You must make hundreds of decisions when designing or building a Florida custom home. Even if you don’t have any plans to sell the home, choosing features and custom home upgrades that will add value over the long term is vital. You don’t want your home to be dated and obsolete in five years or at any point in the future that you may wish to sell. Some upgrades are considered more timeless than others, and these are the ones that most experts will advise you to invest your money in.
6 Value-Add Custom Home Upgrades
- Window Efficiency and Hurricane Protection: A new home on the Florida Gulf Coast will be subject to strict building codes regarding hurricane-rated windows. These will be required, so you won’t have to decide whether or not to install them. However, new custom homes can include additional upgrades that will further protect the home from severe weather, including automated storm shutters. Any extra hurricane protection will make the home more attractive to buyers in the future. Another way that windows can add value is in their potential energy efficiency. Double- or triple-glazed windows have two or more sealed sheets of glass with an insulating void – helping to regulate the home’s internal temperature. In a sub-tropical state like Florida, cooling the home is a significant effort – but the right choice of windows can make a meaningful difference.
- A Timeless Kitchen: When people tour a potential home, the kitchen has a more significant influence on buying decisions than any other room. The kitchen is the most utilized room in the home and a popular gathering place for family and guests. When designing a kitchen, choose durable, quality-made elements that are classic and not tied to a specific trend or era. Energy efficiency is likely to remain a top selling point in the future – and although appliances may evolve, buying the best available today will help raise value.
- Long-Lasting Flooring: Quality, dependable flooring provides lasting value – but you have to make the right selection. Flooring materials that need replacement once a decade are likely not durable enough to make a difference. Instead, those concerned with custom home upgrades should choose luxury tile, stone, or wood that can last a lifetime and even help cool the home in our steamy climate.
- Energy-Saving Features: Decisions that make your custom home ultra-efficient will always add long-term value. (See our comments on windows above.) Energy-efficient appliances, innovative HVAC systems, and high-quality insulation will help homeowners save money every month, minimize their environmental footprint, and guarantee a comfortable home.
- Built-In Storage Capacity: No matter the size of your home, having enough storage is always a concern. Homeowners and home buyers alike love – and look for – lots of storage capacity around the home. Large closets, abundant cabinetry, multi-functional furniture, and built-in pantries benefit any homeowner. Abundant storage makes a home more convenient, neat, organized and comfortable to live in.
- An Oversized or Hobby Garage: Gone are the days when luxury custom home buyers settled for a cluttered garage that housed more boxes than vehicles. Today’s value-added garages offer expansive space and ample storage options, allowing homeowners to fit their cars, toys, tools, and gear – or have space to work on a car or hobby – without losing the ability to walk through the space. Of course, you may need to check your dream garage plans against your specific lot specifications and community rules, but a large garage is guaranteed to add value.
Bruce Williams is Here to Build Your Dream Home
While the above items are known to protect and increase home value, the most significant factor when making design choices is your own preference. When you work with Bruce Williams Homes, we bring all of our experience, expertise, and inspiration to the process – but in the end, we are committed to building the home you want, complete with all your favorite custom home upgrades. Call today to learn more about building your Sarasota/Manatee County custom home.
