When building your new home, the sky’s the limit—at least where options are concerned. And while it’s easy to envision our dream home, chances are good that dream is filled with extras and add-ons that aren’t included in the base home price—or budget, for that matter. Those enhancements don’t stop at the walls of your home; they continue to your outside space.
Landscaping your new build can be as simple as checking the included box on your builder selection form. However, there are often a few options that may catch your eye. While there is no universally right solution, here are a few things to consider as you give the green or red light along the way.
General landscaping
Every builder has their own way of pricing landscape, but most often, you’ll find that a very basic level is included in your D.C. metro new build. For example, you may have a tree or two in the yard and some starter-level greenery in a planting bed in front of your home. What’s likely not included, unless you’re building in an executive-level community (and sometimes not even then!), are things like privacy screens, flowering trees, and irrigation.
This is a case-by-case scenario. Trees take some time to take root and grow, so in many cases, it makes sense to make them one of your first purchases, particularly if you’re in a suburban or more populated neighborhood and would like some privacy. If you’re building in a more rural area of the DMV and want a large, expansive lot with minimal obstructions, the builder base package may be great.
Before deciding, make sure to get clear information from the builder about what exactly is included in the enhanced package, including quantities, selection options within each tier, and minimum planting sizes for trees.
Irrigation
If you’re moving to a single-family home or residential-style condo, you’ll need to water your lawn—particularly through the hot summer. A built-in irrigation system is a great way to do that for a relatively low cost during the build so you can enjoy a lower maintenance yard after move-in.
While a built-in system is nice to have, the advantage of installing a system during the build, rather than later, is that you won’t have to replant and reseed your yard while trying to do life in the construction and regrowth period.
One good practice is to get a second quote from a local landscaper and decide whether to do the upgrades as part of your initial build or separately after you have the keys. Many times, this is one upgrade that’s cheaper to do through the builder.
Lighting
Outdoor lighting is a great way of giving your home some curb appeal. While it can help light pathways in the dark, it’s usually more for aesthetic purposes. If you love the look and know that you’ll want an upgraded lighting scheme in a short time, going through the builder can have some advantages.
For one, if you’ll be living in a community with an HOA, making changes to the exterior of your home usually requires HOA review and approval, which can slow the process or have additional requirements. Upgrading during the build process will mitigate the need for HOA involvement later. Additionally, your lighting would most likely be covered under your home warranty (versus a separate entity). However, if you’re worried about climbing costs, after-market lighting is usually a minimally invasive and fairly budget-friendly upgrade to make at any time.
