Regent Homes Blog

6 Design Preferences That Will Affect Your Custom Home Price

Posted by: Regent Homes, on September 21, 2015

custom kitchenUnlike buying a prebuilt, preowned home, a custom home design can be built to accommodate your unique taste and preferences. Also in contrast to prebuilt homes, custom homes typically come with a higher price tag due to the personalization and features that goes into the home’s unique design. Since the bottom line price of a home can change due to certain custom home features, we wanted to give you some insight into some of those specific areas of the home that can change the price.

Flooring

This custom home feature is one of the most common areas of a new home where upgrades can occur. Upgrades often come with an increase in price as well! The bottom line price of a custom home usually does not show these upgrades, so it is imperative to take these tips into consideration when you are looking at the cost of a custom home. Some of the popular trends we are noticing in newly built homes are:

  • Hardwood flooring throughout the kitchen and dining areas, sometimes carrying into the Great Room
  • Preferences in hardwood flooring are leaning towards darker stains, gray tones, and even weathered-looking finishes

Lighting

Another area where upgrades occur in custom built homes is in the lighting and fixtures. The style or size of a lighting fixture can dramatically change the appearance of a room or even an entire home.

Many of our clients are looking to add recessed lighting to Great Room areas with dimmers for mood-enhancement. In the kitchen area, we are seeing a desire for pendant lighting. This adds a lot of character to an otherwise standard overhead kitchen light. Chandeliers are also making a comeback, but this time they are smaller, less over-the-top versions.

Plumbing Fixtures

Believe it or not, plumbing fixtures can add a luxurious appeal to an otherwise standard bathroom. Typically, the features are what make the bathroom stand out. The spa-like feel is one that many people desire when they are looking to build a custom home. Some of the trends we are seeing in custom-built homes are:

  • Rain shower heads where the showerhead is positioned so that the water pours directly over you instead of at an angle
  • Body sprayers, which are the hands-free water sprayers mounted inside of shower walls
  • Vessel sinks or decorative bowls that sit on top of the counter
  • Wall-mount faucets where the sink faucet is mounted in the wall instead of the counter top

Custom-Trim & Built-Ins

Trim makes all the difference when it comes to adding character to a custom home design. It adds more of a luxurious feel to the home. Custom built-ins are also gaining popularity, especially built-in storage spaces for the mudroom, laundry area and home offices. Some of the trends in trim that we see in our custom homes are:

  • Crown molding
  • Chair rails which are molding and trim that goes about mid-way up the wall, usually present in formal dining areas
  • Interior columns
  • Baseboards

Cabinets

Cabinetry has long been another area in custom built homes where value can be added. Because the kitchen is becoming a standard gathering place, many homeowners want to put the extra details into the kitchen and cabinetry. Cabinet upgrades do come with a higher cost, but again, they add significant value. Some of the trends we are seeing with cabinetry are:

  • Shaker cabinets – a simple and classic look with minimal details. These cabinets are usually made with durable wood such as cherry, maple or hickory
  • Light colors – a bright, open kitchen is a current trend
  • Efficiently-built cabinets – the Lazy Susan used to be the extent of unique cabinetry, but now, we are seeing pullout trays, bread boxes and narrow cabinets to store cookies trays
  • Glass-front cabinet doors – these glass-front doors break up the look of the kitchen space by adding more depth to the outside of the cabinet
  • Floor-to-Ceiling cabinetry – these cabinets give a kitchen more of a grand appeal with cabinets that stretch from floor to ceiling

Appliances

With all the talk about ‘Going Green’ these days, appliance manufacturers had to jump on board. If not, their product would become obsolete. Everyone is looking to save money anywhere they can these days, so it is no surprise that this trend is almost the standard when it comes to custom home features. While this added feature does come with a higher price tag in the beginning, the benefits of energy efficient appliances usually pays for itself over the life of the product. Other trends besides energy efficiency that we see in custom homes are:

  • Stainless steel finishes
  • Commercial-grade refrigerators
  • Built-in appliances
  • Range-hood gas stoves

As you can see, building a custom home comes with a lot of options as well as an increase in the price of the home. Adding these upgrades, however, not only adds a significant amount of value to the home, but it also adds character and uniqueness to your dream home!

Categories: All Posts, Custom Homes, New Home Owner Resources