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Upgrade or Not to Upgrade: That is the Question
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by: ARA
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(ARA)
- You’ve found the perfect neighborhood,
selected a home plan you adore and chosen a
reputable builder. So you think all the stress and
decision making in building a new home is now
over? Think again! With so many ways to customize
a home today, there are hundreds of upgrade
options from which you will have to choose . . .
cabinetry, countertops, carpets, faucets,
appliances . . . the list goes on and on.
Also, if you are like many new home buyers, you
have fallen in love with the model home in your
community and hope to add similar upgrades to your
own residence. Once you discover, though, the
amount of money the builder put into all those
extras, you will need to decide which upgrades you
really want (and can afford) or whether you should
take what the builder provides and consider making
upgrades yourself sometime in the future.
According to Laura Jonke, design coordinator with
Bob Schmitt Homes, Inc. of North Ridgeville, Ohio,
and an American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
member, there are several advantages to upgrading
during the building process including
customization, financial incentives, resale
benefits and convenience.
Customization
One of the best reasons to include upgrades in
your building plan is to infuse your own style
into the home. Whether you want to give your home
a country look or a contemporary flair, the
options you select will help convey that style
throughout the house. Upgrades also offer the home
buyer a better grade of product.
Another reason for upgrading is functionality. The
standard refrigerator offered by the builder
(often referred to as “builder grade”) may not
give you the side-by-side door style you prefer
with ice and filtered water in the door. And, you
probably will not get that great showering system
with the multiple body sprays and large showerhead
without incurring the cost of an upgrade.
Financial Incentives
One major benefit of upgrading during the building
process is that it allows you to roll the cost of
the upgrades into your mortgage loan. Although you
may pay more in taxes initially, upgrades can be
paid off with your monthly house payment at a
lower interest rate than if you sought out a home
equity loan in the future. In addition, most
builders will include upgrades in your home
warranty program.
Resale Benefits
What you choose now may play a big role in
determining the resale value of your home in the
future. Name brand appliances and popular custom
upgrades will appeal to potential buyers.
Concentrate on rooms like the kitchen and master
bath which buyers “zero in on” when purchasing
a home.
“For resale appeal, try to avoid creating spaces
that aren’t functional for anyone but your
family,” said Jonke. “Spaces should be
versatile enough to accommodate a wide range of
people and lifestyles.”
Convenience
If you decide to wait and upgrade after you move
in, you’ll have to deal with the disruption in
your household. It is usually much easier and more
convenient to have the builder upgrade items
during the construction process and spare you the
hassle and headaches of having a house that is
torn up and areas that are unusable.
Advantages of Upgrades
Although there are countless areas of your home
that can be upgraded, Jonke advises her customers
to put money into the most-used areas of the home.
Some of the items to consider include faucets,
flooring, appliances, countertops, cabinets and
lighting.
Faucets
When it comes to faucets, upgrades provide more
style and functionality. In the kitchen, consider
upgrading to a pullout spout model in which the
faucet wand can be extended to easily fill vases
and pots or for cleaning purposes.
Moen’s latest kitchen offering is Aberdeen. This
faucet has a classic look, but features a unique
“pause” button which allows users to interrupt
the water flow while moving the spout outside of
the sink so there is no mess on the countertop or
surrounding areas.
In the bathroom, style is the name of the game.
Choose a bathroom faucet such as the new Kingsley
that offers traditional styling in a host of
finishes -- including new Wrought Iron -- to
complement your bath accessories. This faucet and
others in the Moen line are built on the M•PACT
common valve system which means a number of
different trim options will work on the same valve
body, allowing for instant upgrades from above the
sink.
Floor Covering
Upgrading to a better grade will prolong the
carpet’s life. With higher density carpets, the
dirt doesn’t break down the carpet fibers as
easily, meaning the carpet will be less likely to
show traffic areas. Upgrading can also provide
more options such as a Berber or textured carpet.
It also makes sense to upgrade the sheet or
hardwood flooring in high traffic areas of the
home like the kitchen or utility room. Choosing
vinyl with a polyurethane coating will provide
more of a wear layer and longer-lasting beauty.
Flooring upgrades increase the value of the home
and provide better longevity.
Appliances
According to Jonke, most people today are asking
their builders to upgrade to glass top ranges,
quieter dishwashers, and a built-in microwave with
a ventilation feature installed over their range.
Some new home buyers are also opting for the new
GE Advantium oven which uses halogen bulbs for
faster cooking.
Countertops
Granite or Corian are the upgrades people want
when it comes to kitchen countertops. If the
budget does not permit these, Jonke suggests
adding a beveled edge to the builder-grade
laminate countertops. This provides an upscale
look but won’t break the budget.
Another option is to use a laminate countertop,
but add a composite sink, like MoenStone Granite.
This sink will provide durability, scratch and
stain resistance and can be installed as an under
or overmount.
Cabinets
Cabinet upgrades give home buyers the option of
solid wood doors rather than veneer and also allow
for stylish features such as raised panel doors or
a Shaker style. Also, cabinets like the Diamond
line from MasterBrand provide plenty of functional
features inside the cabinet including pullout
shelves, lid organizers, cutlery dividers, spice
racks and wine glass holders.
Lighting and Technology
Jonke encourages clients to wire for lighting if
they are even considering adding a fixture to a
room in the future. It is always easier to wire
during the building process and then cap it off
rather than add a fixture after the house is
built. Some upgrades to consider include ceiling
fans, recessed or track lighting and under cabinet
lighting. Also, wire for the technology age with
Internet accessibility throughout the house as
well as cable, fax and surround sound
capabilities.
Universal Design
Universal design no longer has to bring an
institutional look into your home. The growing
population of seniors will appreciate the new
stylized elevated toilet seats, tub grips,
transfer benches, decorative grab bars, and tub
and shower chairs from suppliers like Creative
Specialties International. Finally, a safe and
functional home can benefit from today’s style
options.
For more information about Moen products, contact
Moen Incorporated at 25300 Al Moen Drive, North
Olmsted, OH 44070-8022, call toll free (800) BUY
MOEN (289-6636) or visit its Web site at
www.moen.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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