when building new home what are the upgrade we must have?

Question

when buiding new home , what are the upgrades we must have added from the buider, what upgrades can wait for some other time in future to be added by us on our own ?

Answer 1

Make sure you upgrade your flooring and appliances. If you ever have to sell in the future, new home buyers look at these first and it is hard to upgrade that in the future.

Wait for the little things like fixtures and lights because you can always change the style later on.

Also a tip, when you choose your kitchen cabnets, make sure they match with your flooring because in the future, they can look outdated and can be costly to change later on.

Answer 2

Upgrades are your choice. There are really no "must haves" but there are areas that upgrades will improve the re-sale value of your home that could be more costly if done later. Those would be your kitchen and master bath. The builder's standards are usually not all that great. People are looking for the gourmet look in the kitchen and a spa feel in the master bath. You have to review all your options and decide what you like. We just completed this whole process for our new home, but this is also our third new build.

Answer 3

Good question - one I have recenly had to deal with. Remember later work can also be done by a contractor of your choice. I have found contractors associated with the major home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowes are reliable and you have recourse thru the store not thru the contractor.

1) Floors - ceramic tile in wet areas and entry - best by builder. Wood - this can be delayed, have the builder install cheap carpeting (it will last for many years) and you can later install wood.

2) Windows - normally a builder makes his money on appliances and windows and doors, all of which are often of such low quality the manufacturers make them available only to builders. I would have the builder upgrade the windows to double pane,argon gas filled, vinyl, tilt-in windows. You will have considerable savings in heating and cooling and they reduce outside noise considerably. I paid $400/window installed for replacement windows - you should be able to negotiate a lower price.

3) Appliances - Big mark up here for upgraded appliances from builder - shop elsewhere for price then decide. His cheap appliances may not have all the "bells and whistles" but they will last for years until you are positioned to replace them.

4)Heating and Air Conditioning plant - If options are offered take the upgrade from the builder. DO NOT opt for the ultra high effeciency furnaces - they require very expensive annual preventive maintenance that will obviate any utility savings particulalrly if you heat with gas.

5) Garage - street facing vs end facing. End facing garages add a touch of class but the lot size/expense must be greater. High end communities have end facing garages so the community "face" is never marred by the weekend plethora of open garage doors and garages full of junk.

6) Kitchen Counter - you can spend a huge amount here. It is a easy later change out. If there are early budget considerations take what the builder offers and plan to replace later with granite or the like.

7) Custom interior paint - many builders offer this but at a significant cost. Big decision since post occupancy large area painting, even if done by a contractor, is a hassle. If I wanted it and could afford it I would have the builder do it.

8) Hot water heater - the building code will dictate the minimum size. Normally not worth the price of upgrading to a larger size particulalrly if you heat water with electricity rather than gas.

9) Clothes dryer Gas/electic option. If you like gas - it is expensive to extend in post construction.

10) Structural - Most homes today are framed with 2 x 4's and this 3.5 inch wall depth limits the degree of insulation that can be installed. I built my addition with 2 x 6's and my insulation has about 4 times the value of that possible in a 2 x 4 wall.

11) Siding - This lasts for a long time and you should pay/negotiate with the builder to get whatever upgrade you desire. Vinyl is better than aluminum and brick is better than either.

12) Roofing - If you are in an area where cedar shake roofs are permissable, I would check with my fire insurance carrier to determine the cost penalty.

13) Space - If you envision added future space it is possible to have your builder install the footings/foundations and not the structure. A phone call to a general contractor will give you an idea of cost of building on a exisiting footing vs building all.

Answer 4

anything you can do now will be cheaper, easier, and not as disruptive as doing it after you move in.
you may want to consider a whole house vacuum system, they're very convenient. also with technology constantly changing, you may want to have extra boxes and conduit installed, for any future electronic system upgrades, like security or internet connectivity. also pre-wiring each room for cable and phone, even if you won't be using it, could help with resale.

Answer 5

flooring and window may be reliable. countertops and cabinets may be a reliable one. something require allot of human beings or mess is powerful to get down in the previous you could desire to head in. something that would desire to be confusing to do mutually as you reside interior the homestead. changing furnishings or window coverings are actually not confusing mutually as you reside in a house. Having to head out all your furnishings to substitute flooring or cope with changing window mutually as you reside in a house may be a discomfort interior the ***.