New Homes in Lawrenceville, GA

The first thing you notice when you pull up to this model home in Lawrenceville is the vertical siding and modern farmhouse elevation. The second thing is the covered front porch with flagstone stairs that will never crack. The third thing, once you step through those aluminum-framed glass doors, is the soaring two-story foyer with dual chandeliers and wood-paneled walls. This is not your standard new construction spec house. This is a brand-new community in Gwinnett County with 82 total home sites, about 60 lots still available, and a floor plan that delivers wow factor after wow factor.

This is the Rhinewood floor plan: 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 3-car garage, 4,600 square feet of finished space, plus an unfinished basement that adds another 2,500 square feet if you finish it. The base price starts at $1,284,995 for the farmhouse elevation, which has no brick or stone. Add more brick and stone, and the price goes up. But that base price is just the starting point. You'll add your lot premium (ranging from $15,000 to $45,000), your structural options (sliding glass doors, shower conversions, the scullery kitchen), and then your design center selections, which the builder recommends budgeting at 10 to 15 percent of the base price. My clients use every bit of that budget, and when you see this model, you'll understand why.

Lawrenceville is part of Gwinnett County, and this particular community just opened its model home. There are 82 total home sites planned, and they've sold about 20 so far, which means there's still a lot of opportunity to pick your lot. I looked through the lot premium price list, and they start at about $15,000 and go up to about $45,000. That's reasonable for what you're getting, especially when you consider the tree line around the perimeter. You're not staring at your neighbor's back porch or a busy road.

The builder is running incentives, though they change all the time. If you use their in-house lender, there are additional incentives on the lending side. And here's something a lot of people don't realize: the builder covers my compensation, so you're getting my help for free. I walk you through the lot selection, the structural options, the design center appointments, all of it. I have a client building this exact floor plan in another community right now, and we're about to close. It's coming out beautifully.

The main floor starts with that two-story foyer. You turn right into the office, which has four windows and plenty of natural light. Across the hall is the formal dining room, set up with a square table that seats eight. Then you walk into the main living space, and you see that wall of windows and the two-story fireplace. The ceilings are really tall, but the builder added wood elements throughout, so it feels warm instead of cold. There's an informal dining area off the kitchen, a keeping room with a fireplace, and a three-section sliding glass door that opens to the covered back porch.

The kitchen has a massive island, at least 10 feet, maybe 11. They did a beautiful quartz countertop, lots of drawers, and cabinetry that goes to the ceiling. That's an upgrade, and so is the glass-front cabinetry. I'm not personally a fan of the glass because I don't want to clean it all the time, but I do like the look of cabinetry that goes to the ceiling. It's a very custom, high-end look. You have wall ovens, a great-size pantry (which they built out, but you can save money by doing that after closing), and then the coolest feature: a scullery kitchen.

The scullery is a full second kitchen right off the main kitchen. You have a cooktop, vent hood, oven and microwave combo (I believe that's convection), refrigeration, sink, dishwasher, everything. This is an option, not standard, but my client who's building this floor plan in another community added it, and it's one of the reasons she picked this layout. If you entertain a lot or you just want your main kitchen to stay clean while you do the messy cooking in the back, this is a game-changer.

The other bedrooms upstairs are all great sizes, and like I said, they all have ensuite bathrooms. One of them still has the tub-shower combo, which is the standard option. The others have been converted to full showers, and that's a structural option you have to select up front before permitting. I actually had a client who didn't select it at first and wanted to add it later. The house hadn't even been started yet, but the builder wouldn't allow it. It had to be done before the permitting stage, or it would get too messy resubmitting the permits. So it's really important to understand which options are structural and which ones you can add later.

The basement is finished in this model, and it's incredible. You have a speakeasy bar area with wine storage, a massive kitchen or bar with a waterfall edge (I think that island is 11 or 12 feet), a big living room with TV built-ins, a full bathroom, a gym with equipment on the walls and mirrors, and a golf simulator room. There's also a three-section sliding glass door that opens to the backyard. The basement adds about 2,500 square feet if you finish it, so you're looking at a total of around 7,100 square feet in this house.

Then you go to the design center. The builder says to budget anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of the base price, and my clients use every bit of that. You know, it would be sad to have your heart set on this gorgeous model and then go to the design center, not spend any money, and when your house is built, it doesn't look anything like this. Because that's where all the magic happens. That's where you pick your flooring, your tile, your countertops, your cabinetry finishes, all of those things. It makes everything look so designer, so custom.

So if you take the base price of $1,284,995, add a mid-range lot premium of $30,000, add structural options (let's say $50,000 for the scullery, the sliding doors, and a few bathroom conversions), and then add 12 percent for the design center (about $154,000), you're looking at a total price around $1,518,995. That's a rough estimate, but it gives you an idea of how the numbers work. Every client is different, and some people spend more at the design center, some spend less. But you need to go in with realistic expectations.

But that's okay. There are a lot of great contractors here in Georgia, and a lot of times the builder will share the contractor that built it for the model house. The backyard in this model is incredible. They did turf everywhere, which keeps everything really easy to maintain. You don't need a lot of land. You just need a well-organized, well-utilized small backyard to make it a perfect entertaining space. They did hardscape, a little yoga area, a fire and water feature (water fountain plus fire table), and a covered outdoor kitchen with a granite countertop and grill. It's an ideal entertaining situation.

This model home in Lawrenceville is a showstopper. From the moment you walk through the door, there's wow factor after wow factor. You have that soaring foyer with the catwalk, the great room with the big wall of windows, the primary suite with the sitting room and spa bathroom, the scullery kitchen, the finished basement with the golf simulator and bar. It's gorgeous. And the floor plan works. All the bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms, which is huge for resale. The main floor has a bedroom, which is great for guests or aging in place. The basement adds another 2,500 square feet if you finish it.

FAQ

What is the base price for the Rhinewood floor plan in Lawrenceville?

The base price for the Rhinewood floor plan starts at $1,284,995 for the farmhouse elevation, which has no brick or stone. The more brick and stone you add to an elevation, the higher the price. That base price does not include the lot premium, structural options, or design center selections.

How much should I budget for design center upgrades?

The builder recommends budgeting anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of the base price for design center selections. My clients use every bit of that budget. That's where you pick your flooring, tile, countertops, cabinetry finishes, and all the things that make the house look like the model. If you don't spend money at the design center, your house won't look anything like what you see in the model.

Does the builder provide landscaping and outdoor features?

No. This builder does amazing backyards in their model houses, but they don't actually offer those services. When you go to the design center, they'll tell you they were just showing the backyard so you can get an idea of what's possible. You'll have to figure out the outdoor features after you close. A lot of times the builder will share the contractor that built the model house backyard, and there are a lot of great contractors here in Georgia.

What are lot premiums in this community?

Lot premiums in this Lawrenceville community range from $15,000 to $45,000 depending on location, size, and whether you're backing to trees or another house. I looked through the price list, and they're very reasonable for what you're getting, especially with the tree line around the perimeter.

Can I add structural options after the permitting stage?

No. Structural options like sliding glass doors, bathroom conversions to full shower instead of tub, and the scullery kitchen have to be selected before the permitting stage. I had a client who didn't select a shower conversion at first and wanted to add it later. The house hadn't even been started yet, but the builder wouldn't allow it. It had to be done before permitting, or it would get too messy resubmitting the permits.

Are there smaller floor plans available with similar features?

Yes. This builder has other floor plans that have a lot of these same characteristics in smaller footprints. You can get the ensuite bathrooms, the scullery option, the main-floor bedroom, and the open concept without the 4,600 square feet of finished space. Give me a call and I'll introduce you to the other floor plans that might make more sense for you and your family.

< Older Post Newer Post >