New Construction
Are design center upgrades worth the money?
By Steve Lockhart
The short answer
The design center is where builders make a large share of their profit, and the experience is built to encourage spending: samples everywhere, financing offered, and a subtle push that this is your one chance. That part is true, it is your one chance to have it built in at construction.
Full answer
The design center is where builders make a large share of their profit, and the experience is built to encourage spending: samples everywhere, financing offered, and a subtle push that this is your one chance. That part is true, it is your one chance to have it built in at construction. The question is which choices deserve that privilege.
Structural upgrades earn their keep because you cannot change them later at any reasonable price: an extra bedroom, a flex room with a closet, a wider garage, an extended patio, upgraded electrical where you will need it. Cosmetic finishes are a different story. Carpet, tile, counters, and paint can all be replaced, and future buyers pay for the neighborhood, not the upgrade list.
A useful rule: spend where you live every day and where resale math is kind, and save on finishes you can update later at your own pace. Set a design center budget before you walk in, keep a running total, and remember that a loaded home in a value neighborhood can price itself against resale homes that already have those features.
Go a little deeper
Frequently asked
Questions people often follow up on
Which upgrades give the best resale value in a new home?
Generally the structural and permanent ones: an extra bedroom or bathroom, a larger garage, and layout changes made while the walls are open. Room additions and garage expansions cost a fortune to do later. Keep cosmetic upgrades modest, because they rarely recover their full cost at resale.
Should I skip all upgrades and do them myself later?
That is a legitimate strategy for finishes, since flooring and counters can be replaced anytime. It does not work for structure. If you think you will want an extra room or a bigger garage, pay for it at the design center, because doing it after closing is far more expensive.
How do I keep the design center from blowing my budget?
Set your total home budget before you walk in, then write a list of the upgrades that matter and a price you will pay for each. Ask for a written running total as you select. When the total approaches your number, you stop, because the builder will happily sell you everything.
The Lockhart Method
The Lockhart Method
Your Home | My Strategy | Proven Results
My strategy: shop the design center with a list and a ceiling. I help you separate the upgrades that lock in value from the finishes you can upgrade later, so your design center dollars go to the places that improve the home you live in and the home you eventually sell.
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