Features and Upgrades

One of the great things about buying a new home is that you can pick and choose features and opt for various upgrades. You may even be able to customize a basic plan. And the same model may come with more than one exterior configuration.

But this can be costly, so you need to be sure to appreciate the difference between what you want and what you need. Moreover, many builders require most or all of the cost of upgrades and extras to be paid upfront, although you may be able to include some of these in the purchase price and your mortgage.

Exterior: Choosing a premium version of your home’s elevation (how it looks from the street) can not only give you satisfaction, but may increase your resale value. Such elements include front porches, bay windows, stone trim, a room over the garage and so on.

Kitchen: This is the most popular area for upgrades – and why not, it’s becoming the hub of modern homes and often opens up to family rooms, entertainment areas or “great rooms.” You have plenty of choice for upgrades here, including cabinets, countertops and sinks in any number of luxurious finishes. Upgraded or built-in appliances are also popular.

Flooring: Hardwood flooring is very popular these days, because it looks rich and is easy to maintain. Installing a hardwood floor later by yourself is not something most people could do well or cost-effectively. In the GTA, ceramic tile for kitchens, hallways and bathrooms is very popular, thanks in part to the many talented craftsmen who live here.

Natural Gas: Most new homes have natural gas furnaces and hot water heaters and many have natural gas fireplaces. If yours does not, you can ensure that your home is prepared to accommodate natural gas fireplaces, pool heaters, ranges, dryers, barbecues and other gas appliances. With the gas line already in place, connections, now or in the future, will be easier and your resale value will be enhanced. To learn more about gas, visit the Enbridge Gas Distribution Web site.

Plumbing: An extra bathroom provides value right from the start and will prove invaluable if the kids grow up, move away…and then move back in. This will enhance resale value, whereas adding fancier taps and whirlpool tubs are personal preference items.

Electrical: Items such as computer network cabling and pot lights are costly to install once the house is completed. Pre-wiring for built-in audio systems, computers, telephones and overhead fixtures can save a lot of money down the road. You can also have your builder install conduit pipes from the basement to strategic areas of your house to accommodate whatever new technology comes along tomorrow.

Brick: A brick exterior adds warmth and beauty, is virtually maintenance free and enhances resale value. If you want to see what your new house will look like with various colours of brick, visit the Hanson Brick Web site and select the “Brick Selector". You can zoom right in on the individual bricks.

Air Conditioning: For some it’s a luxury, for others a necessity. If you install a system later, you will void your warranty on the mechanical system. Perhaps it’s worth having the system roughed in.