Preach! Most custom McHomes are so poorly assembled they are doomed for the landfill in the blink of a suburban eye. What a waste. I think some production "track" builds are capable of outliving much of the custom poo which can have more than double the upfront costs.
Random thoughts from someone obsessed with quality, yet humbled by predecessors:
#1 Attractive Architecture. Beautiful architecture is worth saving. Simple and small is easy to maintain. Smaller square footage also allows more attractive and durable finishes.
#2 Weatherproofing. Mainly dependent on design but also finishes and labor quality. Overhangs are the most underrated design tool. Tall ceilings and multi-levels expose walls and windows to more rain and sunlight. A shorter wall home with wide overhangs will be much better protected than those with taller walls and higher ceilings. As with most design, find a good balance.
Compared to European offerings, American windows are generally a joke. The only thing worse is how they are installed. Non-existent sill pan flashing and weak air-sealing is typical. Many excellent Houzz threads and experts to help with selection and install details. Do not rely on most Builders or Architects in this area.
Masonry veneer on exterior is best avoided. Love it for hardscape, the bigger and more dry-stacked the better. Generally, masonry craftsmanship is devolving. Pre-Incans out built medieval masons who out built the current offerings of brick veneer, stick on stone and stucco. It can be done correctly but is not cheap. We work with amazing masons but you can't depend on them to properly weatherproof the wood construction behind veneers. Most plans I see from even the best architects, lack good details for longevity of covered up wood. Rather than adding masonry to the back of a three sided McMansion, I predict the most opportunity for renovation will be in tearing off existing McMasonry and repairing all the hidden rot.
Install siding on a rainscreen. Most skip this affordable and important detail.
Wide overhangs on short walls can substantially extend life of gripes above. Good boots, good hat. If you get the foundation right and use a standing seam or tile roof with zero penetrations (plumbing, vents, chimney, poorly designed dormer) the home could easily go 100 years with zero maintenance.
#3 Healthy & Energy Efficient. These two are interrelated. Vented crawlspaces, indoor fireplaces, and air-leakage in construction can rot homes and waste money. These things are hard to fix after construction and is the main reason we prefer building new homes and avoid renovations. No new home should be built without an outdoor-air ventilation system and we are quickly approaching the point that all new homes should be net-zero-energy ready. Hire a third party HERS rater and use Energy Star certification to ensure a minimum level of quality.
Q