No-Regret Add-Ons Every New Construction Home Needs 

For Sarah Maguire of The Maguire Group (a real estate and development firm that works with several builders in the Boston area), high-end appliances are the no. 1 item to upgrade. “Buyers are becoming savvier. They know what things cost and this will be one of the first things they notice.”

Potential buyers also can tell if floors are laminate or real hardwood—and most people want hardwood, says Maguire. She cautions that even if you love the feel of carpet, it’s better to stick with hardwood and put down area rugs.

In a northern region like Minnesota, better-quality windows are a big deal, says Trish Williams, who works with custom builder GreenWood Design Build, operating in the Minneapolis area. Prioritize add-ons that protect the home and keep its occupants comfortable in your specific climate: heating and cooling systems, fireplaces (which can also help lower heating costs with zone heating), garage floor drains, extra insulation.

According to the National Center for Real Estate Research, fireplaces can increase the value of the average home by up to 12 percent. Almost 70 percent of real estate agents surveyed by Angie’s List in 2016 said they see a value increase if a home contains a fireplace. Many of Williams’ clients opt for a gas fireplace—the Heat & Glo 6000 Series is very popular, she says.

“When we're building a house, the fireplace is always included on the main floor with a cultured stone front and built-ins, but people add them on to the lower levels a lot as well. One of the fun things people are doing are outdoor fireplaces, either on a screen porch or out on a patio for entertaining.” In a climate like Minnesota, this means that “you don’t need to stop going outside in October or November and you can open it back up in April instead of May or June. So it really does extend our abilities to use some spaces.”

As many companies continue the transition to remote work, a home office will probably remain essential for years to come. “We’ve been putting home offices in our homes forever, but now it's really big,” says Williams. Maguire adds that she’s seen some buyers upgrade to faster hardwired ethernet connections so they aren’t at the mercy of wireless internet. “Wi-Fi just is not cutting it for a lot of people that are working from home,” she says.

A builder may not offer many lighting upgrades since this element is a very personal choice. But it’s worth splurging if you can, according to Maguire. “Potential buyers will know if those lighting pendants over the kitchen Island are straight from Home Depot,” she says. If you aren’t able to upgrade during your build, consider doing it yourself before you sell. “It’s so easy to change out and it really makes a huge difference.”

In dense regions where car ownership is common but space is limited, spending more to ensure off-street parking will make your home more appealing, says Maguire.

The more, the merrier. Whether it’s an additional office or a quiet study spot—or a place for kids to get out of parents’ hair during conference calls—future buyers will find a way to use the extra room.

“Any outdoor space is becoming huge, but it’s harder to come by in cities,” says Maguire. “What we’re seeing in cities is that places that have any kind of bonus space and outdoor space, those are the places that are moving more quickly off the market than others.”

“Just because something’s super trendy right now, it doesn't mean it’s going to be,” says Maguire. She recalls the time she chose gold and brushed-brass cabinet pulls for a project and was told by her developer that it was too trendy. ”You want it to appeal to the masses.”

“There are so many other materials that look pretty close to or are just as nice as marble for half the price,” says Maguire.

Certainly invest if you know you’ll use it, but know that its value will be subjective. “You’re either a tub lover or could care less,” observes Williams, adding that this feature likely will either be high on your future buyer’s priority list—or not on the list at all.

In real estate, you never want to be the nicest house on the block. As you consider luxury upgrades, Maguire recommends “reading the room”: How popular will your city or town become over the next few years? Is the population growing? Are there new schools being built? Is it near a major metropolitan city?

Williams gives the example of sport courts. “I’d tell everyone in the world not to build one,” she says.

“You want to make sure that you’re not spending extra money on silly things,” Maguire says. “I had clients who wanted dark cabinets and dark countertops. I said, ‘We’re not doing that. When you come to me in five years to sell this, we're going to have an issue.’”