Let’s hear it for Part 3! Everybody wants more upgrade costs, I know. I am just glad these are so helpful.
If you missed the other two parts of this series, you can click here for PART 1 or PART 2
High efficiency HVAC system-$5,000-$35,000 more
These days they want you to be more and more energy efficient. Some brands are better than others. And within those brands there are different levels of HVAC systems. Since this is something that should last us many years, we wanted to invest in the more efficient and better quality brand and type of system.
The price of the bottom of the line HVAC system in my area was $15,000. The brand and type (heat pump) that we wanted was between $20,000 and $28,000 depending on who we had install it.
We also looked into geothermal, where they use the heat from underground to run your system. Geothermal was quoted at $50,000 for us. It’s much more efficient, but more expensive to put in because part of it goes underground.
So, according to which type of higher efficiency HVAC system you choose, you are looking at anywhere between $5,000 and $35,000 more expensive than standard/lower grade.
Hot water outside- $30
Okay, I hadn’t even considered this possibility until my plumber asked me if I wanted hot water outside anywhere. I knew I wanted an outdoor shower, but I just assumed it would me easier to do it with just cold water.
Then he informed me that all he would have to do would be T off the water line that was already right there, and add an extra hose “bib” outside. That’s just the part that you hook the hose up to and twist to turn on.
Each hose bib cost about $30. So that’s it! It’s only $30 to add hot water spigots to the outside wall of your house. And we have sure used our hot water a ton! Especially when the kids were taking baths outside on the back porch for awhile.
Higher quality paint- 30-40% more expensive
Paint is not all created equal. You may think that paint is not a big thing to worry about, but the quality of your paint will greatly effect how your walls look. Getting low quality paint can actually end up costing you more because you have to do extra coats to make it look good.
If you are talking about the exterior of your house, it’s even more important. Low quality paint will weather faster and will need to be redone in just a few years. Higher quality paint may cost you a little more up front, but will make up for itself by how long it lasts.
The difference in cost to paint the entire inside of our house was roughly $2,000 for low quality paint, and a little over $3,000 for high quality paint.
Insulated garage- $1,800
Having an insulated garage provides a lot of benefits. If you ever want to turn it into another room, it’s already insulated. You can keep things in there like your furnace, your water heater, and other things that can’t freeze. You have a semi warm place for the kids to play in the winter that isn’t “in the house”, and several other bonuses.
It’s a bit of a cost up front, but something that is not easily changed down the road like some other upgrades.
Insulation for the walls in our oversized two car garage cost about $500. In the ceiling, it cost about $300. Since it’s on a cement slab there was no insulation needed underneath. For it to be a truly insulated garage, you also need to factor in the price difference between insulated and non insulated garage doors. We have two doors, each one adds about $500 to have an insulated one, making that an extra $1,000.
In total, it cost us about $1,800 to insulate our entire garage.
Double washer and dryer hookups-$475
Again, this is another thing I didn’t consider until my plumber suggested it. Running water lines and a vent for an extra washer and dryer in the construction phase is easy. Trying to put that in later is a giant headache with cutting through walls and repairing drywall.
Too add the water lines for an extra washer, it cost me $125. To add a second dryer vent it cost about $50.
The electrical adds a little bit too because these usually need their own breakers. So as far as the electrical goes for both the extra washer and the extra dryer, we added about $300.
We did this as a precautionary thing. We don’t plan on putting the extra washer and dryer in now, but in a few years when we have more kids running around the house, adding another pair will be as simple as purchasing the machines and hooking them up.
So without the actual washer and dryer, adding extra hookups cost us about $475 and I am sure glad we chose to do it.
I will let you know when I have any more to add to the list!
~Farmer’s Wife
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Marsha says
Can you specify the brands of HVAC, water heater, plumbing fixtures, etc.? Obviously, you have chosen based on quality and affordability. It would help to know. Thanks. I have found everything you’ve done well researched and organized,
farmerswife@therealfarmhouse.com says
HVAC- Carrier Water heater- AO Smith Plumbing fixtures- a few different kinds.
I was very picky about the HVAC. I would only accept Carrier brand. But for the water heater and the plumbing fixtures I didn’t find any one single brand that stood out. There are others I would have considered purchasing had the price been right.
Cindy Knapp says
Any chance that you installed an on-demand water heater? (a couple of brands that I am aware of are Renai, and Navein). Did you consider it? We have on now and love it, but cost in the new house seems a bit steep.
farmerswife@therealfarmhouse.com says
We didn’t install an on demand water heater. We talked to a few people who had them and didn’t care for them so we went in a different direction. We have a heat pump water heater and so far have been pleased with it.
Katherine Hanks says
I think kohler brand is pretty reliable, and it can be as expensive as your want it to be, but overall i find it reasonable in my area. Something that you should also consider is if you want your kitchen faucet to be hands free. People either love them or hate them. And i personally only want one spout for every faucet because its easier to clean overall.
farmerswife@therealfarmhouse.com says
Awesome thanks Katherine!
LORI CROCKETT says
I would love to see upgrade costs for things in the Kitchen- appliances, cabinet upgrades, undercabinet lighting, countertops. Kitchens are such a huge area of cost!!
farmerswife@therealfarmhouse.com says
Alrighty, I will do that when our kitchen is completed.
Rachel says
Thank you for all of this. Your page has been u favorite so far!