New Construction · Design Decisions

Design Center & Upgrade Budget Planner

From kitchen cabinets and flooring to electrical outlets and structural changes, design-center choices can add up quickly. Some decisions are easier to make during construction. Others may be more practical after move-in. Use this planner to compare costs, set priorities, and organize what to select now, defer, or skip.

Interactive Estimator

Design Center & Upgrade Budget Planner

Estimates based on the values you enter. Nothing is sent or stored. No account or email required.

Home & appointment

Optional context for your plan. No values are required to start the board.

Builder nameCommunity / floor planDesign-center appointment date

Upgrade budget

Already-committed selections are counted once. Contingency applies to additional selected move-in costs only — not the whole purchase price.

Total upgrade budget

The ceiling you're planning against.Already committed to upgrades

Selections already accounted for — not counted again.Contingency reserve

Editable planning assumption on additional selected costs.

Build your upgrade list

Each selection's decision updates the budget, contract price, and monthly impact. Mark items already included in the base price or already committed so they aren't counted again.

Add by category (you enter the actual price)

Structural examples

· Room extension
· Additional bathroom
· Garage extension
· Ceiling-height changes
· Floor plan modifications
· Additional windows

Kitchen examples

· Cabinets
· Countertops
· Kitchen island
· Appliances
· Backsplash
· Ventilation

Bathrooms examples

· Shower upgrades
· Tile
· Fixtures
· Vanities
· Additional plumbing features

Flooring examples

· Hardwood
· Luxury vinyl plank
· Tile
· Carpet upgrades
· Stair finishes

Electrical & Technology examples

· Additional outlets
· Dedicated circuits
· Lighting
· Ethernet / data wiring
· EV charging preparation
· Smart-home prewiring

Exterior & Outdoor examples

· Covered patio
· Deck
· Landscaping
· Irrigation
· Fencing
· Exterior finishes

Storage & Functionality examples

· Built-ins
· Closet systems
· Laundry upgrades
· Garage storage
· Pantry modifications

Energy & Comfort examples

· Insulation
· HVAC options
· Window upgrades
· Ventilation
· Energy-related equipment

Effect on the purchase

Optional. See how Buy Now selections change the contract price and monthly payment. A down payment is part of the purchase price, not an extra expense.

Current estimated builder contract price

Baseline before these additional selections.Down payment %

Mortgage interest rate

Note rate, not APR.Loan term (years)

Eligible upgrade credit

Offsets eligible upgrade charges only.

Design-center appointment checklist

Questions to ask before finalizing selections. A user-entered figure is not independently verified.

What is already included in the base price?

Status

Which selections affect structural or electrical plans?

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When does each selection become final?

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Are deposits required?

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Are change orders allowed after approval?

Status

What fees apply to changes?

Status

Are selected upgrades included in the mortgage contract price?

Status

What happens if an upgrade becomes unavailable?

Status

Are material substitutions permitted?

Status

Which warranties cover the selected upgrades?

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Which selections affect the completion timeline?

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Which upgrades require lender or appraisal review?

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Your own questions

Add questions for specific professionals. These appear in the printable plan.

NotesPersonal notes

Clearly hypothetical values — never your actual selections.

Your upgrade plan

Enter a total upgrade budget and add upgrades to your list. Your remaining budget, decision board, contract-price impact, and monthly payment impact will appear here as you make selections.

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What We Believe

Understanding Before Action.

A useful tool makes the tradeoffs easier to see. Your results are a starting point for questions, verification, and a more informed next step.