Upgrading Hardin Valley Homes Beyond Builder Grade

What builder grade usually means

When a home is built to sell, the builder spends on things buyers cannot easily change, such as framing, roofing and mechanical systems, and saves on finishes that can be swapped later. That is a sensible approach, and it leaves a predictable list of upgrades. Here is how those starting points typically line up with what Hardin Valley homeowners ask us to do:

You do not need to tackle all of it at once. We often help people rank the list by what bothers them most, then do one or two rooms at a time.

Floors and walls first

If you are going to change both floors and paint, the order matters. We usually paint before new flooring goes down, so drips never touch the finished floor, then touch up baseboards at the end. Because our flooring installation work spans everything from engineered wood to tile, one house can mix materials sensibly: tile in the laundry room, wood-look plank in the open living area, carpet in bedrooms.

Newer drywall also tends to show a few nail pops and corner cracks once a house settles through its first few seasons. Those are normal and easy to fix, and it makes sense to repair them before fresh paint. Our drywall repair work handles patches, retexturing and full rooms.

Turning unused space into living space

Homes on sloped lots in northwest Knox County sometimes come with a basement or a bonus room over the garage that was left unfinished. Finishing it can be one of the bigger improvements you make. The questions to answer early:

• Is the space dry? East Tennessee humidity is hard on below-grade rooms. We look for signs of seepage before we hang a single sheet of drywall.
• Is there a legal way out? A bedroom needs a proper egress window or door.
• Where do utilities run? Ductwork and plumbing lines may need boxing in, which affects ceiling height.

Fences for new yards

New neighborhoods often have bare lot lines and young trees, so privacy is limited for the first several years. A fence is a common early project. Most planned neighborhoods in the area have HOA rules on height and style, so check yours before you choose a design. We can provide drawings for the approval request, and our fencing services page covers wood, vinyl and other options.

Close to home

Hardin Valley runs along Hardin Valley Road out toward the Pellissippi State campus, a short drive from our office in Heiskell. We also work in neighboring Karns and across Knox County. Ready to make a list? Schedule your free estimate and we will walk the house with you.