How to save $ on new construction at design center appointment? I have purchased a new home to be built by Taylor Morri (to buy, tile)

[DerAhnenforscher]

Thank you for all of the replies.

This is what I gather from the responses so far (very helpful – thank you to all!):

1) Invest in the tile, cabinets and counter-tops
2) Crown moulding can be added later
3) Light fixtures can be upgraded later
4) Garage door upgrade, outdoor lighting and security system can be added later
5) Think of the future and avoid fads and choose options that give the most bang for the buck
6) Focus on items that cant be changed easily and will be expensive, time consuming and disruptive to replace later on
7) Upgrading kitchen cabinetry and drawer systems is a good idea
8) Consider local appliance dealers for appliances
9) Sufficient lighting in kitchen and bathrooms
10) Extra outlets throughout and lanai
11) Higher rating insulation and venting for attic and garage (controlled by thermostat)
12) Do kitchen backsplash later
13) Faucets and hardware can be upgraded later
14) Consider upgrading the paint
15) Research before appointment – appliances, paint colors, locks, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, lighting, etc. (write down numbers/names/colors of selections and take photos for future reference)
16) Invest in the upgrades that will make me happy
17) Upgrade construction options (at least 200 amp electrical service, water spigot on every outside wall, built–in internet hardwiring, 2x6 studs)
18) Lay tile on the diagonal
19) Stick with granite counter-tops
20) Decide on a budget and stick to it

[bbronston]

I like to consider decisions from both sides so I'll say this: If you like your list, stick with it but keep in mind that the things you do later are going to cost you out-of-pocket as opposed to having the builder do it and the cost rolled into a 30 year mortgage. Most people don't stay in their house for 30 years so there's an argument to be made that you could have these things for a relatively low additional monthly cost.

Also, things like backsplashes and lights, fans, etc. can be less expensive if you do them yourself but hiring someone to do them for you might make the cost difference roughly equal. It's probably worth it to research those things a bit. I doubt your builder will give you the option of getting the appliances they normally provide elsewhere and I really doubt they'll change the stud size.

[motordavid]

No expert, but having had two new houses built in SW FL, and having done the DesignCenterDance, (Lennar in Naples and WCI in Venice area), here is my 50Cts:

-Get into/wander into the TM Design Center as a casual observer, to see what the options are and different levels of upgrades, if you have not already seen them. Take a small cam or cell phone and shoot some close ins, for memory help. You will find that most builder's DCs have stuff ranging from mobile home junk to OK, but even most 'top level' tiers are not high end, other than price.

If they will not 'let you in', it is difficult to be faced with picking this or that and deciding in that small time frame, but of course that is what most builders want.

-Ask TM for a link to or a print out of the entire potential upgrade list, with pricing. This in hand allows you to look at most of the items on line, at least a reasonable version of each.

-Make up your Must haves, Maybes and other wants before you hit the Design Center.

-They will not let you bring your own appliances from the local store...

-Backsplash is an easy and choose your style at your own time add on for 'after', as is fancier trim and mouldings.

-Guests and family really don't care if the guest bath(s) are not granite or have the best faucets on the planet, in my experience. You are not running a B & B... make your MBR nice, but one can economize on the others.

-We paid a small price for in unfaced interior wall insulation: it really makes for a quieter house. If offered, I rec'd it.

-Tile floor: we have had on diag and not on diag. It is all your taste, though diag costs more. That one 'must have' on the diag, esp in non main rooms is ridiculous imo, but everyone has their own bag. We prefer non diag.

-If 'Cane resistant glass is available, get it: it makes for a quieter house. It's resistance is oversold, and replacement is expensive, but I wish we had got it in this Venice 2nd house, but WCI wanted an absurd price for it, as in 4X markup.

-Unless one likes the usual crap color choices for interior paint, I might skip the initial paint upgrade, and simply have a good local painter do your rooms after closing. Every community has a few good/recommended painters, and many people will want a different color wall(s), other colors throughout other sections that are not the Builder's Bisque.

-Cabinets in laundry/mechanical room are very handy, as is a hanger rack. Those do not need to be top grade; who cares, no one sees them. Also, a fairly post close project vs the big markup most builders charge for cabinets.

-Get fan outlet pkg for every room one has: not expensive for the outlets and fans are easily bought and installed, after the fact, but DIY or any number of handy people. Cheap fans in low use rooms, installed properly, work well for decades.

-Stick to your budget, but if you are going to live there full time, 'now is the time to enjoy your stuff', not when you or the kids are refurbishing it, for resale down the road...

-The OP's list and other supporting opinion posts are very good, but it is analogous to describing how to go buy a car with the stuff you really need/really want; none of us can define it very well and it is anecdotal on our part(s).

Enjoy your new house and remember that None of Us have picked everything properly, all of us have picked or passed over stuff we wish we could change, and it is your house, your budget and all we can do is try to project and make the right choices.
GL, mD

[MattMN]

Big Suggestion - visit the design center before your appointment, so you can see exactly what your choices will be and you can start making some decisions. They should also give you a list ahead of time of the available upgrades and costs, so you can start to put together your budget and see where you'll want to spend your money.

Cabinets and counters are big expenses. If you can find ones you like at the lower levels, that will save you big bucks. Yes quartz is nicer, but granite is just fine and will likely save you $$. But these are hard to replace later, so would be worth spending the money now on ones you like - kitchen is really going to be your main room and you want to love it.

18" ceramic tile will be fine. Tray ceilings would be very hard to add later, so if you really want them have the builder do it, but otherwise may be an expense you could skip. Crown moulding would be fairly easy to add in later, so definitly an upgrade you could skip for now.

Electrical - probably worth adding extra ceiling/can lights now, but you most likely won't need any extra outlets in the rooms. The outlet standard now is pretty sufficient. But think about if you have any special electric needs for extra outlets, like in garage or outside.

Things to skip:
- Kitchen backsplash could be skipped now, and added later.
- Builder paint - can do this later yourself, or hire out more cheaply. Plus waiting will give you time to better choose the colors you want.
- Laundry room is a place you can skip upgrades - don't add cabinets, and skip the sink if you don't really need it.
- higher-end carpet; just choose a color in one of the lower levels
- extra outdoor water spigot - usually you get 2, which is enough

Good luck! You're smart to be preparing ahead of time. Listen to the builder suggestions, but don't be pressured to choose things you don't want to spend your money on. It will be exhausting, but if you go in prepared, you'll come out happy with your decisions and choices.

[photoman_6]

one item i forgot. bathroom fans. Most builder fans are cheap and noisy. They usually also come with 3 or 4 inch vent pipes. If you possibly can, get them to install 6 inchpipes or flexible tubes. If you ever want to upgrade to quieter, more powerful fans you will wind up paying for the wider pipes and the cost of installation.
The more efficient fans make a big difference in noise.

[63SeaRay]

Levitt didn't do that.

[La-La land]

I wouldn't be in huge hurry to sign on for granite these days. At least discuss other options like glass or caesarstone or quartzite. Every tom dick and harry has granite, its just a commodity item for builders now. Avoid those gross rainbow colored milkshake space scene ones that overpower your whole house. Granite is still #1 so not a bad choice, but not the only one.

[macrodome2]

Have to disagree with one prior post. I've had a sink in laundry room in last two houses and it has bee so handy. Down here we come in from the beach through the laundry room so we take our sandy shoes and anything else and drop it in the sink to rinse and clean off. I've also used it for cleaning and washing things out that you wouldn't want to put in your kitchen sink. If you have room for a sink- get the sink, or at least get the plumbing.

[motordavid]

^ +1 on laundry room sink...why would anyone skip it?
And, haven't seen a model or a new house, or an existing house without one.
GL, mD

[mcharas]

Originally Posted by JOinGA

Why does it matter what "people" will see? If you are building a new home, it is for you to enjoy, not to impress other people. Why would anyone want to make the master bath skimpier than a guest bath just because "people" don't see it?

Resale value. More people, whether guests or family, track through the other baths compared to a master bath... Same reason most people on a budget won't go all out on a master bath and use the lowest grade in their kitchen.