3 Things That Aren’t Included in the Purchase of Your Home That Could Cost Thousands

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Buying new construction? Read on to see what features you might have to pay for yourself. 

There’s a reason so many people are drawn to newly constructed homes. There’s something to be said about moving into a home in top condition and knowing you’re the first person to live there. And also, depending on when you buy new construction, you might get an opportunity to put your own stamp on your home.

That option was available to me and my husband when we bought our new construction home about 14 years ago. When we signed the contract to purchase our home, we knew it would mean taking on a more expensive mortgage. But we also knew we’d get to customize everything from our kitchen flooring to our bathroom countertops.

But one thing we didn’t bargain for in the course of buying new construction was having to shell out money for certain fixtures and features that weren’t included in our home’s purchase price. And that dealt our finances a blow and forced us to dip into our savings account more than we wanted to.

If you’re looking to buy a new construction home this year, you may be aware that it could cost more than a home that’s already been lived in. In fact, in March of 2023, the median sale price of a new construction home was $449,800. But you should also gear up to spend extra money on things that aren’t included in the purchase price of your home, like these specific items.

1. Window treatments

The home my husband and I bought came with lots of windows. That, in fact, was one of the reasons we chose our home — we loved all the natural light that came in.

What we didn’t love was learning that window treatments were not included in our home contract, so we had to spend a few thousand dollars on them once we moved in. (We also, incidentally, had zero privacy the first few days in our home and had to change our clothing strategically so that our neighbors wouldn’t get to know us too well.)

The cost of window treatments can vary significantly based on the type you choose. For example, motorized shades might cost about three times as much as regular ones, says Angi. And clearly, the more windows you have in your home, the more you’re apt to spend. If window treatments aren’t included in the purchase price of your home, get estimates so you know what you’re dealing with.

2. Bathroom fixtures

When you use the toilet, you expect to have reasonable access to this thing called toilet paper. And when you shower, it’s natural to want a towel as soon as you’re done so you can dry off.

It was therefore downright shocking for me and my husband to learn that our purchase contract did not include bathroom fixtures like toilet paper holders and towel hooks or bars. These items weren’t particularly expensive individually. But when you have multiple bathrooms, they can add up.

Of course, your costs will vary depending on the items you choose. A towel hook can be under $20 or more than $25 at Home Depot, for example. The point, however, is to budget for these very basic and necessary items in case your builder doesn’t provide them.

Also keep in mind that some of the bathroom fixtures your builder provides may not suit your taste. In our case, we had to spend a few hundred dollars on mirrors for each bathroom to replace the awful ones our builder gave us that looked like they were lifted from a 1970s nightclub bathroom.

3. Closet shelving

The home we bought features numerous closets, from the walk-in one in our master bedroom to the pantry in our kitchen. But one thing that didn’t come with those closets was ample shelving.

In some cases, our builders stuck a single shelf in there when there was clearly room for two, three, or more. We had to go out to Home Depot and buy and install more shelving ourselves.

Now the amount you’ll spend on shelving will depend on the type and size. You might spend as little as $20 or a lot more per shelf — it just depends on what you need. I remember spending a few hundred dollars, but to be fair, it was 14 years ago, and prices have clearly gone up since then. You could easily end up spending close to $1,000 on shelving if you need a lot of it and want higher-end shelves.

Buying a new construction home is hardly an inexpensive prospect these days — especially now that mortgage rates are higher. So if you’re going this route, make sure to read the details of your contract carefully so you understand what additional items you’ll be on the hook for financially.

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