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I spent about 3 hours today at the showroom of a builder we are considering. Omg do they ever offer the cheapest crap as your base items then charge a ton for 'upgrades'. For example, an upgraded towel ring was listed for $80. I checked online and it only costs $20. Seriously?
So, who here has built a home with a large building company and not been bled dry? How did you do it?
I spent about 3 hours today at the showroom of a builder we are considering. Omg do they ever offer the cheapest crap as your base items then charge a ton for 'upgrades'. For example, an upgraded towel ring was listed for $80. I checked online and it only costs $20. Seriously?
So, who here has built a home with a large building company and not been bled dry? How did you do it?
Get the cheap towel ring and put a better one in later.
Buy a house that has the upgrades you want already built. Plenty of resales out there.
I wouldn't be buying in SE or SW Fl at this stage in the game. I can't speak to the Northern areas but any place that has been driven by Greatest and Boomer's moving down is likely to be peaking now or really soon. The last 5 years or so of the Boomers are significantly worse off and many either already own property or can't afford it and will be continuing to work.
Don't expect the last 20 years to continue, well except the inevitable crash that is coming in any areas outside of the largest cities. Prices are ridiculous for many area wages and it isn't sustainable. All those bedroom communities with little more than a Walmart, some strip malls and HOA after HOA are going to be in hurting.
I spent about 3 hours today at the showroom of a builder we are considering. Omg do they ever offer the cheapest crap as your base items then charge a ton for 'upgrades'. For example, an upgraded towel ring was listed for $80. I checked online and it only costs $20. Seriously?
So, who here has built a home with a large building company and not been bled dry? How did you do it?
You do your own plans and your own upgrades. Basically you send them YOUR specs on what you want built down the the nail size that’s used to nail the framing together. Then they bid off your specs. You’re telling them what they use not the other way around.
And yes upgrades are going to cost a lot. That’s why you upgrade what you need and the rest you do after you move in.
Example
Get good cabinets and flooring to start with.
Good front door
Good valves and faucet fixtures.
Good windows
Prewire for alarm system, satellite, surround sound, data, video etc if you’re a techie
Wire for a chandelier, exterior lights etc. it’s a lot cheaper now than later.
The towel racks, lighting fixtures, door trim knobs crap like that just get whatever they normally put in and later when they break replace them with what you want. Don’t waste money on baseboards. You can rip out the cheap crap and put better ones in. Same with crown molding or if you want window trim.
1. Only do “structural” upgrades. For example, an electrical outlet. For example, natural gas outlet near patio.
2. Learn to love cheap towel rods.
Do not buy from builders with showrooms.
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