Smart Upgrades to Make with Your Home Builder

Selecting the lowest priced or most common option is not always the best way to spend your money. Determine if it's something you're going to want to eventually upgrade, and consider any costs associated with doing it yourself at a later point. Here are some tips from Moen on what to upgrade to help ensure a smooth building process and guide your investment. In order to create an ideal space and maximize your home's value, experts recommend asking yourself a few questions:

• Which spaces help drive resale value?
• How will my family live and grow in the home?
• Will it cost more to purchase and install in the future?

Begin in the Bathroom:
Typically, homeowners upgrade in order to improve style and increase the functionality of a space. Americans, on average, spend 45 minutes in the bathroom each day¹, making it one of the most used rooms in the house, so the bathroom must be both stylish and durable.

Many new construction homes utilize prefab showers and tubs, so if you have your heart set on a large walk-in spa shower or freestanding tub, you can save thousands of dollars in the long run by upgrading your bathroom during the construction process². Installing shower seating, grab bars and multiple sprays offers accessibility, safety and relaxation as you and your family grow in the house.

In the Kitchen:
As the heart of the home, you'll spend most of your time with family and friends here, so this is one area that should be both functional and enjoyable.

Consider upgrading cabinets and appliances, as these are points of focus for future buyers and are expensive to replace down the road³. Items in the kitchen that can help to increase your home's value include energy-efficient appliances, an island for increased counter space and accessibility, and smart home technology, such as a touchless faucet like Moen's hands-free MotionSense^™ technology, which adds convenience and functionality to the kitchen. You'll thank yourself later for investing upfront in quality appliances and fixtures that stand the test of time.

Focus on Flooring:
You can't go wrong with wood floors, as they seem to never go out of style and blend with any décor. If money is an issue, install only in heavily trafficked areas, like the living room, kitchen, or foyer. Also, there are other stylish and durable options, including quality vinyl or laminate that looks like real wood. If you can afford it, and live in a cooler climate, consider radiant heat flooring. Not only will you notice the different, but so will future buyers³.

Experiencing sticker shock as the upgrades start to pile up? Keep in mind these are integrated into your home financing. If you increase your loan by $1,000 to integrate some of the updates you desire – that's less than $10 a month based on your loan term and interest rate. Another way to look at it: if you buy one coffee per day, you're spending $63/month, $766/year or $22,995 over the course of 30 years. Put those dollars toward upgrades instead and your home value will thank you!

¹ Moen Secret Bathroom Behaviors Research
² http://www.moneycrashers.com/buying-new-construction-home-process-upgrades-costs/
³ https://www.newhomesource.com/resourcecenter/articles/home-upgrades-that-are-totally-worth-it

Download the full infographic to view other smart upgrades to make with your home builder.  

SOURCE Moen Incorporated