Which Upgrades Are Best?

Personally if I had the cash, I'd add a mud room and wrap-around deck.

Bathrooms add value without a doubt but you have 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, it could be an overkill. The best person to check that with is a good Realtor familiar with your area. Fenced back yard adds privacy and value but depending on your area. Again check with good Realtor. The sprinkler system is probably a must in SE (I am in SW and nothing will live without sprinkler system here) however, this may be a project that you may tackle on your own it is relatively easy to do and most retailers will help you plan it for best results. Based on all above and without the benefit of expertise of local Realtor I probably would go with the fence. Privacy is always an issue and fencing an acre has got to be expensive. Three bathrooms is really good for 4 bedroom home and the sprinkler I would tackle as a project when it cools down a bit. Good Luck!

An extra 1/2 bath is great if the rest are on the other side of the house. It's also convenient if you have hired help or some not well-known guests using it, since they won't be going into the private areas of the house where you may have valuables you want to protect. A lot of houses now days have jack and jill baths, which makes the idea of a seperate half bath for security and privacy appealing. Remember that you may not know most of the kids in your house when yours are teenagers. It is easy to add now, impossible later. If the plans are for a full bath only, ask the builder to put the cost of the tub into a fence for the front of the house, and/or down the street side. Haggle and bargain for everything! Builders are scared right now! You may be able to get both, or all, but pretend to be willing to walk away. If you leave the bargaining table for a few days and things shut down, you may get a phone call in a week or so with all you wanted. Just act like you have cold feet. One of you can be the bad guy. Good luck!

Normally I would say a second bathroom but since you'll have 3 I don't think a 4th would add more value. I think you're better off with the irrigation/sprinkler system especially living in the south.

And truthfully a fenced yard is nice but thats easier for people to add on later than the irrigation system.

How large of a bonus room ? I would add a kitchenet ie; Bar sink ,microwave and small frig. And a few cabinets for munchies. This or the restroom Dude!

Here is something to think about- is the upgrade worth the extra interest and payments (you will be paying for this for 30 years) ---- or could this be added- after you move in - privately

so you will be paying interest on that fence for 30 years-

mmmm is the value worth it (I would say no)

go with the irrigatrion system . the yard is already made better by virtue of backing up to the trees.

bathrooms always add value moreso than fenced yard b/c anyone can add a fence but bathrooms are harder to add later on

Go for a garage with plenty of space for sport bikes!!! Then you and your buddies can put back a couple of Dews and fly through the city!!

THE FENCED YARD WOULD ADD MORE VALUE TO YOUR HOME THEN THE OTHER 2