I was looking at a spec house the other day that had a really cool master bath with high end tub and shower. The thing is I remembered that bathroom. Made me think, what am I doing to make people remember my houses.

So I was wondering. What are other builders doing to make people remember their houses?

I have seen first hand the success of builders who make upgrades to thier spec homes. There are certain upgrades that are very economical and make a big difference in the sale of the home. I feel that kitchens and bathrooms are the best areas to upgrade. In the kitchen for instance, make sure you dont skip the crown molding and under cabinet light molding. Have your kitchen designer take those stock cabinets and do something creative with them such as raise one wall cabinet 6" higher in the middle of the run. Sometimes you can upgrade just the drawers to dovetail wood without having to upgrade to the next level of cabinetry. Just make sure you point this feature out to your potential buyer. In my area Cherry wood is a premium and most spec homes have the same old raised panel oak cabinets. You can get a recessed panel cherry for the same price and makes the home look richer without spending any more money. Also, paint your walls something other then white or beige. Or just paint one wall a different color. Try graduating the shade from one wall to the next to add drama and depth to the room. I have many more ideas that have worked for my builder clients. Feel free to contact me if you would like more information.
Christy

Even my most basic 'spec' home is chock full of what other builders in my market consider upgrades.

I do this because 99% of people who visit other builder's model homes are quite put out that the 'cheap' basic price is pretty damn expensive once you 'upgrade' to something to they'd consider liveable. Who wants a brand new home in this day and age with vinyl flooring, token crown in the main rooms, coil burner stoves, no structured wiring etc? No one does, and usually once you add all this in to other builder 'stock' homes the cost is somewhat more expensive than my homes where I include all of those goodies 'standard.'

I know most builders make a huge amount of profit from selling upgrade after upgrade but it isn't something that I'd feel good about.

Now, on the other hand if you can't live without that $800 light fixture which blows your lighting allowance.... then you are going to have to cover the diference.

Another area to consider an upgrade to is in the garage. The garage is the largest room in the house, very visible by homeowners and the neighbors, the primary entrance to the home but is the most neglected. Most homeowners are ashamed of the way their garage looks and would love to do something about it. Wouldn't it be nice if it was all done before they move in?

For a relatively small investment builders can set their homes apart by fixing up the garage area. Finished drywall and paint is a must because no one wants to deal with it once they've moved in. Help them hide and organize their "stuff" by adding some cabinetry for storage and/or wall organization products so they can easily hang garden tools, toys, etc. Consider offering a great looking, high-quality epoxy floor as an upgrade for a totally finished garage.

I think customers will value a finished garage and will see, and use, the benefit of it everyday. You are doing them a favor and, if properly presented, will pay for it.

Sounds like a good idea until you consider the fact that houses are priced on living/heated square footage. Garages and covered patios are generally places where a builder does not want to sink a bunch of money into since there will be no payback.