You’ve created a budget, and you know what you can spend on your custom-built home. You’ve likely created your Pinterest page with ideas for your new home and started a wish list – perhaps with a few things on it that could stretch your budget. Knowing when to splurge and when to save when building a custom home will help you to have your dream items while ensuring you still have everything you need in your home.
Building a Custom Home: When to Splurge and When to Save
Splurge
- Windows and Insulation: Choosing quality, energy-efficient windows and insulation will make your home more comfortable – think cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. And, it will also help you to save money on your utility bills. Those savings will soon add up, leaving you with more funds in the future for decorations.
- Electrical, Plumbing, and Gas lines: Maybe a finished basement isn’t in your budget now, or you’re thinking of adding a sound system a few years from now. It is important to have the electrical, plumbing, and/or gas hook-ups in place from the beginning. You will save you money in the long run and avoid the need to turn your home into a construction zone. You do not want to have to tear out walls or add plumbing into areas down the road.
- Storage Space: Spaces like your garage, pantry, mudroom, and closets cannot be added on easily later, so really think about the storage space you would like when you begin your new home. Understanding the space you need and budgeting for it is a wise plan before your home is finalized.
Save
- Flooring: There are nearly endless flooring options nowadays, and many of the budget-friendly options are in close competition with their pricier counterparts. Laminate and vinyl flooring can easily imitate hardwoods, although they offer more durability and a lesser price. Your builder can help you select an affordable option for each area of your home. If you do decide to go with wood floors, there are also options that can lower the price, such as the width of the boards, and manufactured hardware.
- Lighting fixtures: There are so many options when it comes to lighting fixtures. High-end and brand name fixtures can often be found at lower prices through knock-off or discounted brands. They also can be added to or upgraded down the road. As long as the wiring is in place, fixtures can be easily changed out at any time.
- Countertops: Marble and quartz countertops are eye-catching additions to any home, but think about where you want to really splurge to have these high-end materials. Perhaps you spend more money on the kitchen island but save money on the bathrooms and laundry room. There are laminate countertops that are made to look like marble or quartz.
- Hardware: If you find hardware for the kitchen cabinets that you love and must-have, but it is out of your budget, look for knock-off brands and something similar to the style your like. If you can’t find something you like as much, go with lower-priced pieces in other rooms in the home, like the bathrooms and bedrooms. Finding ways to shift the budget around adds flexibility.
A quality builder will always keep your budget and lifestyle in mind when making recommendations as to where you can save or splurge. Colby Construction works hand-in-hand with their clients to keep the budget in line and offer options and ideas to help you.