Pricing a home is a lot like pricing out a cruise. The cruise line advertises the base price you need to pay to get on the boat. But if you want to drink more than tea and water, you have to pay extra. Want to go on a fun adventure at one of your stops? It’ll cost you. The trick is, different cruise lines include different amenities in that base cost. For some, you might get soda with the cost of the cruise. For others, that might be an add-on you pay extra to access. It’s the same thing with homes, and it’s why you can’t just go off of base price to determine which builders and floor plans are within your budget.
When builders advertise the price of a certain plan for a new home, it is always the “base” price. That’s because new home construction allows you to customize many aspects of your new house — it’s part of the fun of building a new home! But those customizations and upgrades add to the cost of your house.
The trick is that not all builders include the same things in their base pricing for a home, and that is often how builders appear to beat out others on cost. Then buyers add in all the features they want and their house becomes much more expensive.
So what are those features? Do you really care about them? Here are some of the upgrades and customizations that most homeowners want but often aren’t included in the base price of a home:
Soft close cabinets/drawers
Under cabinet lighting
Vented microwave
Standard french door fridge
Custom cabinets
Pull out double trash can
Ask your builder what they include in their standard build so you can understand how much extra you’re likely to pay for the home you want.
Determine Your Builder’s Priorities
There are dozens of companies building new homes in Lewes, Delaware, and each one has its own priority when it comes to building a home. For some, it’s price, so their base packages are going to be bare bones and offer the cheapest path to a new house. For others, they value rooms like the owner’s suite and dedicate a lot of space and features to it. For us, we tend to include the most features in our kitchens because they are the heart of the home.
The most important thing for you, though, is to choose a builder that aligns with your priorities. When you do that, you’ll get the features you really want at the best price available.
At Aurora Homes, we believe our clients deserve a great home — not just a house — with a great design, at a great value. When we meet, we’ll talk about you and how your house should fit how you live.
Want to learn more? Price your future home online right now or reach out! We’d love to chat about your future home in southern Delaware.
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