Hidden Upgrade Costs Checklist
The most commonly missed upgrade costs that blow out new home budgets in Australia — a complete reference for buyers planning their upgrade allowance.
Most buyers dramatically underestimate their upgrade spend. They see a display home, fall in love, sign a contract for the base price — and then discover at the selection appointment that achieving even a modest version of what they saw costs $50,000–$100,000 more than expected.
This checklist covers the upgrades that most commonly surprise buyers — items that seem like they should be included but almost never are, and costs that are easy to overlook until it's too late to budget for them.
Watch out
Budget at least 15–20% of your base price for upgrades. A $350,000 base price home realistically costs $400,000–$430,000 with the upgrades most buyers want.
Commonly Excluded from Base Price
Interior Finishes That Are Usually Upgrades
Bathroom and Laundry Upgrades Often Overlooked
Electrical and Technology Upgrades
Outdoor and Structural Upgrades
Tip
Before your selection appointment, use our Upgrade Costs Guide to research realistic pricing for the upgrades you want. Walking into a selection appointment knowing the upgrade costs puts you in a much stronger position.
Take this checklist with you:
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