What are the costs of extras when building new homes
 

Looking to get an idea of what all the extras cost when building new. I can see costs of lots and have a price list of models but I’m wondering what are the average costs of extras people are adding for items like golf cart garage, floors, countertops, stretching etc...

I’ve seen one poster throw out $100k to $125k just wondering if anyone else had similar added costs?

Thank you, be safe.

Sit down with them and ask. It is amazing to me how much you get sometimes with the extras. We asked to have a house built exactly like the model and it was not at all disappointing....and had a very friendly price. Now it has zoomed up in worth some nine years later. I could just hug our builder. This home is SO comfortable for us at this time of our lives. I think you get a LOT for your money when you build. Don't be afraid to trust their direction. They know what they are doing.

I would offer to show you the extra's and the perks we got. You are welcome as soon as there is a valid vaccine.

Thank you, I didn’t know you could talk to or get any price and/or information without putting cash down. I’ve heard that there’s a long wait to get an appointment.

I do not know how you can get an answer unless you talk to the builders people.

Just make sure you are comfortable with the final price

Thank you for your response.

I was interested in what other people are spending so I could start to get comfortable with a final price.

Search the new homes in the price range you are comfortable with and you'll see what you can get. Whatever it is it will cost more every few months. The cost of the homes have really gone up over the last 3 years and continue to do so.

We spent an extra 10% on upgrades above the base price for our upgrades about two years ago. For that we upgraded countertops to quartz. We upgraded cabinets to the taller version. We upgraded the carpet in the bedrooms and put luxury vinyl in all other areas. We stretched the lanai by 4 feet. We stretched two bedrooms and a bath by two feet. We added overhead lighting in the living room and upgraded the fan. We put insulation on the sides and above the garage. We upgraded to an insulated garage door. We added a golf cart garage. We added a third spigot outside in the back.

There are a lot of things you can do after the build like the countertops and flooring. We just didn’t want to hassle with it. We took the basic landscaping and added to it after we moved in. We also had painters come in after we bought. Don’t forget to price anything you want done after. Those items can add up also.

Thank you for your response it was helpful and I like the extra insulation. 10% over base is reasonable and under that 100k, well unless your base was a million $.

I am not sure you are going about the design process in the best way. Your question reads like you don't know what you want in a house before you even start! so it looks like you are designing your house from the cost versus your preferences.

So, I would recommend that you prioritize your wants, but I would make one recommendation: get it as right the first time, instead of thinking cost savings and getting it done cheaper by someone else. In today's world with the florida independent contractor world, i think it will be more of a hassle doing it a second time, if you are buying a designer.

So, we don't know your preferences, but here was my starting prioritization, from big / do it right the first time, down to the I can upgrade that later myself.

1 house size and lot size and view. more view less house. . .
2 make sure the house will fit on your lot size, and then stretch now because the cost is small to value.
Do you want a longer house or a wider house, or both for the stretch?
Now sure about your DIY skills, the more DIY the larger the garage you want.
Also, garage is a large storage area, as interior storage area is not generous, unless you design it in
3 Lanai stretch or house stretch? where do you want to spend more time? pool or no pool?
Also know that you can move walls around, changing closet sizes, bedroom sizes, etc. its a custom design. . .
4 Flooring - tile or carpet or something in between, another do it now as its a big job. Bedrooms different or same?
5 Counter tops next, then cabinets. . . higher end in kitchen, lower end in bathroom. . .
6 Air conditioner capacity, don't skimp, its florida
7 Gas appliances or electric?

So those are the big expensive items to have a good idea what you want

Then the lesser costs, but done at time of construction:
Network quality for streaming and work office, hard wired to rooms where tv outlets are for streaming
wireless overhead access points for phones and laptops. . . extra outlets for entertainment centers, computers, monitors, printers if you are going to work remotely or have a working office, or an entertainment center with devices.
Solar tubes, enlarged windows/ more glass blocks for more lighting.
gas outdoor grille cooking or not? ( put a gas outlet in the back of the house.)
Chandeliers or ceiling lights?
Outdoor lighting? patio in front? extra outside outlets for laptops on front patio?
extra hose pipes for washing the house?
Central Vacuuming?

All these are part of the permanent house design, which you should have an idea of what you want, as your lifestyle desires, because its a pain in the ass to have any of these items installed after you move in. . .

The rest is cosmetics, relatively smaller decisions, which some can be redone yourself. . . cheap lights, appliances of your choice. . etc. even insulation can be added later, not expensive. . .

Just have an idea of what you want ahead of time will save alot of panic and last minute decision making. Start looking at houses for sale for the weeks to start getting an idea of what other people have done.

sportsguy

I have a price sheet for a Laurel Oak from 2016 that a friend gave me. Here are some examples of what add-ons cost then. These are for a Designer home. Keep in mind these prices are from four years ago.

House:
2 foot rear stretch = $4,800

Garage:
4 foot garage side stretch = $4,800
Golf Cart Garage = $11,500
3 car garage = $15,500

Different elevations ranged from $3,000 to $37,000

Flooring:
Tile in wet areas = $4,800 - $9,200
Tile in Living & Dining area = $7,150 - $14,300
Tile throughout = $11,600 - $23,500

Wood in Living/Dining = $7,000 - $15,600
Wood throughout = $20,000 - $33,700

Cabinet upgrades = up to $14,000

Countertops:
Corian = $7,400 - $8,800
Granite = $13,100 - $17,400
Quartz = $16,200 - $17,300

Appliance Packages = $7,500 - $12,300

Summer Kitchen = $24,000 - $32,000

Shop til you drop.. :coolsmiley:

This isn't a direct answer to the OP but rather a common strategy

Get all construction (read space) upgrades. All stretches, GC garage.

Countertops, flooring, fans, pools, central vac, insulation all can be done aftermarket cheaper, often with better quality.

Really?

approx as i remember from 9 years ago
new kitchen cabinets, quartz counters, new appliances $18,000
extend patio concrete, birdcage and painting concrete patio $$6000
interior painting $1500
sunsetter awning $1200
air conditioning and heating for garage $5000
upgraded fans $2000
landscaping and stones $7500
we have a 2/2 savannah courtyard villa 1200;sqft

Thanks sportsguy, I appreciate all your advice.

My intention was to get an idea of some of the costs so as not to get sticker shock at the design center and to compare price of having it done by the builder or after closing ie flooring, appliances, lighting etc. I like being prepared, the more information/ammunition you have going into battle the better. I have a model picked out, and have been planning moving walls and stretching.

Getting it done right the first time is my objective but my pockets aren’t deep enough to satisfy everything I, or should I say we want. Lots that cost 200k + may not make the cut.

:a040: Thank you so much kenswing, great information exactly what I was looking for. So noted four years old, it’s a good starting point.