The tide is shifting in the housing market. New data from the National Association of Home Builders shows that 60% of homebuyers prefer new construction homes- breaking the habit of buying resale homes to cut back on costs.

It’s not hard to see why. New construction homes have the features buyers want today, concerns are still high about touring existing homes in the age of COVID-19, and there are higher chances that new homes will be located where homebuyers would like to live -especially outlying suburbs.

However,there is no such thing as a perfect new construction home.  It’s normal to want to add a personal touch to it to make it feel more like home for you. After all, it’s likely that you’ll want a different color on the walls,a different flooring, etc.

So, where do you start? Let’s dig in.

Where to Start

After signing the contract for your new home, your builder’s design center will call you to schedule an appointment. Schedule the appointment a few weeks out to have time to do some homework on what you’d like to have in your home and what you don’t want.

You can customize everything from the exterior to the interior to make your new home unique. However, if you are still unsure about the options on the table, we have compiled a guide to help you out.

1. Customize the Elevation

The elevation is a two-dimensional drawing of the exterior faces of a home.  These drawings are used by builders to show potential home buyers the home designs they intend to build. Typically, builders will show a few unique exterior elevations of the same floor plan. The elevation is entirely up to you as a home buyer, and it’s also a great way to set your house apart from the rest of the community.

2. Flooring Type

Changing the flooring in an existing home could cost you up to $20 per square foot for engineered hardwood and up to $15 per square foot for polished concrete. That’s equivalent to thousands of dollars for a medium house. You may end up spending more than you’d hoped for if you’re not careful..

A new construction home gives you options from the beginning and you can benefit from discounts depending on the season. You can opt for a flooring type from a wide range of options – hardwood, polished concrete, tile, carpet, and many more. You can also get a mix of flooring types depending on the use -for example, different flooring for the hallways, kitchen, and bathrooms.

3. Floor Plans

Talk to your builder about the best customization options that fit your lifestyle. For example, most semi-custom builders offer built-in options that enable home buyers to introduce additional rooms and home offices. Also, you can do away with floor plans that provide these options if you don’t need them.

4. Cabinets and Countertop Finishes

Think about the aesthetics you want in your home then, work toward achieving it. You’ll have to select the color palette, style, finishes, and materials for the cabinets and countertops for your bathrooms, powder rooms if any, kitchen, and laundry room. Don’t forget the backsplashes for the kitchen and restrooms.

5. Exterior Lighting Fixtures

Ordinarily, exterior lighting fixtures and lights are restricted to the ones that will be used for your garage. Choose from a variety of styles from modern to classic and even those inspired by different cultures around the world.

6. Front Door

Are you more comfortable with a plain wooden door or would you like something more decorative? Solid wooden doors are the standard in most neighborhoods but you can customize yours to make your home’s entrance inviting. You can choose to have wooden doors, all glass doors, reclaimed wood, metal, fiberglass, craftsman, arched tops, etc.

7. Change the Paint on the Walls

You don’t have to repaint the entire interior -although you’re allowed to if that’s what you want. You could paint one wall, a few, or choose to change the paint in some of the rooms.

This change can be a game-changer to the home’s décor and act as a canvas for the color choices for the rest of the home.

8. Faucets

The material of the faucets in the house determines a lot when it comes to decor. Consider different metal types from brass to steel and iron or alloys and different shapes –disc, cartridge, compression, etc.  It’s a small decision with a huge effect yet will be much kinder to your wallet when you decide to change the décor. Just ensure you coordinate the faucets with the rest of the hardware.

Speaking of hardware, mixing metal is okay but it’s a poor design habit to mix more than three metals.

9. Interior Lighting Fixtures

Lighting packages are typically part of your contract and come in a wide range of options. However, you can get stuck with uninteresting options if you’re not willing to pay more for the fixtures.  Choose a custom package instead for an additional fee and get something unique.  It can go a long way in making your home stand out.

10. Interior Paint Colors

Besides choosing interior colors from your design center’s color palette, you can always paint accent walls in whatever color you like after you move in.

11. Appliances

Appliances can act as statement pieces for your home. Choose from the wide variety of appliances and finishes available at your builder’s center– stainless steel for the kitchen, vinyl chloride resin decorative steel for prefabricated baths and refrigerator doors, etc.

12. Brick and Stone Color

You’ll have a wide range of colors to choose from that will match or complement the brick and stone colors in other homes in the neighborhood.

13. Exterior Paint Color

If parts of your new home require painting, you get to choose the color. Choose a color that complements the brick and stone colors.

One More Thing

You can always change or upgrade most things in your home after moving in, especially if you’ve already spent all you had on getting the new house. The key is to customize what’s impossible to change before the builders construct your home, then change the rest at your own pace or as your wallet allows you. For more information, please contact us, and we’ll be more than willing to assist.