Design Center Upgrades: What to Choose, What to Skip, and What to Ask
How builder design center selections work: structural options versus finishes, deadlines, deposits, itemized pricing and how upgrades affect your loan and resale.
By the iNIAZ team · Published · 2 min read
The design center is where a new home's base price becomes its real price. Flooring, cabinets, counters, lighting, appliances and many other choices are made there, usually in one or two appointments and by a deadline. A little preparation goes a long way.
Structural options versus finishes
Structural options change the house itself: a morning room, an extended garage, a finished basement, taller ceilings, an extra bedroom or bath, added windows, or rough-ins for future work. They have to be decided before construction, and most cannot be added later at any reasonable cost.
Finishes change surfaces and fixtures: flooring, paint, counters, cabinet doors, faucets and lighting. Many can be changed after closing, sometimes for less than the builder charges.
A useful rule: spend first on what cannot be changed later, then on what you would otherwise replace soon.
Get itemized pricing
Ask for a written, itemized price for every selection, not only package totals. With itemized pricing you can compare a builder upgrade with the cost of doing the same work after closing, and see which choices drive the total.
Deadlines and deposits
Selections usually close at a set point in construction so materials can be ordered. Upgrade payments are often due at selection and are often non-refundable. Before your appointment, find out:
- the selection deadline and whether changes are allowed after it;
- how much is due, and when;
- what happens to upgrade payments if the purchase does not close.
How upgrades are paid for
Upgrades included in the contract price are financed with the home, which spreads their cost over the loan but adds interest. Paying for some upgrades in cash, if the builder requires or allows it, changes your cash to close. Upgrades also raise the price that must appraise. Our offer comparison tool shows how upgrades change the price, cash to close and monthly cost.
Design credits
Some builders offer a design center credit as an incentive. Compare it with a price reduction of the same amount: a credit spent on upgrades you would have chosen anyway can be worth the same, but a credit spent on upgrades you would not have chosen is worth less.
Think about resale
Choices that suit many buyers tend to hold their appeal; very personal choices may not. Lot, layout and structural options often matter more at resale than finish level. We can show how similar homes in nearby communities have resold.
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General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm details that matter to your situation with a qualified professional.