If you are looking to buy a new custom home, there are some costly upgrades you may want to avoid. Most people want to customize to their new home, but sometimes these upgrades are way overpriced.
Let us help you avoid going overboard when choosing upgrades for your new home! Check out our list of home improvements that you may want to avoid!
Costly home upgrades to avoid
Outdoor Kitchen
Many of our clients request an outdoor kitchen to accompany their beautiful new home! What they may not realize is that the home builder usually does not build outdoor kitchens themselves. Instead what happens is the builder has to find an outside contractor to come in to do the work. Now, not only are you paying for the cost of the outdoor kitchen, but the home builder is also charging a fee for facilitating the project. Usually, the builder fee is very high because they can still be held responsible for anything that may go wrong.
From our experience, waiting to build an outdoor kitchen with your own contractor can save you a lot of money in the long run!
You may think this item on our list is a joke, but this is a very real thing! We thought the idea was a little crazy when we first heard the request, but it is actually pretty amazing.
Although a walk-in refrigerator is a really cool and unique home feature, the price tag may not be very practical. The fridge itself is anywhere from $10,000 – $30,000. Plus you have to factor in the cost of getting it to your home and the installation. For those reasons, this is another home upgrade we suggest you avoid!
Christmas Light Packages
Builders may try to sell you on their Christmas light package. The builder will install outlets on the outside of your home to make putting Christmas lights up easier for you. Typically they charge $700 – $800 for this package.
Although this feature may be very convenient, you get a zero-dollar return on your investment. When you go to sell your home, this feature is not a big selling point for people and usually is not even noticed by new home buyers. For this reason, the Christmas light package upgrade is yet another we recommend skipping!
Granite and Tile
When choosing granite for your new home kitchen, there are different levels of granite to choose from. Starting at level 1 and sometimes going up to a level 10. The higher the level, the higher the price.
Of course you should choose the granite that you like, but choosing the most expensive granite may not be a great investment. Here’s why! If you choose one of the top-tier granite options, you may be spending an extra $10,000 or more. Since people have such different styles and tastes, the next person to buy your home may not even like the granite you chose. Therefore, you would not see any return on your pretty costly investment.
In our experience, the level 1 and level 2 granite are pretty basic. It is typically what we see in all new home builds. Level 3 and level 4 are a step up and usually a good bang for your buck. Ultimately, if you are going to live in your new home for a long time and want to spend a little extra on countertops you LOVE, then go for it! Just know you may not be getting a return on your investment, but you will be able to enjoy your purchase as long as you live in that home!
More tips on new construction
In our experience, outdoor kitchens, walk-in refrigerators, Christmas light packages, and granite are all new construction upgrades to think about before purchasing. If you are looking to buy a new custom home and would like a more complete list of things to avoid, check out our New Construction Guide! We provide you with expert negotiating tips, prepare you on what to expect, give special incentives you may not be aware of, and so much more!
