The Top 10 Upgrades Our Homebuyers Choose — and the 3 You Can Skip

After building over 1,200 homes in South Miami-Dade County and surveying 200+ recent Red Car homebuyers about which upgrades they were happiest about — and which they regretted — here’s our honest guide to what’s worth spending on.

The Upgrades Worth Every Penny

1. Extended kitchen island. Our standard kitchen island is good. The extended island — which adds 24″ to the seating side — is the upgrade almost every buyer wishes they’d gotten. South Florida families live in their kitchens, and the extra seating space is used daily. Cost: $2,800–$3,500. Satisfaction rate: 97%.

2. Tile throughout (no carpet). Florida humidity and tile are natural partners. Every homebuyer who chose tile throughout reports being glad they did — easier cleaning, better durability, and no carpet issues in South Florida’s climate. Cost: approximately $4,000–$6,500 depending on plan size.

3. Additional bathroom in 4-bedroom plans. Going from 2 baths to 3 baths in our Mango plan is the single upgrade that generates the most positive feedback from families. The resale value it adds is also consistently measurable. Cost: $8,500–$11,000.

4. Screened lanai upgrade. The standard covered lanai is included. The upgrade to a screened enclosure adds approximately $5,500–$7,500 and transforms it from a decorative space into a genuinely livable outdoor room that Florida families use 10 months of the year. Highest-rated upgrade we offer.

5. Pre-plumb and pre-wire for pool. Even if you’re not adding a pool now, having the underground plumbing and electrical conduit pre-run during construction costs $1,800 and saves $4,500–$6,000 when you add the pool later. This is money we actively encourage buyers to spend.

The Three Upgrades You Can Usually Skip

1. Upgraded light fixtures. Our standard light fixtures are fine — and the home improvement options post-closing (at Home Depot or local lighting showrooms) are significantly better and often cheaper than builder-grade upgrade packages. Wait and do it yourself.

2. Cabinet hardware package. Similar logic — standard builder hardware vs. aftermarket hardware at similar or lower cost. Easy DIY swap post-closing.

3. Landscaping packages beyond standard. South Florida plants grow fast, and your own landscaping installed over time often produces better results than a builder package installed all at once. Invest in the basic sprinkler extension and add plants yourself over your first year.