Building a new home should feel exciting, not confusing. But one question trips up almost every first-time buyer: what’s included in a new construction home, and what costs extra? If you’re comparing builders in Southern Indiana, knowing exactly what comes standard is the difference between a real price and a surprise at closing.
Key Takeaways
- The rule is simple: with Value Built Homes, if it’s part of the standard floor plan, it’s included in the base price. If it isn’t shown in the plan, it’s an optional add-on.
- The base price always covers the site-built home itself (with named-brand materials), the foundation, a standard sewer connection, water, electric, and a rock construction drive.
- A garage, porch, or patio is plan-dependent, meaning it’s included only when it’s part of the standard plan. A basement, a finished driveway, sidewalks, and a septic system are always priced separately.
- “Turnkey” is not “furnished,” and it’s not “modular.” It means the builder handles the whole build so you can move in, not that the home comes with furniture or is assembled from factory sections.
- Standardized plans keep it affordable: Value Built Homes builds traditional site-built homes 100% on-site, and its streamlined approach can save most buyers between 20% and 30% compared to building elsewhere.
- Base price is not total cost. Your total depends on your lot, your add-ons, financing, and move-in expenses, so ask any builder for a full, itemized quote.
What Comes Standard in a Value Built Homes New Construction Home
With Value Built Homes, what’s included follows one clear rule: if it’s part of the standard, cost-engineered floor plan, it’s in the base price. If it isn’t shown in the plan, it’s an optional add-on. That standardized approach is how the builder keeps traditional site-built homes affordable and the process simple.
Here’s the full picture, from what’s always standard to what’s added on separately:
| Item | Status | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| In the base price (standard) | ||
| The site-built home | Standard | Built 100% on-site to Value Built Homes’ standard specifications, with named-brand materials like Sun Windows, GAF roofing, and Dreamweaver carpet. |
| Foundation | Standard | Included. A basement is a separate add-on. |
| Standard sewer connection | Standard | Covered on subdivision lots that have sewer. Unusual or long connections on deep or oddly placed lots are an add-on. |
| Water and electric | Standard | Included in every package. |
| Rock construction drive | Standard | A gravel construction drive so crews can reach the site. This is not a finished or paved driveway. |
| Named-brand appliances | Standard | Pre-selected, named-brand (Whirlpool). See the appliances FAQ below for what comes standard. |
| Energy-efficient construction | Standard | Built with modern insulation and energy-saving materials. |
| Plan-dependent (included only when the standard plan calls for it) | ||
| Garage | Plan-dependent | Included when it is part of the standard plan. Plans that offer one label it “optional garage.” |
| Porch | Plan-dependent | Included only when the plan and roofline are built for it. There is no default front porch. |
| Patio | Plan-dependent | Same logic as the porch. There is no default back patio. |
| Optional add-ons (priced separately) | ||
| Basement | Add-on | Always optional, never automatic. |
| Finished or paved driveway | Add-on | An upgrade from the rock construction drive. |
| Sidewalks | Add-on | Any connection, such as a walk to the garage or porch, is added separately. |
| Porch or patio not in the plan | Add-on | Added separately when the standard plan and roofline don’t include one. |
| Septic system | Add-on | Priced separately because cost varies with home size and ground conditions. |
| Radon mitigation | Conditional | Included where local code requires it, otherwise an optional add-on. |
A few of those standard items are worth a closer look:
- The rock construction drive. Every base price includes a rock (gravel) construction drive so crews and vehicles can reach the site. This is not a finished or paved driveway. If you want a permanent driveway, that’s an add-on, covered below.
- Named-brand materials. The standard specifications use trusted brands, including Sun Windows, GAF roofing, and Dreamweaver carpet, so you’re not guessing about quality.
- Energy-efficient construction. Value Built Homes builds with modern insulation and energy-saving materials. As a reference point, homes that earn formal ENERGY STAR certification are at least 10% more energy efficient than homes built to minimum code. That certification is a separate program, so ask about the specific efficiency features of any plan you are considering.
The standard package also includes more than the structure. Value Built Homes covers the interest on your construction loan during the build through its free construction financing program, which saves buyers thousands up front. Every home is also backed by a 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (10-year structural, 2-year systems, and 1-year workmanship and materials), plus Value Built Homes’ own workmanship warranty on top, which runs two years in Indiana and one year in Kentucky.
The standard plans span two to five bedrooms, and because they’re standardized, what you see drawn in the plan is what you get. You can browse the floor plans to see how each one is laid out.
What Does “Turnkey” Mean When Building a Home?
Turnkey means the builder handles the entire build, from the foundation to the finishes, so your home is ready to move into when it’s done. It does not mean the home comes furnished, and it does not mean the home is modular or prefab. A turnkey site-built home is built entirely on your lot, then handed over move-in ready.
This is where a lot of buyers get tripped up, because some builder and real-estate sites use the word loosely. It helps to be clear on what turnkey does not mean:
- Not furnished. Turnkey refers to the home being complete and move-in ready, not stocked with furniture, decor, or window treatments.
- Not modular or prefab. A turnkey home from Value Built Homes is a traditional stick-built home constructed on-site, not assembled from factory-built sections.
- Not “everything is free.” Even a turnkey builder separates standard inclusions from optional add-ons. Turnkey describes how the build is managed, not that every possible feature is included at no extra cost.
What’s Plan-Dependent: Garage, Porch, and Patio
A garage, porch, and patio are plan-dependent, which means they’re included only when they’re part of the standard floor plan you choose. Value Built Homes plans label these as optional, and there’s no default front porch or back patio unless the plan and roofline are built for one.
Here’s how each one works:
- Garage: Included when the standard plan includes it. Plans that offer one label it “optional garage,” so check the plan before you assume.
- Porch: Included only when the plan and roofline are designed for it (“optional porch”). There’s no default front porch.
- Patio: Same logic. There’s no default back patio unless the plan includes it.
The upside of this approach is clarity. Because every plan is standardized, you can see exactly what’s drawn in, with no guesswork about whether a porch or garage is part of your price.
What’s Not Included: The Optional Add-Ons to Budget For
Some features are never part of the standard base price. A basement, a finished driveway, sidewalks, and a septic system are always optional add-ons, priced separately. Budgeting for the ones you want up front keeps your quote honest and prevents surprises later.
These are the add-ons to plan for:
- Basement: Always an add-on, never automatic. If you want one, it’s quoted separately from the base price.
- Finished or paved driveway: Your base price includes a rock construction drive, not a finished driveway. A permanent driveway is an upgrade, and many buyers build on land that already has a drive, so it’s added only when you need it.
- Sidewalks: Not included. Any connection, such as a walk to the garage or front porch, is added separately.
- Septic system: On a lot without a sewer connection, a septic system is priced separately. Cost varies with your home size and ground conditions, because a local permitting agency assesses the site and soil before a septic system can be permitted.
- Radon mitigation: Radon-resistant construction is included where local building code requires it, and it’s an optional add-on where it doesn’t. It’s inexpensive relative to the build; radon-resistant new construction typically costs a builder between $250 and $750.
Add-ons like these are easy to overlook, right along with the move-in costs many buyers forget, from window treatments to landscaping. Knowing which items sit outside the base price is what lets you compare builders honestly.
Is a Site-Built Home the Same as a Modular or Prefab Home?
No. Value Built Homes builds traditional site-built homes 100% on-site, not modular, prefabricated, or manufactured homes. The difference comes down to where and how the home is built:
- Site-built (stick-built): constructed entirely on your lot, from the foundation up, piece by piece.
- Modular or prefab: built in sections at a factory, then trucked in and assembled on-site.
Because Value Built Homes uses standardized, cost-engineered floor plans, the process stays simple and affordable. Fewer decisions mean less stress and a faster build, and most builds take about five to seven months.
Cost can also land closer to modular than buyers expect. As one Value Built Homes homeowner put it: “We ended up spending the same amount for our stick built home as we were going to with the modular company. We are happy!” Their experience points to the appeal of a standardized, site-built approach: a traditional home, built on-site, at a price that can compete.
Base Price vs. Total Cost: Why the Sticker Isn’t the Whole Story
The base price is what the standard package costs. Your total cost to build includes more, so a low base price with a long list of extras can end up costing more than a higher price that already includes them. Here’s the distinction that matters when you compare builders:
- Base price: the standard package, meaning everything in the standard tier above.
- Total cost: the base price plus any add-ons you choose, your lot, financing, and move-in expenses.
It helps to see how many separate pieces go into a build. National builder cost data breaks construction into stages, and the final steps alone count the driveway, outdoor structures like decks and patios, and landscaping as distinct costs. Hire each piece out yourself, or act as your own general contractor, and every stage becomes a separate bid, a separate schedule, and a separate headache.
A turnkey builder rolls all of that into one package with one point of contact. As one Value Built Homes homeowner shared: “Value Built Homes was able to take care of everything. They took care of all the headache items like septic, foundation and water.”
Where you build changes what’s already handled, too. On a build-ready subdivision lot, sewer and site access may already be in place, while building on your own land can mean adding a septic system or a permanent driveway. To see how all the pieces add up across your whole project, from land to move-in, the full cost breakdown of a new home walks through every bucket.
Frequently Asked Questions About What’s Included in a New Construction Home
Does a new construction home come with a driveway?
Not usually a finished one. With Value Built Homes, the base price includes a rock construction drive, which is gravel, not a paved driveway. A finished or paved driveway is an optional upgrade, and many buyers add it after building or already have a drive on their land.
Are appliances included in a new construction home?
Value Built Homes includes pre-selected, named-brand appliances as part of the standard package, so you’re not shopping for the basics before move-in. For the full details on which appliances come standard, see the guide to whether appliances are included in new construction homes.
Does a new home include a basement, garage, or porch?
A basement is always an optional add-on, never automatic. A garage, porch, or patio is plan-dependent, meaning it’s included only when it’s part of the standard floor plan you choose. Value Built Homes plans label these as optional, so check the plan to confirm.
What’s the difference between the base price and the total cost to build?
The base price is the cost of the standard package. The total cost also includes any add-ons, your lot, financing, and move-in expenses. Always ask a builder for an itemized quote so you’re comparing the same thing across builders.
Who handles septic, water, and electric when you build?
With Value Built Homes, water and electric are part of the standard base price, along with a standard sewer connection on subdivision lots that have sewer. A septic system, needed on lots without sewer, is priced separately because cost depends on your home size and ground conditions.
Build With Confidence, Knowing Exactly What’s Included
The clearest way to compare builders is to know precisely what’s standard, what’s plan-dependent, and what’s an add-on. With Value Built Homes, the rule stays simple: if it’s in the standard plan, it’s included, and if it isn’t, you’ll know it’s optional before you build. That kind of clarity is what turns a stressful process into a path to your forever home.
Have questions about what’s included in your build? Contact the Value Built Homes team for a clear, itemized quote and start planning your new home in Southern Indiana.
