Life is all about compromise, and the same is true of building a custom luxury home. Your wish list might be long, but your budget is finite.
The good news is that when you build a custom luxury home in Houston, TX, you get to choose what compromises you make – those compromises aren’t made for you by previous owners. This allows you to spend money on what really matters to you, while at the same time saving on those things that aren’t as important or can easily be upgraded later on.
So without further ado, here are our quick tips on where to save when you build your home in Houston, West University or Bellaire, TX and where to splurge.
Save: Lights, Fans, and Fixtures
If you’re a handy person, you can choose less-expensive fixtures now and upgrade them as the years go by. However, even if you’d rather have us do all the work upfront (so you don’t have to), it’s still possible to save on these items. The process of building your dream home takes months, giving you plenty of time to shop around, look online, and find the perfect finishing touches for your home at discount prices. Just make sure you are very clear on the timeline so you can have all the necessary supplies when they’re needed.
Splurge: Quality Construction Materials & Structural Components
Vinyl siding, metal roofing, energy-efficient electronics and HVAC: high-quality materials often cost more upfront, but they’ll save you a bundle over the long run. Investing in quality now means you won’t have to deal with expensive repairs later. Spending extra money for efficiency means you’ll save on energy bills for years to come. Plus, some truly quality building materials, like certain types of metal roofs, can last for up to 50 years. With a lifespan like that, you might never have to replace your roof!
Save: Flooring
When we suggest saving on flooring materials, what we’re talking about is opting for low-cost materials like vinyl flooring or laminate over more expensive materials like hardwood or tile, not compromising on quality or the structure of your home. Laminate flooring can look just as good as hardwood, and certain types of vinyl flooring can mimic the look of tile or wood. You can always upgrade the flooring later.
Splurge: Planning
Knowing exactly what you want and planning out everything in advance is worth every penny (and moment of time) you spend on it. One of the most expensive parts of building a home is changing your mind in the middle. If you have truly thought out and invested wisely in the planning, you won’t want to change your mind midway through, which makes it easier to stay within your budget.
Save: Fleeting Trends
When you build a custom home, the plan is to stay in it for a long time. It doesn’t make sense to spend extra money for features that will become dated while you still are living in the home. This can go beyond looks. For instance, gourmet kitchens are all the rage right now, but if no one in your family likes to cook, it doesn’t make sense to spend the money on top-of-the-line appliances that will rarely be used.
Splurge: What Matters Most to You
You are investing a lot of time and a lot of money into your custom home. If you’ve always wanted a three-car garage, a second-floor laundry, an entertainment room with movie-theater seating, or anything else, spend the money! The enjoyment you derive from the space will be more than worth the money you spend on it.
At the end of the day, building a custom luxury home isn’t about spending big so you can have the glitziest home on the block. It’s about spending wisely, so you can maximize the value of every dollar and get the home you will love living in for decades to come. Once you do that, you’ll have your dream home in Houston, TX!