NEW HOME BUILD DESIGN CENTER TIPS DO'S & DONT'S // WHAT NOT TO SPEND $$ ON // WORTH SPENDING UPG

Welcome everyone!! Ready to build your new dream home?! I will be covering it all, from upgrades that are not worth spending your money on at the design center and what's worth doing. Grab your cup of coffee, sit back and lets get you ready for the design center!
*IMPORTANT TIP!! : If your builder offers incentives (I explained what that is) I will highly recommend putting it towards the BIG upgrades such as COUNTERTOPS, KITCHEN CABINETS, BACK SPLASH, PATIOS, TRANSITIONING ROOMS office, study room to bedroom (not all builders office this option)

[@hannahlabyrinth1945]

As a builder salesperson, I strongly recommend you choose a sink that you want if you’re upgrading the counters. Remember, we are cutting the stone specifically for a sink. It cannot just be easily swapped out.

[@psindha33]

Flooring, counter tops, are must do upgrades for new house. we built ours in 2019 with upgrade of quartz counter tops, flooring, bigger sink(upgrade &300) range vent(all homes must have for kitchen that will take air outside. Cost $700 upgrade). Range vent going. Out was soooo worth it as I cook a lot! This is top of a list. Do it guys. ALL homes should just include them!

[@EastCoastReefer]

Totally agree. In fact, I think oven vents should be code. All that impurities in the air is a major health hazard.

[@TatianaIsADoll]

This is so helpful! Thank you!

[@sspiker]

I would kindly disagree about the kitchen sink. I believe you should let your builder do it if you are investing in a granite/quartz stone countertop. They have to custom cut the countertop for the sink and if you do it afterwords you can crack the countertop and end up having to replace it. (seen it happen) so I would highly suggest you do with the kitchen sink. The others would be easier to do yourself.

[@clonztv]

I Agree

[@MomtoZnE]

Agree. Sinks are not all a standard size, and if the sink is undermount, it cannot be replaced without removing the countertop (even if the opening for the new sink is the same size, which it won’t be). The countertop is custom cut to a template that comes in the box with all sinks.

[@EastCoastReefer]

Agreed

[@lezordean3838]

Very Informative 👏🏾👏🏾

[@ElizabethDavisVlogs]

YES GIRL your hair looks gorgeous!!😍😍😍

[@normadoes]

Aww thanks so much Elizabeth! 💓😘

[@bethanyalaina]

I definitely agree with this list. Also, some builders charge buyers for not using their products. Lol like not using their mirrors in the bathroom lol

[@normadoes]

Ugh! Those mirrors! 😂

[@NitasHomeDecor]

Hey beautiful!!! Thanks so much...very useful tips and advice👍🏾😘

[@normadoes]

You’re so sweet! Thank you! I appreciate you being here💓

[@MrKromy67]

Thanks!!!

[@AB-qp7vp]

I was waiting 🤗

[@normadoes]

I had promised it! ☺️ Thanks for watching ❤️

[@HoloHoloAdventures]

Great tips. I appreciate it. 👏 I had a lot of plans like upgrading the sink and the different areas in the bathrooms.

[@piggama]

Very helpful thank you very much

[@normadoes]

You're welcome! Thanks for being here!!

[@thatssoporsche4244]

If you already purchased an item like the light fixtures from Home Depot would builders allow you to add before they begin the building process.

[@Bbbbbbcd]

Beautiful x

[@normadoes]

Thanks so much ❤️

[@favored4life]

We're looking to build.. is that a rotunda or coffier behind you? Is the inner part painted or just the indentation? Thanks.

[@claudiahansen4938]

Really useful video, packed with guidance on what things are easily done outside the builder's purview and which things should be done by them. Thank you!

[@normadoes]

Thanks so much, glad you found this video helpful!

[@gjohannes1344]

A lot of electric and faucet replacement is super easy to do.

[@LR-ko3pg]

Which builder did you go with?

[@dianemcadamsmsdianepetrama464]

❤️❤️❤️

[@jillf24]

Some good advice but ALWAYS build your pool with the builder. They use heavy equipment to dig your pool and build it. Sometimes they cannot get their equipment in your backyard once your pool is built. Plus, it is a huge mess and they will damage all your landscaping and sprinkler system. It is definitely cheaper to build the pool with the builder and it is then included in your mortgage!! I live in Florida- we are the pool experts. Of course, if you do not have the extra money-that is a different story!! LOL

[@normadoes]

Goodpoint, thanks for your advice. Its definitely a huge mess, thanks for being here.

[@uvieolokpa2832]

Great video. I will also add cabinets as an important upgrade because once they're in there very hard to change

[@jmurphy644]

You're so right. Who wants that mess later? You'll spend 5-10k just restoring your yard. My builder threw in the basic pool for "free".

[@jmurphy644]

Money for a lot upgrade is almost always money well spent. You'll get it back at resale. Who wants a house on a busy street with other houses behind and beside you if you could buy the same house on the water or on preserve on a cul-de-sac?

[@jackieestevez7406]

Lol u mentioned pool hope all is better with yr pool situation. Thank you for the video very helpful. We r relocating to texas in a few months nyc is way too expensive n we want to build.

[@elizabethtorres6461]

Congratulations on your move and new home in Texas. I dream of moving to Texas someday.

[@normadoes]

Thank you Jackie! I appreciate your concern, progress is moving slowly. I hope it gets better. Congratulations on building your new home, I hope the move goes smoothly! Keep out of flooding areas, great choice on moving to TEXAS!❤️

[@normadoes]

@@elizabethtorres6461 Best move we made! We moved from California!

[@favored4life]

Can you give costs on the pool company? Also, what areas are the high flood areas?

[@Self7Made7Greg7]

How much does a gutter installed cost? The home is 1509 sq with 2 car garage. The builder is quoting 1600$

[@danaburks3091]

What if the standard paint finish is flat, which is impossible to clean?

[@danaburks3091]

Also, an under mounted sink is impossible to swap without damaging countertops.

[@normadoes]

Hi Dana, that’s correct. What we did is asked builder to leave samples of the all paints, they left half gallons of all. All we do I retouch twice a year.

[@sampark3554]

Thank you, great video! Very informative. Do you recommend upgrading to 2 or 3 pendant lights for a 10 feet Kitchen island?

[@normadoes]

Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed watching and found it informative! Pendants are very easy to upgrade and replace yourself even if an electrician will do it’s very inexpensive. We upgraded our 3 kitchen island pendants ourselves. Now, if there’s no pendants added then yes, you want to avoid the headache of doing it later and having your drywalls all torn, upgrade with builder grade pendants and change to your taste later.

[@sampark3554]

@@normadoesThank you Norma. I’ll be sure to not upgrade the fixtures, but will defiantly add 3 pendants since I think it’ll give better lighting to the island. Thanks again. 😊

[@sampark3554]

@@normadoes Hi Norma. Sorry to pick your brain again. Would love to know what you think about shower niches? I am thinking the grout gets more dirty over time and not sure if worth upgrading since I’ve very had one? Would love to see a video about shower upgrades/ designs 😊

[@normadoes]

@@sampark3554 Hi Sam! That would be a great video, I’ll work on it. About shower niches… I don’t see them much in these new homes and if any I would recommend sealing that would protect from soap and water mildew.

[@sampark3554]

@@normadoes thank you again for your input. I appreciate it. I haven’t added one yet and prob won’t either. I noticed the model home didn’t have one too. The standard triangle wall shelf should work just fine. Thanks again!

[@davidcole333]

It's all about time and money and how much you have of each.

[@chelysgarage1457]

norma where can i find a home that is 3 bedroom no frills and cheap 200k or less.

[@chrslms]

In your dreams

[@yeye5078]

Useful tips !! Not sure about the flooring though - maybe your builders standard options are good…. Most builders are providing basic shitty flooring and forcing to upgrade ! If I am not wrong cost of ripping up existing flooring and installing new one is more expensive than having builder installed an upgraded flooring - inviting discussions / advice ….

[@normadoes]

Right, that at all depends on what your builder offers. We had beautiful, quality floors under standard option.

[@CherylYung-zb2pz]

Maybe you should do videos with your clothes on.

[@user-pr3pd5uk7r]

Good tips but you repeated a lot of you were saying which could’ve shorten this video.

[@summer1239555]

swapping out light fixtures is not simple if you don't know what you are doing. Also, most builders will not wire for pendant lights over your island if you do not buy the lights from the builder. I keep seeing this advice over and over and it's really not great advice.

[@jenniferduggan696]

Lots of builders do a pendant light prewire and you don't have to buy their fixture. They just leave a cap on it. Light fixtures are definitely inexpensive to replace and are much nicer than the builder grade options.

[@user-pr3pd5uk7r]

Totally agree

[@Nottallblonde]

Can you please get to it and stop gabbing about nothing?

[@Thamac15]

What’s this woman’s experience? Some of her advice is straight awful.

[@MomtoZnE]

She’s speaking from her personal experience. Your experience will vary depending on the options offered, the builder, your area, and your budget. Can you do it yourself later, cheaper? Or is it difficult to do once the house is built? If you decide not to do something, all all, like flooring, is that even an option and will they give you a credit? So many variations in everyone’s experience.

[@sridharyakkanti4147]

very less value too much non event talk...