom. I personally didn't notice a difference - but I vacuum regularly, I clean the air filters on the furnace 3 or 4 times a year and we also have an Electronic Air Cleaner inside the furnace that I clean monthly. I think it does help clean out the ductwork - but you really have to trust the company who is doing the work. I watched both times and I did see dust and debris. However there are untrustworthy contractors who will show you a bag of dirt and dust and say that's what they vacuumed out. We had COIT do the work both times. Before starting they made sure all the ducts in the house were closed or covered so that the particles wouldn't blow back into the room. They used a device that goes through the vents and down into the duct and bumps around inside to loosen the dirt. At the same time there is a large vacuum next to the furnace collecting the debris. We don't have allergies so I can't say that it's helped in that regard. But my vents are now clean and my DH did inspect the ductwork both before and after it was serviced and he also said it was noticeably cleaner.

We offer first to family/friends. If nobody wants it, it goes to charity. My MIL was sure her house stuff was worth money. It wasn't. However, family members were happy to take the big furniture, so she didn't feel bad. Oddly, the various tschotskes DH and I couldn't stand, made her several hundred $$$ from an estate liquidator. Who knew, LOL? There is a wonderful charity here run by our city. They collect ONLY business clothes - cleaned, pressed, on hangers - suitable for job interviews. Low-income residents can go to their various training classes, which include what to do/not to do on job interviews and how to properly fill out job applications. For those attendees who don't have nice clothes for interviews, the charity allows them to pick two outfits for free. When my DH and I retired, we brought them enough to fill an 8' clothes rack. My MIL just passed away and I realized many of her clothes also qualified as "interview ready". DH and I cleaned out our closets again. His was clothes that had gotten too small or shrunk (he's fond of 100% cotton and some of that stuff shrinks more than others). I had hung on to some of my favorite work clothes, including some designer stuff, but finally decided after five years of retirement it was time to pass them along. So there went another 8' clothes rack out of the house last week! We also sorted through our books. We have around 2-4,000 books at any given time. Out went a load of those yesterday to the local library for their monthly sales. But the core of our collections remain: my art books, his hobby reference books, and the fiction novels we deem worth keeping and re-reading. Of these, only the art books are worth anything, and only to collectors. After I sorted through my art books we asked a couple of friends if they were interested in any that we planned to get rid of. They took two paper bags full. They were happy and so were we! Our collection is valuable only to us, especially since much of it is out of print. I used to give very elaborate dinner parties in the '70's. I had six different sets of interchangeable dinnerware and handmade bronze flatware, with lots of serving pieces collected from various places. Entertaining has changed and nobody does this stuff any longer. The main part of the dinnerware was a classic Mikasa bone china with an embossed gold rim, in a service for 12. None of my Millennial friends was interested in it, but fortunately one of our younger Boomer friends was complaining about her grandmother's soft-paste china. Such patterns can't go through the DW so she had to hand-wash it, so as a working mother (she was the breadwinner, in fact) it was too time-consuming to use often. She was familiar with our china and said she would be thrilled to have it. Made her ecstatic, and opened up space for new plain china for us. Yes, I still have the bronze flatware. Nobody else wants it, like silver it has to be kept polished or in bluecloth. Doesn't take up much room in a drawer. Oddly, one of the modestly valuable things I own might someday be thrown out by some relative who doesn't realize what they are. Back in the psychedelic '60's when impresario Bill Graham presented unknown local bands at the Winterland ballroom in San Francisco, for publicity they did not only posters, but fliers and postcards. I have half a dozen pristine, unused postcards of concerts listing Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Cream, Moody Blues, Blue Oyster Cult, etc., stuffed in a box in the garage.

Hard to say what makes sense for you. I can tell you what makes sense for me. I commented on each of the items you mentioned. Hope it helps. - Finished Basement $52,500 - I have no idea how much it would be to do this later. This is a lot of money, but may be worth it to do it now. - Upgrade to 10' ceiling height on main floor $9,500 (standard is 9' ceiling) - 10' are super nice (that's what we are going with in our build), but 9' are nice as well (that's what we have in current home). So if cost is an issue, skip this one. - Ground Floor Double Door Entrance $760 - matter of taste. I'd probably skip this one. - Garage door opener with one remote $740 each - I'd say that's imperative! How can you be without a remote for the garage?! - Keypad for garage door opener $150 each - Also a must in my opinion. - Rough-In 2nd Floor Alarm - All Windows and Doors $160 - I would also do this one. - Rough-In 2nd Floor Keypad $30 each - I would do one in the master bedroom (which we did in the old house and in the new build), because you want to be able to turn on the alarm without having to go downstairs in the middle of the night. - Reinforce ceiling fixture for future fan/fixture $150 each - nice value, but since I don't care for ceiling fans, it will depend on your preference. - Upgrade to 200 amp service $1,000 each (standard is 100 amp) - I have no idea. - Complete valance lighting c/w switch $750 each - also no idea - Wall sconce rough-in c/w switch $240 each - as opposed to what and where? - Wall sconce rough-in on mirror c/w switch $300 each - bathroom? What's there standard? - Exterior soffit potlights $450 each - your preference - Recessed shower light c/w switch $290 each - I would do this one. I hate dark showers. It makes no sense to have light just in the bathroom, and a dark tub/shower area after you close the curtain. In my city it is code to have a light in the shower or tub. - Smooth ceiling (2nd Floor throughout) $1,590 (first floor smooth ceiling comes standard) - good grief, do not allow popcorn ceiling (if that's the standard). Think about the cost to remove it and refinish it later. Yikes. - Upgrade from standard round column to square drywall column with trim to match house - half column $440 each - your personal taste - Upgrade to 10mm Frameless Shower Enclosure - M Ensuite $3,060 - very nice option, but it is a budget thing. - Upgrade from Bath Tub to Frameless Shower Enclosure - Ensuite #2 $1,850 would not do this. - Upgrade from Bath Tub to 10mm Frameless Shower Enclosure - Main Bath $1,850 - would not do this - Upgrade from 5' Bath Tub to 5' Shower (no door) $1,400 - I'd keep the bath tub and the shower separate in the master suite. If this is in the other bathroom, I would keep the bath/shower combo. - Extra sink and single lever faucet in ensuite $725 each - double sinks is a must in the master. Trust me. - Whirlpool Upgrade in lieu of Corner or Oval Tub - 8 Jets $1,475 each - how much do you really think you would the whirlpool? Cleaning of each jet in there, think about it. I would not do this, but it depends on your preference. - Waterline for ice-maker $250 each - to the fridge? It's a must. - Upgrade Kitchen exhaust fan vent to 8" vent $470 - I have no idea - Rough-in gas line for BBQ/pool $665 each - do you BBQ? - Rough-in gas line for stove/range $665 each - what is standard, electric? What kind of cooktop do you want? If it is induction, check the volt/ampere needed for that, and make sure they install the correct one. I added a 60 amp one on mine. - Additional standard fireplace - 1st floor $4,450 - where would that be? Is one enough? - Additional standard fireplace - 2nd floor $4,800 - would not do it, but I live in Texas, not Canada..... - Blower heater fan $620 each - no idea - Fireplace remote control $250 each - not sure it's necessary.

I will say that when we did our new build kitchen 2 years ago, there were a few issues with what was shipped. Our crown molding was the wrong style. They promptly replaced it and I believe our KD kept the wrong shipment. The thing that drove me and our KD the most crazy was the bookcase that sits on our counter. The first shipment had a very nice beadboard panel. That was it. No shelves, no sides, no top. The second try came as a full bookcase, but only painted on the outside. Oh, and the beadboard was installed to face the wall. Third try it came out fine. Our KD took pictures to show their quality control people. How they thought a flat panel was a bookcase, I've yet to figure out. I wanted to keep the inside out bookcase to put in our garage, but they wanted it back. It was very well built. ;)