What to Expect at the Richmond American Design Center (Budget Warning)

I recently had the chance to walk through Richmond American’s new design center setup, and it highlighted a big shift that a lot of buyers are going to care about.

For the last few years, many builders leaned hard into spec homes. That means the builder chose the finishes, the colors, the cabinets, the flooring, the fixtures, and pretty much everything else. You could buy the home, move in fast, and be done with it. That worked great for buyers who needed something quickly.

But not everybody wants that.

A lot of people are fine waiting five or six months if it means they get to choose what goes into the house. And now that the market has slowed compared to the frenzy of the past few years, builders are responding. Richmond American is one of the builders adjusting their strategy by offering a mix of spec homes and build-to-order homes.

That is where the design center comes in.

🏠 Why Richmond American Changed Its Approach

The old approach was simple. The builder made the design decisions, and the buyer either liked the house or moved on to the next one.

That model is still around, and honestly, it still makes sense for some people. But I have seen plenty of buyers walk into new home communities and ask the same questions over and over in different ways:

• Can I change the flooring?
• Can I pick the cabinets?
• Can I swap out the carpet?
• Can I choose different lighting?
• Can I personalize the interior at all?

Too often the answer used to be no.

Now, Richmond American is trying to work with the customer more. In some communities, they may build a handful of spec homes for buyers who want speed, and then offer other lots as built-to-order homes where you can select the finishes from the ground up.

That is a smart move because buyers are not all the same. Some want fast. Some want personal. Some want a little of both.

🛋️ What the Design Center Actually Is

Richmond American has partnered with Classic Floors and Interiors for a temporary design center location while they work on their own dedicated space. If you are building a home from the ground up, this is where the fun starts.

And yes, I said fun, but I also mean dangerous if you are not careful with your budget.

This is not a little room with three cabinet doors and two tile samples sitting on a shelf. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of choices once you start looking at flooring, backsplash, countertops, cabinets, hardware, carpet, shutters, plumbing fixtures, shower finishes, and more.

Then on top of that, there are catalogs with even more options beyond what is physically on display.

So if you are imagining a quick one-hour stop where you point at a few things and head out, no. That is not how this works.

🧱 What You’ll Be Choosing

Once you go the custom route, you get to make decisions on most of the visual and finish details that shape the personality of the home.

That includes things like:

• Flooring
• Countertops
• Backsplash materials
• Cabinet style and color
• Cabinet pulls and hardware
• Door knobs and locksets
• Carpet and carpet padding
• Lighting and fixtures
• Shower fixtures and bath finishes
• Window treatments and shutters

The big benefit is obvious. You can make the house feel like yours before you ever move in.

The big challenge is also obvious. Every little decision has a price tag attached to it.

🪵 Flooring Choices Are Better Than They Used to Be

One area that really stands out is flooring.

There are a ton of choices now, especially if you like the wood-look style but do not want the maintenance issues that come with traditional wood flooring. Modern products, especially luxury vinyl plank, have come a long way.

You can get that clean wood appearance without worrying as much about warping, and it works well in a lot of rooms. It is popular for a reason. Builders are using it more, buyers want it more, and it gives you a durable finish that fits a lot of today’s design styles.

If you are comparing flooring options, think about more than just color. Think about:

• How the floor will look across the entire home
• How much natural light the home gets
• Whether you want continuity from room to room
• How easy it will be to maintain
• Whether you plan to stay long term or sell in a few years

A floor sample can look great in your hand and completely different across an entire open-concept living area. Slow down and think big picture.

🧁 Countertops, Backsplashes, and Cabinets Can Eat Your Budget Fast

Countertops and cabinets are where many buyers start getting into trouble.

You walk in with a reasonable plan. Then you see all the options. Then one upgraded cabinet color leads to a different countertop. Then that countertop leads to a more expensive backsplash. Then suddenly your “few nice upgrades” turned into a serious number.

That is why I always tell people to pay attention to the full combination, not just one item.

When choosing countertops, look at:

• The slab or pattern itself
• The color coordination with cabinets
• The finish and overall style
• The edge profile, which many people forget about

Yes, even the edge matters. There are different edge styles, and they subtly affect the look of the kitchen or bath. It sounds minor until you start seeing them side by side.

Same thing with cabinets. The door style, stain, paint color, sheen, and hardware all work together. If you are going to personalize your home, this is where the personality really starts to show.

🚪 My Straight Talk on Hardware and Locks

Here is where I am going to say something a lot of people will not say plainly.

If you are choosing door hardware and locks, pay attention to the lock brand. I tell my clients all the time: be careful with Quickset. Based on my own background and experience around tradecraft and security, it is one of the easiest locksets to pick.

That may not matter to everybody, but if security matters to you, it is worth asking about alternatives before you finalize those choices.

Also keep in mind that some hardware upgrades look great in the showroom but may not be worth financing over the life of the loan. A cabinet pull is one thing. A security-related item is another. Know the difference between cosmetic upgrades and practical upgrades.

🧵 Carpet Is Still an Option, but Padding Matters More Than People Think

A lot of buyers do not want much carpet anymore. That is just where the market is. But some still want it in bedrooms, and that can make sense if comfort matters to you.

If you are choosing carpet, do not just focus on color and softness. One of the most overlooked parts of the whole selection is the padding.

The padding is incredibly important. In many cases, it matters more than the carpet itself. Good padding affects:

• How the carpet feels underfoot
• How it wears over time
• How long it lasts
• How well it holds up in everyday use

Good carpet with cheap padding is not a smart move. If you are going to spend money there, make sure the foundation under it is right.

📅 How the Design Appointment Process Works

Typically, this is done by appointment. You are not just randomly walking in and casually redesigning a house on the fly.

If you are building to order, you will schedule time to come in and make your selections. You can come with your Realtor, or you can make it a family decision day and go through everything together.

And I would strongly suggest giving yourself plenty of time.

In fact, expect this process to take more than one visit.

Your first appointment may just be exploration. That is not a bad thing. It is probably the smartest way to do it. You walk through, see what exists, get a feel for styles, compare price jumps, and start narrowing things down.

By the second and third visits, you can get more serious.

You may change your mind, and that is normal. You are spending real money here. This is not a decision to rush through because you feel pressured to pick everything in one sitting.

💸 Builder Upgrade Pricing: Always Run the Numbers

This is where the budget warning really kicks in.

Just because something is available through the builder does not automatically mean it is the best deal.

Always check the pricing.

Some items make perfect sense to do through the builder because they are built into the home and difficult or messy to change later. Cabinets are a good example. Flooring can be another, depending on the space. Certain structural or integrated finishes are usually easier to do during construction.

But for other items, compare outside pricing.

For example:

• If the builder is offering a refrigerator and you have to pay for it, compare that with buying one from Costco or another retailer
• If the builder offers window treatments, check whether those are priced competitively
• If you can get the same product outside the builder package for less, run the math

And do not just look at sticker price. Think about how you are paying for it.

If you roll an upgrade into the purchase price, you may be paying for that item over years through the mortgage. In some situations, even if the price is similar, buying something separately later may still cost less overall depending on financing terms.

I am not saying never upgrade through the builder. I am saying do not turn your brain off while doing it.

📈 Customizing for Yourself vs Customizing for Resale

This is one of the biggest reality checks I give buyers.

When you customize a home, you are customizing it for you.

That does not automatically mean those upgrades will come back to you dollar for dollar when you sell.

I like to compare it to buying a car. If you buy the fully loaded version and somebody else buys the one with standard options, five years later the loaded one usually does not sell for dramatically more. Maybe the next buyer appreciates it. Maybe they say thank you. But that does not mean you recovered the full cost.

Housing can work the same way with finish upgrades.

So if you want premium cabinets, upgraded counters, special fixtures, and every nice touch because that is how you want to live, great. Do it with open eyes. But do not assume every upgrade is an investment with a guaranteed return.

Spec homes, on the other hand, are usually designed for the widest possible audience. Builders pick color combinations and finishes they believe will appeal to the most buyers. That is part of why spec homes are often safer from a resale standpoint.

🎨 Choosing Colors and Trends Strategically

If you plan to stay in the home for a long time, choose what you like. That is the simple answer.

If you think you may sell in four or five years, then I would pay more attention to what is trending and what has broad appeal.

Builders do a lot of research on spec home finishes for exactly that reason. They are trying to choose combinations that are current, attractive, and marketable.

So before finalizing your palette, think about:

• How long you expect to stay in the house
• Whether your choices are neutral or highly personal
• How future buyers might respond
• Whether the design will still feel current a few years from now

There is nothing wrong with personal taste. Just understand the tradeoff if your selections are very specific.

⚖️ Spec Homes vs Build-to-Order Homes

There is no universal right answer here. It depends on what matters most to you.

Spec homes usually offer:

• Lower purchase prices
• Faster move-in timelines
• Better incentives
• Lower interest rate promotions in many cases
• Possible closing cost assistance

Build-to-order homes usually offer:

• The ability to choose your finishes
• A more personalized living space
• Control over the look and feel of the home
• The satisfaction of making it yours from day one

That is really the tradeoff.

With a spec home, you often get the triple benefit of lower price, better incentives, and lower rate offers, but you are accepting the builder’s design decisions.

With a custom build, you get the house the way you want it, but you need to watch the budget carefully because upgrade costs can escalate in a hurry.

🧠 My Best Advice Before You Go to the Design Center

If you have a Richmond American design center appointment coming up, here is the practical advice I would give you:

1. Go in with a budget cap. Decide in advance how much you are willing to spend on upgrades.
2. Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. That one step alone will save a lot of people from overspending.
3. Take your time. Your first appointment may simply be to explore.
4. Compare builder pricing with outside pricing. Especially for appliances and certain finish items.
5. Focus on items that are hard to change later. Those often make the most sense to do during construction.
6. Be realistic about resale. Customize for your own enjoyment, not because you expect a full return.
7. Think about how long you will live there. That should influence your color and finish decisions.
8. Ask questions about security hardware. Some details matter more than people think.

The biggest mistake I see is buyers getting emotionally carried away because the options look so good. And to be fair, they do. There are a lot of good-looking options.

But once you start stacking upgrades on top of upgrades, the total can get out of hand very quickly.

✨ Final Thoughts

Richmond American opening up more build-to-order opportunities is a great thing for buyers who want control over their home’s interior design. The design center gives you a chance to choose from a massive range of flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures, hardware, and finishes so the house feels like your house from the beginning.

That said, freedom comes with responsibility.

Be thoughtful. Be strategic. Know what matters to you. Know where the value is. And most importantly, know your budget before all those beautiful samples start calling your name.

If you handle the process right, the design center can be one of the best parts of building a new construction home.

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