New Home Upgrades Price List: Builder Upgrades Detailed

Upgrade prices for new homes can vary substantially based on the location, your chosen builder, and the market conditions at the time of your build or upgrade. Customer demand and builder supply can cause price points to fluctuate even during a relatively short period of time.

We compiled the following price list from new-home purchaser accounts, price sheets from various planned communities, and consumer reports. Note that these may not match the costs in your particular community; the best way to determine a specific property’s new-home upgrade costs is to contact a builder’s sales representative or design center. (See our related articles for details on upgrades through KB Home or D.R. Horton.)

New Home Upgrade Costs

200-Amp electrical installation: Approximately $1,500
Air conditioner: $4,000 to $6,500
Alarm system: $500 and up depending on additional features
Bathroom fixtures (e.g., bathtubs or showers): $5,000 and up
Blinds: $30 to $200 per window
Cabinetry: $100 to $1,200 per linear foot
Crown molding: $2,500 and up
Decks and/or patios: $2,000 to $10,000 and up
Electrical upgrades (e.g., dimmer switches or GFCI plugs): Approximately $150 to $300 each depending on selection and included wiring
Fencing: $20 to $35 per linear foot
Fireplace/fireplace mantle: $750 to $6,000 depending on material
Floor coverings (e.g., carpet or hardwood): $5,000 to $30,000 depending on desired covering and square footage requirements
Garage door opener: $500 and up
Granite or laminate countertops: $3,000 to $12,000
Hot tub: $2,500 to $5,000
Irrigation/sprinkler system: $2,000 to $5,000
Kitchen appliances: $1,000 to $5,000
Landscaping: $500 to $10,000 and up depending on the desired effect
Paint: $3.00 to $6.50 per square foot
Phone and/or internet hookups: $250 to $500
Pool: $10,000 to $35,000
Roughed-in basement plumbing: $1,500 to $2,000
Roughed-in gas line: $500 to $2,000
Smoothed ceilings: $1,750 to $4,000
Stove vent increase: $300 to $1,000

Buying or building a new home? You may want to check out our articles about title fraud and buying a house with cash.

Do-It-Yourself Upgrades

While you may want to have a professional builder complete all of the upgrades to your home, you can save money if you are willing to undertake some smaller, more cosmetic tasks yourself. You can save anywhere from around $100 to several thousand (depending on the material costs) by completing simple upgrades, such as: