Find A Home: Upgrades And Amenities

Choosing the right upgrades and amenities

By Beth Raebeck Hall TENNESSEAN CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS

Buying a new home is exciting, especially when it comes to picking out the little extras that can complement your lifestyle.

Newly constructed homes offer a variety of upgrade options for personalization. Of course these items vary greatly depending on the price point of the home, and different builders offer their own unique style and design. Homes for first-time buyers, priced in the lower ranges, will offer significantly different amenities than those priced at $300,000 and above.

“We assist customers with upgrade choices right after they’ve signed a contract,” says Nina Lampley, sales agent for Ridgeview, a community built by Weldon Homes.

Weldon targets first-time buyers, offering homes beginning at $100,000.

“Even though most of our clients are buying for the first time, they’re able to choose upgrades in several areas,” says Lampley. “You’ll never go wrong with hardwood floors. This makes a big difference for resale. Or you can upgrade the carpet or tile in the bathrooms.”

Lampley says cabinet, lighting and fixture choices priced above the builder allowance, along with many other items, may be added to the home. Buyers at Ridgeview may also choose interior and exterior paint colors and shutters. Backyard grass and landscaping may be added as well, since Ridgeview homes only include grass and landscaping for the front.

Blinds, curtains and shades are usually very personal choices buyers like to make, says Susan Gregory of Bob Parks Realty.

“Wallpaper, paint finishes and nonbathroom fixed mirrors are all very individual choices. It helps people when they are presented with a variety of choices for those items,” says Gregory.

Regardless of price point, the hot trends of the moment are hardwood floors, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Beyond those items, amenities are limited only by a buyer’s imagination. 

There are numerous upgrade options in Chardonnay, a Turnberry Homes community where home prices range from $300,000 to more than $1 million. Buyers here are likely to want more luxurious amenities beyond those already included in the home.

“It’s not unusual for a buyer to want to add more marble, travertine or another type of stone surface in both the kitchen and bath areas,” says Beth Ann Smith, sales manager at Chardonnay.

Ursula Jennings, senior design consultant for Turnberry, says these buyers also look for a wider variety of flooring choices.

“Buyers may also want to upgrade hardwood flooring to a more expensive type of wood, like pecan, or wider planks.”

The higher the price of the home, the more choices buyers have to customize their own piece of paradise.

“High-quality kitchen and bathroom material choices are extensive,” says Jennings. “People who entertain a great deal may want to add another dishwasher, warming drawers, refrigeration drawers or commercial grade appliances. We’re doing a lot more custom-designed pantries, closet systems and study built-ins these days.”

Jennings notes that just about any room or area of the property can be customized in some way, suited to the buyer’s personal taste.

Outdoor living space and media rooms are popular in more expensive communities. As the trend to spend leisure time outdoors continues, fire pits, wet bars and outdoor kitchens are being offered by more and more builders.

Higher-priced homes offer security systems, and buyers can add surround sound throughout the home and extra plumbing or electrical outlets. Switching cabinet fixtures and converting powder room sinks into freestanding furniture pieces has become increasingly popular, according to Lampley. Another very popular upgrade is changing wooden spindles to wrought iron.

“Another focal piece at higher price points is trim,” says Gregory. “When you get to a certain price point, it is very much accepted that trim will be a part of the house,” she says, noting that trim can make a huge difference in the look of a home. This can include trim added to built-ins, trey and coffered ceilings, and several layers of crown molding. “It makes the home look and feel more expensive and custom,” she says.

Gregory says some builders are including versions of trim pieces in homes at lower price points, allowing the buyer to feel like they are getting a much more expensive home.

Today’s buyers are also looking for a three-car garage with a side, not front, entrance, as well as outdoor pavilions, gardening sheds and landscaping beyond what comes with the finished home.

“Some people even want amenities like dog-washing sinks in the garage,” says Jennings. “You’d be surprised how often we get that request.”

Along those lines, many builders are now offering pet containment systems as an option.

When homeowners associations do not dictate materials, buyers may also want to select higher-priced alternate paving surfaces for driveways, walkways and patios. Roofing materials such as cedar shakes or tile, fencing materials, irrigation systems and screened-in porches are other fashionable buyer upgrades.

If you need help in the selection process, most builders provide an on-site designer who is available to assist you. Many builders have impressive design centers where you can touch and feel the features you wish to include as upgrades.

Gregory, Smith and Lampley all agree that as land costs rise, the trend will be towards buying slightly smaller homes with more amenities.

“Everyone wants to have their own special jewel box,” says Smith.