New build nonsense, no it's really just greed!

[SL6827]

Watched a report on some new homes in The Villages, down there in Florida today, and got a chuckle but also sad dose of reality with the corporate greed of whoever it is that comes up with this nonsense.

You know what is considered an upgrade now on some or maybe all of the new homes built in this development? And this is in Florida mind you. Gutters! If you want gutters on your house, got to pony up the extra cash to get them. Gutters are not a want, they are a need. What's next, a front door becoming an upgrade? A toliet?

 

[Disnsyncey]

Well, if I ever have a new build, I'm going to try to NOT have gutters....you just have to build the eaves farther out.....

now if the eaves are already built to necessitate gutters, then that's lame....

 

[Dakota731]

That’s fairly common now depending on the architectural style, alternative drainage choices, and design function of a home. You can always ask the builder why they aren’t included and see if they are necessary in the exact home you’re building.

 

[lanejudy]

My house doesn't have gutters...

 

[loves to dive]

My son has a tin roof on his house so no gutters. He had to build a french drain. Frankly, no gutters might not be a bad idea. We have a 3 story house (2 stories with a full basement). The basement is actually partially above ground since we are on a hill (sort of). Our gutters are so high up that it takes a really long extension ladder to get to them to clean them out. Thankfully the only trees we have are sort of far from the house but the wind still blows leaves and junk into the gutters. We still had to put extensions on the ground from the gutter further out into the yard because the end of the drains were digging holes.

 

[mjkacmom]

My son has a tin roof on his house so no gutters. He had to build a french drain. Frankly, no gutters might not be a bad idea. We have a 3 story house (2 stories with a full basement). The basement is actually partially above ground since we are on a hill (sort of). Our gutters are so high up that it takes a really long extension ladder to get to them to clean them out. Thankfully the only trees we have are sort of far from the house but the wind still blows leaves and junk into the gutters. We still had to put extensions on the ground from the gutter further out into the yard because the end of the drains were digging holes.

We have 3 floors and a full basement and think of our home as 3 story, we have gutter guards but they still need cleaning once a year, it only costs about $75 or so, we don’t even have a ladder.

 

[SteveH]

Very few, if any, homes in our neighborhood have them. For those that due they were not installed by the builder. Had them growing up, drained to the street, which was a PITA due to clogs. Other community we lived in many gutters drained to close to the house and caused issues with the basements or foundations. I see them as more of negative then a positive.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

If you've ever actually built your house you know that every single tiny thing is an upgrade and not standard.

 

[reddog21]

Other community we lived in many gutters drained to close to the house and caused issues with the basements or foundations.

This is an installation problem not a gutter problem, everything will eventually fail it not installed correctly. I live in an area that basements are prone to flooding and I have yet to see a new build whithout having them installed. This is also the difference between a custom home builder that cares about the house opposed to the mass home builders who could care less which are everywhere in Florida.

 

[tvguy]

Required by code here. And on older homes without them, required to be put on when you put a new roof on.

 

[SL6827]

If you've ever actually built your house you know that every single tiny thing is an upgrade and not standard.

I have. And no, gutters were not an upgrade.

 

[SL6827]

Next, want a couple toilets, upgrade package! Closet doors, upgrade!

 

[Anthony1971]

Most - if not all - houses in Florida do not have a basement nor a foundation under ground they are built on a slab or less. There is no real need for gutters. Most houses in Florida do not have them because of the climate and they can become a liability in a hurricane that can damage your roof or worse.

 

[FreeTime]

Many homes around us don’t have gutters either. This isn’t uncommon. Every option but a base without any bells and whistles was an upgrade. Base was a slab, low pitched roof, no gutters, blacktop drive, office looking sinks and toilets. Prettty much all upgrade.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Next, want a couple toilets, upgrade package! Closet doors, upgrade!

Those things truly are upgrades if you don't want the hollowed out pieces of crap builders grade doors also you pay for someone to stain the doors.
And you purchase the toilets too. How much you spend will depend on the color and type you choose.
We just went through this in 2023.

 

[Dakota731]

Having some contractor friends, they certainly aren’t greedy and rolling in cash. Customers usually want the lowest bottom line and the company with the lowest bid usually gets the job. Not to mention, there isn’t a lot of quality out there any more - everything is cheap imported material.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I remember my grandmother being peeved when New York State decided to start taxing toilet paper. They don't tax food or clothes as those are necessities... but apparently decided that toilet paper is optional.

 

[Turn the Page]

If you've ever actually built your house you know that every single tiny thing is an upgrade and not standard.

Right? I am having trouble understanding why a home with a feature wouldn't have a higher price.

 

[Turn the Page]

I have. And no, gutters were not an upgrade.

It was probably a line item on your original estimate but you still paid for them.

For example, we just renovated two bathrooms. Our original estimate included an allowance for tile. If we had chosen more expensive tile the amount would have gone up. If we had chosen vinyl tile the final amount would have gone down. But porcelain tile is still an upgrade over vinyl it's just that the upgrade is already figured in the original estimate.

I have. And no, gutters were not an upgrade.

 

[barkley]

i'm trying to remember...when we contracted for a new home in a development back in '99 there were very few 'upgrades' the developer permitted.

nothing that changed the exterior 'look' (they wanted to maintain the design and look of the development) so the only outdoor items I recall were-

-concrete slab patio off one or both sliding glass doors (great room/primary bedroom)

-increase number of exterior spigots from two to three or four.


interior was-

upgrade wiring to cat 5

make one room either bedroom #4 or an office

floor and counter coverings

fireplace-either tile face or brick

kitchen cabinets-hardware inside/hardware outside and either solid oak natural finish or some kind of lesser wood that were painted all white (surprisingly the lesser quality all white were more expensive ).