The 48K builder credit applied to inflated builder prices can get you granite countertops, stainless appliances, average flooring and not much more in my experience. Other builder options worth considering are home theatre wiring, alarm, and intercom. Your 20K personal funds to finish the interior is low imo even taking a minimalist approach. For reference here’s an incomplete list of what I spent on my house in somewhat chronological order after closing. My house and yard is larger so the following info may not be a good reference point. Carpet: 10K, Travertine & marble flooring: 15K (2k underlayment self installed), full kitchen backsplash: 2K (self installed), refrigerator: 5K, laundry rm and garage built-ins: 5K (self installed), 10” crown mouldings: 2K(self installed, otherwise 10K with contractor), painting: 2k (painted myself), wood shutters: maybe 15K, and formal lr/dr/fr draperies: 5K.
For landscaping, I solicited quotes from reputable landscapers who were willing provide plans for free. Then I spent a month studying models and the free plans, ultimately fusing in the elements we liked to create our own unique landscape design. I purchased software to help me finish the design. The alternative was to pay a designer 2K to provide detail plans.
Completed front yard first for about 30K, which included several full size trees and plants, walls, walkways, flagstone, etc. Small plants, irrigation, drainage, lighting, and lawn were self installed with help from local workers. Hired a Bobcat guy to dig all trenches in one day and rented a jackhammer for supplemental digging. Quotes for everything were in the 50k-70K range.
For the backyard our biggest cost was the pool/spa at 60K, followed by supporting hardscape at 28K, which included outdoor kitchen structure, block walls, sidewalks, firepit, and large concrete decking. Irrigation, outdoor lighting, patio covers, plants, lawn and dirt were self installed at a combined cost of probably another 15k. Other separate high cost items are the built-in BBQ equipment. A medium size stainless BBQ will cost over 2K. Irrigation and lighting supplies were purchased at Ewing using friends contractor license. Plants and trees mostly purchased in bulk from nursery (somewhere off 78 don’t remember).
Lastly, I would recommend spending extra to get a top notch concrete finisher. They’re worth it. If you do hire a contractor be sure to secure lien releases from all subs and suppliers. Good luck.
