Interior Economics

For the many people who have recently

purchased a new home or are about to,

continue reading! The most important

document that can help save you money is called

Schedule A. It means the difference between what

one builder offers as a standard feature and another

offers as an upgrade, and these differences add up to

thousands of dollars from your pocket.

If you have an idea of what area you would like

to live in, have looked at models, and are now

deciding which builder to choose, look carefully

at what each developer is offering. Some common

upgrades include nine-foot ceilings, crown

mouldings, hardwood or grade instead of carpet, exterior lights and outlets, standard cabinet finishes,

and window options. Also, check with the sales

office for policies on floor plan changes; even simple

adjustments can cost hundreds of dollars.

You can complete this thorough evaluation on your

own if you know what questions to ask or you can find an

interior designer to help out. That's where Room to

Room Interior Design comes in-85 per cent of our

clients are new home purchasers.We know which items

you should choose as builder upgrades and which ones

are better left for you to do on your own or by a

professional. Builders are also happy when we get

involved because we bring them clients who are well

informed about their choices, thus saving time all around.

Our services are set up so that we meet with you,

preferably in your existing home, to review your

lifestyle (it wouldn't do any good for us to suggest

putting dark hardwood floors in your new home

with your German shepherd running on it), the floor

plans, and the dreaded budget.We then make a list of

upgrades you would like to have and price them out

from the builder and from our supplier to see which

option is more economical.

Following this visit, we go with you to the décor

centre, where you really get to see the choices you

have. Although the options may seem overwhelming,

it makes a big difference to stop by, and we can help

you narrow down your choices from flooring to

cabinetry and every doorknob and handle in between.

So many of our clients tell us how difficult it is to look

at a 12-by-12-inch tile and imagine how their entire

floor will look in it, but we have the training to search

for particular characteristics and project how items

will look in your new home.

We then give you a detailed list of all of your

choices as well as upgrades, and then when it's time to

meet with the builders' décor staff, all of your

decisions have been made and you're not encouraged

to upgrade items.

Having an informed buyer is how you save by

knowing where to put your upgrade money for the

best possible return.

Contact Room to Room Interior Design at 905-257-3803

or roomtoroom@cogeco.ca.