Building a new home comes with plenty of decisions—but not every upgrade needs to be completed during construction. Knowing what to prioritize now and what can easily be changed after closing can help you make smarter choices and use your design budget wisely.

Before making your selections, explore our guide on how to prepare for your Evergreen Homes design consultation so you can arrive feeling confident and ready to make decisions.

Prioritize These During Construction

Focus first on features that would be difficult, disruptive, or costly to add once your home is complete.

Structural and Floorplan Changes

Floorplan modifications and structural options, such as adding an additional bathroom or covered patio, need to be selected early because they directly affect how your home is built. These changes can be difficult or sometimes impossible to complete later.

Electrical Planning

Think beyond your current needs and consider how you may use each room in the future. Planning your electrical needs during construction can help you avoid cutting into finished walls and paying for costly labor later. During construction, plan for:

• Additional outlets
• Rooms you may want prepared for future ceiling fans
• Dedicated electrical circuits for future appliances or equipment
• Lighting placement
• Other electrical needs located behind finished walls

Evergreen Homes does not install ceiling fans, but rooms can be prepared during construction so homeowners can easily add them after closing.

Flooring and Tile

Flooring, bathroom tile, backsplashes, and countertops should be prioritized during the selections stage before construction begins. These finishes can be costly and disruptive to replace after closing, so this is where you’ll want to invest the bulk of your design budget. Choose what you truly want for your home rather than settling for something you plan to change later.

Upgrades That Can Wait

Some design features are easier to replace after closing, giving you more flexibility to personalize your home over time.

Plumbing Fixtures

Faucets and other plumbing fixtures can be upgraded later as your style and preferences evolve.

Bathroom Mirrors

Standard mirrors can be replaced with framed, lighted, or decorative options after closing without affecting the home’s construction.

Decorative Light Fixtures

While electrical placement and wiring should be planned during construction, the actual light fixtures can be upgraded later. This allows you to choose decorative fixtures that complement your furniture and finished spaces.

Cabinet Hardware

Evergreen buyers select their cabinet colors during the selections process, while cabinet knobs and pulls are selected and added by the homeowner after closing.

Multiple Interior Paint Colors

Evergreen Homes offers the option to select multiple paint colors throughout the home. However, many buyers choose one consistent wall color during construction and add accent colors later.

As a new home goes through normal settling, minor drywall touch-ups may be needed during the first year. Using one wall color makes those areas easier to patch and blend. Once that initial period has passed, homeowners can add accent walls or different room colors without making future touch-ups more complicated.

Plan Now, Personalize Later

A helpful rule is to invest during construction in anything located behind the walls or built into the home. Decorative items that are easy to remove and replace can usually wait.

By prioritizing structural, electrical, flooring, and tile decisions first, you’ll create a strong foundation while leaving room to personalize your home after you move in.

Ready to begin planning? Explore Evergreen Homes available communities and find the perfect place to build.

Common FAQ’s

1. Which upgrades should I complete during construction?
Prioritize structural changes, electrical planning, flooring, countertops, and tile because these are harder and more disruptive to change later.

2. Can I upgrade fixtures after closing?
Yes. Plumbing fixtures, bathroom mirrors, decorative lighting, cabinet hardware, and ceiling fans can be added or updated after closing.

3. Should I choose multiple paint colors when building?
You can, but using one consistent color can make first-year drywall touch-ups easier to blend as the home experiences normal settling.

4. Does Evergreen Homes install ceiling fans?
No, but selected rooms can be prepared during construction so homeowners can install ceiling fans after closing.