Already decided you want to build your next home but having trouble choosing between basic necessities and modern must-haves? Knowing how to save when building a home and deciding what new home upgrades are worthing paying for can be quite the balancing act.
Selecting the features you want, need, and must have is all in the fun of building a home that’s perfect for your family — from your basic daily routines to game nights, and even big holiday celebrations.
Get a jump start on your new home checklist by taking a look at our top 5 best new home features. See what you should definitely splurge on and where you can save while you’re at it!
1: Closets, closets, & more closets!
Have you ever heard someone complain about having too many closets? Our guess is that you probably haven’t, because you can never have too many closets!
One of the biggest perks to building your own home is ensuring you get the closet space you need (and want!).
Add a closet to your foyer, laundry or mud room for miscellaneous storage and give your master bedroom one or two walk-in closets — you’ll be happy you did!
The Save:
Having spacious closets around your house and a walk-in closet or two will bring added value when it comes to selling. So go ahead and go crazy, you’ll thank yourself later!
2. Large kitchen
The kitchen is one of the main gathering rooms in your house as well as one of the rooms your whole family will use every day. When you design a custom kitchen, you’ll be saying goodbye to the days of shuffling around family members while cooking a meal or hosting a special occasion.
Splurge a little and create a welcoming, roomy kitchen with space for hosting the largest Thanksgiving meal or messiest birthday party for your kids.
The Save:
Save on your kitchen cabinets — don’t get picky with pricey styles, and try adding your own flair! Choose a reasonably-priced style and then paint them yourself, adding simple furnishings that fit the aesthetic of your home.
3: Heated bathroom flooring
Heated floors are a luxury you’ll take advantage of and they’ll soon be standard in any midwestern home as a new construction upgrade that adds immense value. However, heated floors are more than a luxury — they also provide energy-efficient radiant heat.
Radiant heats warms up the whole room from the ground up. This leaves no “cold spots” that can occur when a heating unit emits heat in a room from one spot only, like your average radiator.
The Save:
Radiant heat sources can reduce the use of other room heaters. By installing heated flooring you’ll save on energy and heating bills during cold Minnesotan winters with radiant heat from your flooring.
4: Granite countertops
As one of the best new home features, your countertop is the most eye-catching piece and arguably one of the most frequently used elements in your kitchen. Splurge a little on a beautiful granite countertop that will last through many years of cooking and entertaining.
The Save:
Granite countertops are expensive, so don’t waste any extra cuts of your slab. Choose a few other rooms in your new home that may need smaller countertops like the laundry room or bathrooms, and have your builder cut your slab accordingly to use nearly every inch.
5: High-Efficiency Household Appliances
Energy-efficient household appliances are one of the most popular new home upgrades worth paying for.
Why? Because high-efficiency household appliances:
- Look sharp and can easily match any room’s aesthetic
- Work effectively, using less energy and maintenance time
- Give you your money’s worth because they last longer than a basic model
The Save:
Save on energy bills with high-efficiency washers, dryers, filters, stoves, etc. Invest in appliances that keep on giving long after you’ve paid them off.
6. BONUS: Quality home builders & labor
For the most cost-effective house build, enlist the best of the best to design your luxury home and feel confident that they’ll be no long-term issues down the road. For the best experience possible, you’ll have to do your research to find a trusted luxury home builder.
Invest by choosing a builder who will think outside the box to meet your largest needs and most unique wants in your new home.
The Save:
Simplifying your floor plan is a great way to cut back on unnecessary labor costs and construction time. Choose an open floor plan to reduce labor costs and enjoy all the space you need to get creative and make your home your own.
Build the home you’ve been dreaming about and let our expert luxury home builders help you splurge while you save on some of the best new home features you can’t live without.
When building your home there are a lot of things to consider other than the build — like the land, neighborhood, community, and even school system. Discover why Lakeview Orono is one of the best places to build your forever home.