Flooring first, then the things builders leave undone: landscaping and window coverings. With new construction, the expensive invisible stuff (HVAC, systems, a modern floor plan) is already handled, and buyers expect it, so it won't differentiate your home at resale. Finishes and the unfinished items are where your money works. - Flooring is usually the single best upgrade. Builders run carpet wherever they can because it's cheap, and a lot of buyers no longer want carpet. Hard-surface flooring in the main living areas makes the home show better and read as move-in ready next to the builder-grade units around it. - Stay measured on the countertop-and-cabinet arms race. Going from builder-grade to a nicer designer grade looks great, but the return on the priciest tier is thin. Upgrade to clearly nice and skip the top option. - Landscaping and window coverings are the overlooked winners. A finished backyard versus a dirt lot, and dressed windows versus bare ones, are exactly what make your listing stand out from the other builder-owned inventory in the same neighborhood when you eventually sell. They tend to be undervalued at purchase and disproportionately noticed by the next buyer. Put your budget there before spending up on finishes with thin returns.