The following are some common future improvements and what you can do to prepare for them while building your home:

Consider the placement of structural elements
Structural changes to a home (such as moving walls or tearing things down) are the most expensive. If you know you plan on adding on to a room or area, make sure your plans allow for that in the future. For example, if you think you will add on to your family room once your family grows, avoid putting a fireplace or built in bookshelves in the area you plan on bumping out. Or, make sure your stairs are placed in a way that won't get in the way of future improvements.

Rough for baths now
Even if you don't plan on having a bathroom finished at the time your house is completed, it's still a good idea to make sure areas you would like to have bathrooms in at some point (for example, in a basement or off of a bedroom) are roughed for baths while building the house. It is much more expensive to go to an area after the home is built and have a plumber tear through concrete to install plumbing for a bathroom.

Consider a basement
If you know you have plans to add to your family but don't need a lot of space right now, consider have a basement put in. This is more expensive than a slab foundation or a crawlspace, but it adds a whole level to your home. A finished basement will dramatically increase the resale value of your home as well.

If you have your home poured for a basement, ask them to frame it as well, and get it plumbed for a bath. This will save you money now than having to do it down the road, and helps prepare your home for the future improvements you will make.

Keep the outside of your home in mind as well
When thinking of future improvements you will make to the home you are building, don't neglect the outside. If you would like to have a nice screened porch outside down the road, for example, you can pay for the project as you go by building a deck now and making sure it has the proper footings and structural support to hold the weight of glass, screens, or a roof. You also want to plan the home so the roof of your sunroom will connect seamlessly. These are all things you can do now to prepare for your future improvements down the road.

Most homeowners have short-term and long-term plans for the betterment of their homes. You can save money and time by building your home now with future improvements in mind.