Newly constructed homes have been a very popular choice among many homebuyers in recent times because other homeowners aren’t willing to sell their homes. According to CoreLogic, the leading provider of property data, only 11% of homeowners are looking to sell their homes.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for those looking to buy their first homes.
There are several advantages to buying a new home such as choosing your finishes, choosing your furniture and kitchen appliances, as well as avoiding hidden problems often found in older homes.
However, the only downside to a newly constructed home can be the expensive upgrades that you have to worry about. You’d realise that the expenses for recently built homes can be gigantic if you aren’t cautious about the sort of upgrades you need. For instance, while the base price of your home falls within your budget, your upgrades can make it skyrocket.
That’s why in this article, to help you settle on the choice of move to complete, we will have a look at the best development upgrades to be done in a new home.
6 Upgrades that Add Value to your Newly Constructed Home
Here are 6 high ROI upgrades that will add value to your home.
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Opt for a larger extension
If you plan on having an extension, you should consider paying for a larger one from the start. This gives additional room to your property and it’ll make it feel like other rooms in the house.
It will also give you better options about what you could use the space for. However, this is an expensive upgrade that could be beneficial in the long run.
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Roughed-in plumbing
This is when the plumber installs any additional heating pipes inside the walls before the plasterboards are put over them. This is, for the most part, done when the home has been endorsed to be weatherproof.
This is the least demanding opportunity to roll out any improvements to the home pipes plans before the walls get fixed.
This alternative is better than drilling through concrete after development to put the pipes funnelling, as it is both tedious and costly. It will be smarter to pay a plumber to do this roughed-in plumbing as it will save you both time and cash.
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Wooden floors
Wooden floors like hardwood or laminate flooring are the go-to for many new homeowners because they have a universal appeal. When using wood to achieve an impeccable and consistent ground surface, it is better to do it during installation as it is hard to get an ideal match after some time has passed. It will require the homeowner to ensure the ideal uniform shading look is achieved.
Over time, the effect of sunlight does have its way with these floors. Their colours change and you may have to restain your hardwood floor or replace the entire flooring. This is the reason why carpets and rugs are often used in many homes.
They help protect and retain the colour of your wooden floors for many years and all you’ll have to do is replace the carpet for maintenance which is a lot cheaper than changing flooring. Carpets are only suitable for rooms where water isn’t used. So that would exclude certain areas in the house like the kitchen, bathroom, and hallways.
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Bathroom tilework
A tiled room is one of the places where the upgrades can add up quickly.
If you want to save up some of the expenses, simply upgrade only the master bathroom and use the standard option for every other bathroom. We all know that the master bathroom deserves some additional flair, so we suggest using large statement tiles on the floor and creating a focal point like a rack inset or a mosaic tile cascade at your bath and shower surround.
This way it will have the wow factor and you get to save some money.
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Electrical Wiring
This is done simultaneously as the roughed-in plumbing. Any extra electrical instalment would be a lot simpler done now than later.
On the off chance that you need to run an in-wall wire for any electrical appliance, this is the ideal opportunity to do it, as arrangement ahead of time will save you labour, time, and money.
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Radiant floor heating system
Radiant floor heating is a must-have in most homes, and you have to do it before completing your floor installation, or else you’ll have to deal with some major damage first. A floor heating system upgrade will need to be laid underneath your floorboards before your final floor is installed.
Having an under-floor heating system is an energy-efficient choice that brings extravagance, warmth, and calmness to your bathroom. An additional touch you could add is a towel warmer for your master bathroom.
They come in various styles and sizes that will suit your design. You can choose to have it installed without any visible wiring, this is the hardwired option. For this, your electrician will have to install an electrical box during construction.
6 Home Upgrades to Avoid
Some upgrades simply aren’t worth your time, money, and efforts. They are very risky and might not even pay off in the future. So, why should you consider them?
So below is a list of six upgrades to avoid:
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Home Appliances
Do not take the offer of having your home appliances to be built-in with the house. It is better if you buy them yourself. This way, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of designs and even the specific appliance you want in certain locations. Look extensively and consider your options as there could be a sale for the exact appliance that you’re looking for.
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Home Lighting
You should know that the lighting you get from the builders will be bog-standard and if you’d like to upgrade them later on, you’ll have to do it yourself. Or you could only change a few and leave the rest to save some extra money.
Also, if you need any extra sockets or electrical boxes, you should have this added during construction, or else you’ll need an electrician to install one in the loft later and this is a very tedious process.
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Wardrobes & Cabinet hardware
Installing wardrobes or cabinets is something you can do yourself because builders have a limited template for you to choose from.
It is often a case of just going to your local hardware store and you’ll see better options. if you are good at DIY, then you could install it yourself. By leaving this out during the construction phase, you give yourself a huge scope of alternatives to look over when the time comes to choose the plan that feels right for you.
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Kitchen Splashback
This is one of the areas you’d like a little control over and want to have a myriad of options. Rightly so as it’s a focal point of your kitchen.
Just take your time to think through the plan. What colours and kind of material you need to use. If you’re a handy person with tools then you might even be able to handle this part on your own.
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Outdoor Upgrades
Holding off on upgrades to your garden is something that is also advised by builders themselves. Builders often say that buildings settle over time and that you’d have to wait at least a year to install a patio or deck.
Final Thoughts
Making decisions for a newly constructed home can be tedious. There are simply so many decisions to make. However, by remaining firm on the upgrades that are more important to you, you can limit the amount of work that needs to be done while saving resources.
