Deciding on what builder upgrades to choose is one of the biggest struggles people seem to have. It's one thing to walk into the model home and fall in love with all the pretty + shiny upgrades, but it's another thing to be able to get those upgrades to fit into your budget. If you are anything like me, you will have to decide which upgrades are important to you and which ones you can live without.
Today I'm sharing with you 7 builder upgrades that I learned are worth getting to help you make your wish list for your new home.
1. Premium Lot
It's all about location, location, location!
One of the reasons we chose our builder is because of the community and lot. We would have loved to purchase 2+ acres of land and build a custom home in the country but in this season of our life, being in a suburban neighborhood works best for our family. Our son just turned 13 (hello, socializing) and my mom lives with us so convenience is key. Our new neighborhood is close to the grocery store, restaurants, shops and the community pool and only 25 minute drive to work. But what I love about our little lot is that is backs up to woods so we kinda have the best of both worlds. I can already picture myself relaxing on the deck drinking some coffee or having a glass of wine.
If you're able to upgrade to a premium lot that is larger and or has more privacy with nice trees, I recommend working it into your budget. If you can time it just right and get into a new phase at the beginning, the lot premiums lend to be lower.
2. Structural Upgrades
Any upgrade that will add square footage to your home is definitely worth the investment.
With our production builder, Centex, there wasn't as many upgrade options to choose from compared to a semi-custom builder like Schumacher Homes, Wayne Homes or Rockford Homes. However, that worked fine for us since we're on a strict budget and knowing something wasn't an option for me made the decision easy. With our Mitchell floor plan, we had the option to bump out the gathering room, add a third car garage, add a garage extension and add a sun room. We also had the option to turn the flex space into another bedroom and add a full bath which is the upgrade we choose since it created a Mother-in-law suite for my mom who lives with us.
3. Windows + Lighting
Add as much natural light as possible.
If your builder has the option to add extra windows or a sliding glass door, do it. Having the extra light in your home is going to make such an impact on how you live. Don't ever underestimate good lighting. We chose to add extra windows in our cafe eating area in the kitchen and a sliding glass door.
4. Raise Your Ceilings
If it's in your budget, I highly recommend to increase your ceilings to 9'. You'll be so happy that you did. We choose to do this on the first floor and basement in our new home. It really does give your home a more open feeling.
5. Gas Fireplace
If a fireplace is on your wish list and you can swing it with your budget, you won't regret it. Adding a fireplace after you move into your new home is going to be expensive and a pretty big project. This is one upgrade I regret not doing.
6. Insulation
It keeps us cooler in the summer and warm in the winter! This is an upgrade that is almost impossible to do later. Ask your builder if you have the option to add additional insulation in your walls. The additional insulation will also help with sound proofing if you have a music or theater room.
7. Future Bathroom in Basement
This is an upgrade that is inexpensive, functional and can add resale value to your home. Our builder does not offer finished basements but we do plan to finish it in the future. Having the plumbing rough-in there for when we're ready to tackle the project is going to be life saver. I can totally picture our industrial rec room already. When we add the additional bathroom in the basement, we will have a total of 4 full bathrooms in our house.
7 Builder Upgrades Worth Getting
Well there you have it! 7 upgrades that I have found that are worth getting when building your new home with a production builder.
What about you? What are some of your must-have upgrades in a new home?
Did I miss something that is essential to building a new home? Please feel free to share in the comments below.
Thanks so much!