Exercising options (2/17/2001) -
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Published on: 2/17/2001
Last Visited: 2/20/2001
``In the last decade, the choices in building products has increased so dramatically that a customer building a new home is like a kid in a candy store, ' says Todd Bjerstedt, vice president of McDonald Homes.
Choosing what to put in and what to leave out is obviously dependent on budget, but other factors include potential resale value and personal preference.If a new owner knows he or she is not likely to stay in the house more than a few years, then the whirlpool in the master bathroom might not be worth the extra cash if a buyer is more attracted by a pre-wired home entertainment and computer set-up.
Here's a rundown of the major areas where you'll have to make some hard decisions if you're building a new home -- and how much those decisions can cost.
Flooring.McDonald Homes specifies $ 24 per yard for its standard carpet allowance.Anywhere you'd prefer hardwood flooring to carpet, you're looking at $ 8 per square foot, or three times the cost of carpet.Ceramic flooring.
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The number of woodburning fireplaces is dwindling, says Bjerstedt, because of new energy codes, but gas fireplaces aren't much more expensive.
Bathrooms.Not too long ago, one of the biggest decisions to make was whether or not to put an enlarged whirlpool in the master bath.Not anymore.Consumers are veering away from the whirlpool, mostly because those who had them in their previous home found that they didn't use them very much.The whirlpool is being replaced by the larger shower.
``You can quickly spend $ 2, 000- $ 3, 000 on a larger shower, ' McDonald Homes' Bjerstedt says. ``I need to custom-build the shower and line it with ceramic.
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Granite, says Bjerstedt, has become a bit more available lately, but buyers need to budget carefully when selecting that stone.A center island topped with granite would cost $ 3, 000- $ 4, 000 more than a laminate, and if you use granite on all your kitchen surfaces, get ready to add as much as $ 10, 000 to your total bill.
Driveway.Most people use asphalt, according to Bjerstedt, but if you want to spend twice as much, you can have a concrete driveway.This wouldn't be a good plan if you have a deep lot and a long, winding drive. ``But if you're on a lot where you don't have a long driveway, you can do some pretty nice things for a few thousand dollars, ' Bjerstedt says.
Garage. ``I tell people if they're going to go from a 2-stall to a 3-stall, add $ 5, 000- $ 7, 000 for that extra stall, ' Bjerstedt says. ``It's cheap space.It's all open area, and you're not adding windows.'' Not all lots accommodate a three-car garage, but according to Olson of Centex, almost every customer who has enough room buys the third stall.
Bonus room.
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