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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

I have gone through this before...assume 30k for elevation, 30k for lot, 80k structural upgrades (bathroom, basement, extra garage etc), 100k design center, 50k on enhancements (extra lights, prewire surround, electrical upgrades, extra outlets, flagstone etc). Honestly this is for a “decent” home...if you want what you see in the model, add another 100k. I would say easily add 300-400k on base price. Unfortunately you won’t be shown these costs when you sign so be sure to ask for price sheets in advance.

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Jumping in here. Every building appointment I've ever been to has given me the full option sheets. Yes, ask for them, but they are not difficult to get so don't fret too much. And, the above cost estimate is very high though certainly possible.

Totally to each their own how they want to spend their money and their personal preferences, but here is a sense of something a little more in line with what most people spend both based on both my and an agent friend's experience--

-Typically, the elevation levels goes up by $5-10k each with 3 or 4 total options. You can typically get a front porch with elevation level two, but not always.

-Lot premiums will vary between 5k to 50k, this is one area I'd go big if you can swing it--you'll always get this money back and worth rolling into the mortgage.

-A fireplace will be about $6k, as long as you don't want to do one of those hotel/cosmo set-ups, then closer to 9k.

-Other structural upgrades vary wildly. TB, for example, has very expensive "luxury outdoor living" options that are priced around 40k depending on the grade of the yard--really only worth it if you have a steep grade and want the true feel of an outdoor room. Otherwise, a deck or patio put in after closing will be a much better bang for your buck and allow you to personalize more.

Expect even a partially finished basement, which you can do for much less after closing, to be 30k. On the others--this is a personal call, but for most, think a 4bd 3.5bh home is just fine. Usually the "cheapest" way to add a bedroom will be to convert a first floor study to a bathroom, and that should be no more than 15k total. The extra garage space is usually between 10-15k but the garages are usually a pretty good size anyways and you also will have a good amount of storage space in the basement.

Again, though this is just my advice: if you're redoing the floor plan to a dramatic extent, I would go truly custom.

-On enhancements, I just went through the process of pricing out a TB home and didn't hit 10k but added additional plugs, some sconce setups, and lights/fans. I didn't add on flagstone or prewire because I'd rather do something custom--and also, on the prewire, the technology they use can quickly become out-of-date.

-$30k at the design center is the average for most buyers in this price range. Yes, you can spend a LOT more but is not needed to get a nice-looking home.

There will also be incentives--right now they seem to be averaging out to around 30k that you can typically put toward the house or closing.

I've built before and just recently priced out a few "luxury" homes around this range in the area. I kept upgrades around 100-125k each time and could have gone lower while still being happy. Probably will shave some things off in the end. Just think seriously about what you want in your mortgage and what you'll want to have done custom/play around with. From experience, having a unique backyard, basement, etc. (unless "unique" means busy patterns or random trellises everywhere, haha) instead of one that looks the exact same as your neighbors will be a huge help if you ever want to sell sooner than you expect.

One pieces of advice if you're thinking through how to prioritize your money--you WILL want to change your kitchen and basements eventually so really, don't sink a ton of money in the secondary baths even though it can be super tempting. Prioritize getting the upgraded kitchen cabinets in a neutral color with soft-close (this can be done at level 2) and nice stone in kitchen, but try to be a little more basic in the bathrooms besides upgrading tile and fixtures in the owner's bathroom.

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