Builders usually charge more for decks and pavers than an outside contractor would; what you are really buying from the builder is the financing. Going through the builder rolls those costs into your mortgage instead of pulling them out of pocket up front. So the real question is cash versus convenience: - With cash on hand, doing the work separately after closing is usually cheaper overall. - If you would rather keep your cash liquid, bundling with the builder has real appeal even at the higher price, since the cost gets financed. Builders also run incentives from time to time that can tip the math back toward bundling. Before you decide, get one or two independent bids, so you know exactly what gap you are paying for the convenience of financing it.