When buying a new home, you would have an option of choosing standard features, which could include architecture, design, and fixtures, or going with upgrades. The thing to remember is that while building, and if you purchase a home still in the unfinished stage, you can do whatever you want but if you choose upgrades, you will pay. Therefore, you need to determine a budget so you know exactly what you can and cannot change
Most importantly, as you begin shopping for your new home, you need to know what is standard and upgrades so you can correctly calculate the overall square footage cost. Of all considerations, knowing the specifications of each builder’s work is crucial. Then, if you start to change some of those specifications by upgrading, you can be sure the cost of the home would be dramatically different. One thing that you can do is start by finding a builder that builds according to specifications closest to yours. That way, the number of things you want to change would be fewer.
Of specifications, you want to look specifically at warranties that would cover heating, electrical, and plumbing. The number of years each builder provides could vary, so ask so you know details. Additionally items that would vary from one builder to another include staircases going to the downstairs, wood doors and frames, material for bathroom walls, garages with some being painted and some not, kitchen cabinets, size and type of hot water heater, ceiling height, windows, heating and air conditioning units, and so on. As you meet with various builders, you want to know the types of materials used, processes, sizes, and everything possible. This way, you can make comparisons with other builders to choose the best one for your hard-earned money.
To give you an idea of how important it is to know the standards so you can decide on upgrades, consider the price. If you were buying a 3,000 square foot home, depending on what all you changed, you could easily increase the price of the home by $10,000 to $30,000! Of course, you want only the finest materials and workmanship possible since this will be your home. For this reason, it is important to talk to a number of builders so you can get the things most important to you without going broke.