I think many people buy new homes and, seeing that they are already "landscaped", assume that there will be no additional cost in that area. It is true that the homes come with grass and basic shrubbery, but you will be in a very small minority if you choose to use the builder-provided landscape package for the long term. Most residents, especially in the designer and premium homes, add a significant amount of landscaping to their property. This can be anywhere from a few thousand dollars to many tens of thousands. Many also decorate their driveway.
Also, many, if not most, add things to the interior of their houses, including new paint, granite counters, built-in cabinetry, window treatments, new flooring, etc. Drive through any neighborhood that is up to four or five years old and you will almost certainly see a contactor's truck that is involved with some sort of interior upgrade/change.
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