13 signs of a quality home

Quality is key when building a home. When your builder skimps on quality, you might save a few dollars on the purchase price, but you lose big on resell value, curb appeal, maintenance costs, and spare Saturdays. Unfortunately, when it comes to quality, most buyers aren’t sure how to differentiate between homes. And builders know it. So consider this your Quality Building 101 course. You won’t be tested on this stuff—but your builder should be.

1. windows

   Look at the placement, size, and number of windows. Are they energy efficient glass (e-glass)? Is there a wood sill with a 2 ¾ inch molding along the bottom of the windowsill?

2. flooring

   Is there a nice variation of texture throughout the house or mostly carpet? Do the kitchen and bathrooms have hard surfaces such as wood or tile vs. vinyl or linoleum?

3. cabinets

   Observe the quality of hinges, crown molding, and hardware. Do adjacent doors align properly and open uniformly? Are cabinet drawers mounted on rollers? Has the builder gone with a lower quality melamine or particleboard product? Does the builder offer a wide selection of woods such as alder, oak, cherry, or maple?

4. doors (interior and exterior)

   Ensure that doors are flush and close easily. Is the front door solid wood vs. a cheaper steel? Check the trim on the doors. Are interior door surfaces contoured vs. flat? What kind of hardware is used?

5. bathrooms

   Are there upgraded plumbing fixtures such as elongated toilets or jetted tubs? What kind of lighting fixtures are used? Is the flooring a nice tile or a less expensive vinyl?

6. exterior rockwork

   Is there a nice balance of stucco and brick or stone or is the exterior entirely stucco or siding? Are there nice seals along the rockwork, or has the builder used less expensive stucco bands next to the stone?

7. concrete

   Inspect the walkways, driveway, and garage floors. Are stairs even and uniform in height? Is there a nice smooth finish on the concrete or are there a surprising number of cracks?

8. heating and cooling

   Are there high-efficiency fireplaces throughout the house? Is there central air?

9. basement

   If the basement is unfinished, is it at least fully insulated? Is the concrete smooth and dry?

10. kitchen

    (Revisit items 2 & 3 on this list). Are the appliances centralized? (i.e. dishwasher near sink) Is the sink a stainless steel double bowl? Is there a garbage disposal? Are there backsplashes? Does the faucet have a spraying option? Is there an option to upgrade to solid-surface countertops? Is there track lighting or plenty of can lights in the ceiling or simply one or two light bulbs overhead?

11. housing exterior

    Walk around the house. Are architectural shingles (look for ridges) used instead of normal, cheaper shingles? Do garage doors have door openers? Do rain gutters surround the perimeter of the house or are they sporadically attached only where deemed necessary? Is the home comfortably situated on the lot or placed closer to the street to avoid concrete expenses? Does the builder use 10-foot extensions on the downspouts to avoid pooling? Are there well-thought-out bonuses such as an extra light switch for Christmas lights?

12. master bedroom

    Check the master bedroom. Does it include a master bathroom? If so, is there a soaker tub or a jetted tub vs. a regular tub or garden tub? Is there sufficient closet space? Does the builder offer custom closets? Is there an available upgrade to vault the ceilings? Is there any undercounter lighting or indirect lighting or just a simple light bulb?

13. stairs

    Go upstairs and downstairs. Are stairways wide and comfortable or narrow and steep? Are there iron balusters and high-quality railings or simply a cheap banister or short wall?