6 New Construction Upgrades You Should AVOID

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

For questions on your home buying needs: → Send me a text [phone] → Send me an email: kaori.nagaochiti@sothebysrealty. com

[@JazzysStyle]

Very helpful. My advice is if you can get your design appt split into 2 days. I did each visit 1 week apart. It allowed me time to literally google the prices and go to lowes and home depot to see if i was being overcharged and they sold the same appliances and etc. I had time to think everything over and was very happy with my final decision. I was able to get quotes to see what was cheaper to do myself and what would be more expensive. Some things at the design center were cheaper like upgrading the stove cooktop w/ larger venthood to 36in - saw it at lowes and they were 50% cheaper plus the cabinets below would match width of the cooktop.upgrading the front door, stairway railing, and etc. But they overcharged for granite and flooring - it was a hard pass for me. I'm talking like a 75% mark-up. I had a strict budget and it worked out really well. Once the lady understood all if was spending was X amount, she actually started to say things like "this you can buy at lowes and install youself" - so I was happy she was accomadating during the process.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Great advice! I think it's always important to do your due diligence and research and see what items you are ok with having the builder do VS cost savings after closing based on your flexibility with time and cost. Builders do get discounts as they buy items like appliances in bulk, but I agree with you... Flooring is a big mark up item for builders so if you have the flexibility to do it after close, by all means, do it yourself! Thanks for your valuable comment ‼️🙏

[@JazzysStyle]

@@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate It was my first home and thankfully my real estate agent was help and I had youtubers experience and advice to guide me during this stress process i just completed

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

@@JazzysStyle HUGE WIN 🏆

[@oxtemper]

Yes, I agree! Flooring was way cheaper after we closed. The builder poorly installed a carpet that was included, so we had it ripped out in order to have our new flooring done. Good info 👍

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Congrats! What type of flooring did you choose?

[@nickbailey202]

I remember the cost of flooring being the biggest surprise to me years ago. Since then I've always done my own flooring in each house. It's surprisingly easy and saves literally tens of thousands of dollars.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

@@nickbailey202 If you have the flexibility, there's a lot of things you can do after closing to save you thousands of dollars! 💵

[@ronb6363]

Your video's are very informative. Thank you

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

I appreciate your feedback! Thanks for watching and engaging!

[@ukamaka2011]

@LaoriLuxuryRealEstate Please can you do a video about structural choices? What structural options in your experience are worth the money when buying a new construction and which ones are not? Finished Basement? Deck or Covered Patio? Outside firepit? Balconies?

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

YES! Happy to do that. I'll add that to my list.

[@MiVidaBellisima]

Couldn’t you make your own outside fire pit? For sure the finished basement is going to cost an arm and a leg through the builder vs contracting it out.

[@keithdubleteam]

Excellent Video, Kaori! And....agreed👍

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Thank you guys for watching!

[@deanne9407]

Hi Kaori! What supplier can you recommend for custom closets in Las Vegas?

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

I have a few! Email me at [e-mail] and happy to share my direct contact 😉📩

[@lisak3489]

Kaori, would you upgrade your kitchen cabinets at the design center or do you recommend after closing? Also considering cabinets up to the ceiling as well. Appreciate your guidance...great video too, thank you!

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Personally, I would advise doing the kitchen cabinet upgrades at the design center. Those are more "harder" to do after closing in my opinion. It's do-able, but less hassle with the builder.

[@omarboswell6296]

Excellent educational video.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Thank you Omar for your feedback! Appreciate it 👍

[@Katie-ry4lj]

Thanks for the video

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

@@Katie-ry4lj Thanks for watching! What did you find most valuable?

[@JB19504]

Good video.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

@@JB19504 Thanks for watching! What was your biggest takeaway? Are you looking to buy a new construction home?

[@greeneggsandcam.]

I really dislike that you have to do so many “upgrades” to a brand new home just to make it modern. A new construction home in 2024 shouldn’t look like a home built in the 90s.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

New homes today don't look like homes in the 90s. Even without much upgrades, you still get a modern and energy efficient home!

[@selfienaa]

Hello, do you recommend getting solar panels directly from the builder ?

[@MiVidaBellisima]

I’ve been curious about this too and if it actually saves money or not for electrical

[@theleomendez]

These are all great pointers!

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Thanks Leo! Love sharing my experiences because if they are helpful for my buyers, I know they would be for my viewers!

[@gregheard6024]

very informative. in our case negotiated a bare-floor closing to avoid that cost entirely

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

That's interesting because you can't close on a bare floor. You need some sort of flooring for code... 🤔

[@gregheard6024]

@@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate Was able to on an American West Home in 2008 where they let me close with no flooring and brought in my own. Don't know if the code changed but was able to do so then.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

@@gregheard6024 Very interesting! I know that we can't do that anymore due to code.

[@paksunyoung6056]

Hello, I'm looking at new construction with KB homes. Can I supply them with some of my own purchased materials such as tiles from Home Depot that I purchased and simply ask to install these instead of their basic offering? This concept could be applied to sink, ceiling fans, etc.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Great question, email me at [e-mail] and I'll be happy to break it down for you and give you my recommendation!

[@MiVidaBellisima]

So what did she say bc I need the answer and I’m not emailing just for that when she can just answer the question here?…

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

The short answer is NO. You will need to close on the KB home first with no upgrades before you can do any upgrades!

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

@@MiVidaBellisima You will need to close first before making any upgrades that is outside the scope of the home builder. Hope this helps!

[@annettemarie2076]

Great video, thanks.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Thank you for watching Annette! Are you thinking of relocating to Vegas?

[@annettemarie2076]

@@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate No, it’s too hot for me there but I am considering buying soon. I now live in Palmdale CA. Love your channel. It’s packed with information I haven’t seen elsewhere.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

@@annettemarie2076 Thank you so much! Looking forward to hearing from you 👍

[@zeeshanbhaidani4265]

@kaori If you do rip off the carpet or any basic florring post closing to install new one, would that not forefeit the warranty ?

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Great question! You can modify your home to get our liking after closing. It won't forfeit warranty because there is no warranty on flooring. If you were to add solar panels on your roof after closing, you would forfeit your roof warranty!

May I have your custom closet recommendation?! Thank you

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

YES 100%!! 702-583-4766 (call/text) anytime!

[@christinaheeter1919]

What if the design center made a mistake by marking the wrong exterior paint & roof tiles and I signed the agreement but I took pictures of what I initially choose. Will they fix it?

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

@@christinaheeter1919 It doesn't hurt for your buyer's agent to ask...

[@livinginnevada9160]

Great video

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Thanks for watching! Appreciate it 👍

[@QtAnGeL0121]

Hi Kaori, usually how long does it take to do the flooring? From capet to tile for a 3000 sq ft house? Thank you.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

It depends on the contractor but if they have multiple people working at the same time, it can be as little as a few days!

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Do you need a contract in Las Vegas? Email me at [e-mail] 📩

[@QtAnGeL0121]

@@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate Hi Kaori, I don't need one at the moment. I am planning to move from Hawaii. Nothing is set in stone yet but I do plan ahead of time and would like to avoid rental after closing if possible.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

​@@QtAnGeL0121When I work with my relocation clients, I make sure that we time everything so the move is as smooth as possible. Depending on whether you are buying a new construction or a resale home, I want to make sure you move from your current home into the new home. Ideally, no short-term rental in between.

[@cmcmanu8]

Some of this stuff I thought about afterwards but it was too late to change 😆

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Hope you're able to get some good takeaways for the next home!

[@cmcmanu8]

@@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate yes I did thank you. I wish I could go back and make some changes. But its too late

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

@@cmcmanu8 What were the things you wanted to change?

[@ronaldsamontanez8592]

I love this topic. And new subscriber here! We did not upgrade our flooring. It is composed of builder grade tiles and carpet. My concern is would it be too messy to rip off the flooring and change it with hardwood or vinyl? We are planning to do this after we close.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Hi Ronald, thank you for subscribing! Flooring does get messy, but many of my clients do the flooring after closing to save costs, especially if they have the wiggle room on timing.

[@patbryant8821]

Great info - thank you.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Thank you Pat for watching!

[@runningataltitude3361]

If its taxable it's negotiable. Try and negotiate with the builder on upgrades, they are more flexible now due to current state of the market.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

I agree 100%! Make sure you hire a professional realtor that has new construction expertise!

[@MiVidaBellisima]

Never heard of this before thank you 😊

[@Selahree]

But do you negate any warranties if you rip up the carpet and do it yourself or hire someone else?

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

GREAT question! After closing, if you choose to do any modifications to the house like ripping out carpet and replacing it with tile, the flooring part of the warranty would be negated. However, everything else would stay protected under the builder's warranty.

[@ChrissyCAGirl]

A lot of things are actually cheaper by having the builder do it.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

That vaires on builder, but would you like to share what you experience? That would be very insightful.

[@lustrae]

Some people do not have the cash to do it after closing, so they add it at the design center so that it goes into the mortgage.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Yes, 100%!!!

[@jimmymcgill5572]

wow they did away with the 6% realtor commissions! I guess the amount of work done wasnt in line with what you guys were making? what do you think Kaori?

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

My response to the NAR lawsuit coming soon 😉

[@Banana69999]

How much is realtor commission now?

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

​@@Banana699996% - 3% on buyers side and 3% on sellers side.

[@Banana69999]

@@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate wow that’s crazy, it use to be 6% on each side before??

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

@@Banana69999 No, it's always been 6% for both sides and always negotiable 😉

[@xxsekoxx]

Hmmmmm, new build here. 2,400 sq ft. Whole house Grey vinyl luxury flooring costs 8k. Don't listen to everything you watch on KZbin people.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Thank you for watching! Costs vary on the type of luxury vinyl and by city. Do your due diligence - sometimes it may be cheaper to do it after closing!

[@xxsekoxx]

@@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate not always. I just wanted people to know that it doesn't cost between 10 and 30,000.

[@dwop28]

Yes, it does. I literally got quoted 17k do to 1989 square feet for a new build.

[@xxsekoxx]

@@dwop28 lol no, it really doesnt. Someone is trying to RIP you off! Or you chose the most expensive kind of flooring. No house at 1900 SQ FT costs that much to floor.

[@Greenhornet411]

Correct me if I’m wrong , getting the builder to do all the custom upgrades gives you the option of financing all those upgrades into your mortgage for 30 years. Paying for those same upgrades after closing is all out of pocket as a lump sum expense.

[@KaoriLuxuryRealEstate]

Yes and no. Depending on the builder, you would have to pay for a portion of the design upgrades upfront. For exmaple, one builder allows you to include 10% of base price as design upgrafes into the loan, but anything above that, you would need to pay 50% upfront in cash.