REAL ESTATE TIPS: Economical finishes may help initially during dream home build

Many people want to build out in the country, but that is the most expensive place to build.

Because of the expense of building in the country – at least in our area – it causes some people to have to think or perhaps reprioritize.

What is their end goal? To build a house no matter where it is because the goal has always been to build a house, or to live in the country – whether you build the house or not.

Let’s say that you have a $250K budget for your house. The house in the country will have more expensive land, well, and septic. You will eat a certain amount of money out of your budget just on those items.

Now, let’s take the same budget and buy a lot in town. The lot will be less money (in most cases) and you will only have “tap-in” fees, not well and septic. So by virtue of that you are able to put more money into your house.

If you still know that you want the country but you want as nice a house as you can possibly get, think less expensive finishes.

For example, if a big kitchen is important to you and you don’t want to give that up, forget granite counters and put formica in. It will be much easier to get your big kitchen now and a more economical countertop than to put in a small kitchen that has granite only for you to regret your small kitchen in five years and be stuck. And then add insult to injury when in that same time frame, your granite isn’t quite as in style as it was previously.

Let’s look at it this way. If the idea of building came up because you want the most perfect kitchen in Ohio or the biggest garage in Wayne County, don’t sacrifice it for a big tile shower or very expensive countertops.

Pretend for a moment that you are willing to sacrifice nice finishes to get the structure (the big kitchen or big garage) that you have always wanted.
Here are some ideas to build economically with your finishes initially with the plan of upgrading them down the road.

* Formica counters. Whether you are cooking or serving on expensive counters or cheaper ones, the food still tastes the same.
* Fiberglass shower. The tile can wait. After all, as long as you are using soap, it doesn’t matter whether you are showering in a tile or formica shower.
* Light fixtures. Fancy can wait. Buy in bulk at a hardware store and use the price difference somewhere else in your house.
* Flooring. Cheap carpet is fine. Don’t build a smaller house to save money for nicer flooring, especially if you have young kids or pets. There is a good chance it will have some form of stain on it soon.
* Appliances. Last time I checked, food tastes as good cooked on a black or white stove as it does a stainless stove.
* Unfinished square footage. The bonus room and basement can be finished later. For now, just finish the rest of the house and maybe get those nicer finishes that you want!

I hope that if you build, your house is all that you anticipated it to be and more. And I hope that you have a blessed week!

Esta Ryder, Broker/Owner
President’s Club
Ryder Realty, LLC
estaryder@gmail.com
330-317-6912