BUILDER-GRADE ISN’T BAD

You may have noticed that builder-grade homes get a bad rap in the design community. I’ve owned two basic builder-grade homes in my adult life as well as a 1940s house, and let me tell you—builder-grade has a lot of pros.

So before you throw builder-grade homes out of your real estate search or get too frustrated with all the gray…hear me out.

Great Neighborhoods

Now obviously there are exceptions to this, but often builder-grade homes attract a lot of young families. In my experience, this can lead to good (even new!) schools, new parks & infrastructure and neighbors who are in a similar phase of life. Sure, your friend two houses down has the same floor plan, but you might also have kids the same age!

Blank Slate

Another advantage to these sometimes-basic homes is that they are purposefully generic with mass appeal. While that can feel boring at first, look at it as an opportunity to make your mark on your home without too many pre-determined design obstacles. Instead of squeezing your style into a midcentury or 90s home, you have a chameleon of a house that can easily shift into what you enjoy.

Plus, if you’re working with a builder from the beginning, you may even have options to choose from regarding colors & textiles. Strategically choose what feels most “you” to warm things up.

Low Repairs

As I mentioned before, we lived in a 1940s home while in Utah. Although my old lady heart was in heaven, the upkeep was no small feat. Within our first week of owning the home we filed a water damage claim for a leak and also had to have our HVAC overhauled unexpectedly. And that was just week one!

While no home is perfect, builder-grade homes are often newer and require fewer repairs. When they do need tune-ups, they may fall under the builder’s warranty or at the very least require parts that are still very easy to procure (unlike 1940s anything).

Value

While I would love to live in a custom home one day, I see great value in my builder-grade home. The price per square foot was low compared to more unique homes in our area. Plus, we get close parks, a community pool, highly rated schools & fast freeway access.

Don’t underestimate the value of a smart builder-grade buy while you’re young! It just might pave the way for that custom home down the road.

Hopefully you’re starting to see builder-grade in a new light & are ready to style it in a way that feels like home. If you need some help, just tap the “work with me” button on the top right of the screen!

Xo, Emma