sage52•6d ago

Am I the only one who thinks new builds are way overpriced for what you get?

I looked at a new townhouse in Summerside last month. The builder wanted $450k for 1,200 square feet with builder grade everything. I asked the sales guy about the landscaping and he said it's an extra $8k for sod and a fence if you want it. Meanwhile my buddy bought a 1960s bungalow in Mill Woods for $350k last year and put $30k into renos. He's got a double lot and a real garage. Does anyone else feel like the newer stuff is just not built to last?

2 comments

2 Comments

dylanwilliams6d ago

Wait, are new builds actually charging extra for landscaping now? I used to be all about new construction until my cousin bought a place in Airdrie and they wanted $12k just to put grass in the back. Totally changed my mind on this.

wren9766d ago

Have you ever looked at what landscaping costs when you hire it out separately from a builder? I had to re-do my yard a few years back and between grading, sod, a couple trees, and sprinklers I was well over $10k. The builders actually get bulk pricing on materials, so $12k for a whole back yard is pretty close to what you'd pay a contractor anyway. The difference is with new builds you can roll it into your mortgage instead of paying cash or taking out a loan later. Plus you know the grading is done right so you're not dealing with drainage problems a year down the road. I get the sticker shock, but in the grand scheme of a $500k house, $12k is a pretty small number.