Buying Before Completion: How Finish Selections Work

Buying a new home before it is finished has a clear benefit. You get a say in how it looks inside. Instead of living with someone else's choices, you pick finishes you like. But the process can feel unfamiliar. This guide walks through how selections usually work and what is included at one South Philadelphia community.

What "Selections" Means

Selections are the finish choices you make for a home under construction. They usually cover the visible surfaces you touch every day. Think cabinets, handles, countertops, tile Philadelphia new construction homes with 10 year tax abatement and flooring. In many new homes, these choices come from a set of samples offered by the builder.

The timing matters. Selections are made while the home is still being built. Once materials are ordered and installed, changes become harder. That is why buyers who come in early often have the widest range of choices.

What Can Be Customized Here

At Renaissance Estates in Packer Park, the developer lists several items as customizable:

Cabinets
Handles
Doors
Countertops
Flooring

There is also a Closet Works allowance for custom closets. That lets you plan storage around how you actually use each room.

Staying Within the Base Price

The most useful point for budgeting is simple. Selections and colors chosen from samples are within the base price. The base price is listed from $1,175,000. The developer notes that initial prices are subject to change as costs and demand rise.

In practical terms, choosing from the samples does not add a separate finish budget on top. Always confirm the details with the sales team for the specific home you are considering.

A Simple Way to Approach Your Choices

Start with the kitchen. The kitchen has Porcelanosa European-designed cabinets, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a Wolf range. Choose cabinet colors and countertops that suit those appliances.
Pick flooring next. The homes have hardwood flooring and tile throughout. Flooring ties the floors of a tall townhome together, so choose with the whole house in mind.
Match handles and doors. Small details like handles and doors carry a style from room to room.
Plan closets last. Once rooms are set, use the Closet Works allowance to fit storage to your needs.

What Comes Standard Either Way

Some features are part of every home regardless of your choices. These include a 5-stop elevator, a 2-car garage with an interior entrance, dual-zone HVAC and a large fiberglass roof deck. Kohler faucets and fixtures, solid-core interior doors and more than 60 recessed lights are also listed.

Seeing Finishes in Person

Samples look different in a showroom than on a screen. The furnished model home lets you see finished rooms at full scale. Tours are by private appointment. Limited homes remain, so check current availability before you visit.

To ask about selections or book a tour, call (215) 551-5100 or email [email protected].