Buying a new construction home is different from buying a resale. You’re not comparing granite to laminate in someone else’s kitchen. You’re starting from a floor plan and building from there. But that raises a big question: what actually comes with the base price?
At Destiny Homes, we hear that question constantly. Buyers want to know what they’re getting before they commit, and they should. A base price can mean very different things depending on the builder. Some builders quote low and then pile on extras once you sit down with their design team. Others include the lot in their number, which makes comparisons tricky.
Here’s how it works with us. The base price covers the home itself. The lot is priced separately. And what’s included in that base price is more than most buyers expect.
What Comes Standard in Every Destiny Home
Every Destiny Homes build comes with a set list of standard features. These aren’t add-ons. They’re part of the base price on every single plan we offer, from our townhomes starting at $270K to our larger single-family plans in the $475K to $650K+ range.
Exterior Finishes
All homes come standard with vinyl siding and standard exterior finishes. Your home will look finished and polished from day one. Stone accents, upgraded siding materials, or other exterior design elements fall into the design selection or upgrade category, which we’ll cover below.
Your driveway and front sidewalk are also included. You won’t be pulling into a gravel pad on closing day.
Interior Finishes and Appliances
The base price includes standard flooring throughout the home, a standard dishwasher, microwave, and oven. These are Whirlpool appliances that come installed and ready to use on move-in day.
Countertops and flooring selections are part of the design process, so you’ll pick materials that fit your style and budget. But the important thing to know is that the cost of a finished interior, with flooring, countertops, and working appliances, is already baked into the price.
Mechanicals and Infrastructure
This is where a lot of first-time buyers underestimate new construction. Every Destiny home includes full HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. These are built to current energy codes, which means better insulation, more efficient heating and cooling, and lower utility bills compared to most resale homes.
You’re not inheriting a 15-year-old furnace or a water heater on its last legs. Everything is brand new, inspected, and warranted.
Lot Prep and Landscaping
Each home comes fully sodded up to 10,000 square feet of so. That’s enough to give you a usable, green yard from the start. Permitting, inspections, and construction management are also part of the base price, so there are no surprise line items for things like building permits or third-party inspections.
The lot itself is separate (more on that below), but site prep, grading, and getting your home ready to sit on that lot are all handled as part of the build.
What You Get to Choose
One of the best parts of building with Destiny Homes is the design selection process. This is where you put your stamp on the home without turning it into a six-month decision.
During your design appointment, you’ll choose your siding style, stone accents (if any), countertop materials, and flooring. These are the selections that shape how your home looks and feels.
The goal is to give you real choices that matter, without dragging you through a 200-item option sheet. Most buyers finish their selections in a single appointment, and our team walks you through every option so nothing feels rushed or confusing.
If you want to see the full scope of plans and what’s available, check out our floor plans page.
What Counts as an Upgrade
Upgrades at Destiny Homes are exactly what they sound like: choices that go beyond the standard package. If you want thicker quartz countertops instead of the standard 2 cm, upgraded flooring, or stone accents on the exterior, those come at an additional cost.
Here’s what makes our upgrade process different from many builders. Our design team gives you clear pricing upfront. You won’t get a vague estimate and then a surprise invoice later. If you want to upgrade your countertops, you’ll know exactly what that costs before you sign off on it.
Upgrades are completely optional. Plenty of our buyers stick with the standard finishes and are thrilled with the result. Others customize heavily. Either way, the base price gets you a fully finished home.
What About the Lot?
This is a question that trips up a lot of first-time new construction buyers. At Destiny Homes, the base price covers the plan itself. The lot is priced separately.
That’s actually a good thing for buyers. It means you can compare plan prices across different communities without getting confused by bundled numbers. A 1,600-square-foot plan costs the same whether you’re building in Waukee or Ankeny. The lot price varies depending on location, size, and features like backing up to green space or a cul-de-sac.
We build in over 30 communities across the Des Moines metro, including Waukee, Ankeny, Grimes, Johnston, Bondurant, Adel, West Des Moines, and Urbandale. Lot availability changes often, so reach out to our team to see what’s open in the neighborhood you’re interested in.
The Build Timeline
From contract to move-in, most Destiny Homes are complete in 90 to 120 days. That’s significantly faster than the national average, which runs closer to seven months according to the National Association of Home Builders.
That timeline is possible because of how we build. Our crews know our floor plans inside and out. Our building process is designed to keep things moving without sacrificing quality. And because we’re building in established communities where permitting and site prep are already underway, we don’t lose weeks waiting for approvals.
For buyers relocating to Iowa or working around a lease expiration, that speed makes a real difference.
Warranty Coverage
Every Destiny home comes with full warranty coverage. That’s included in the base price, not an add-on. You can find the specifics on our warranty info page, but the short version is this: if something goes wrong that shouldn’t, we fix it.
This is one of the major advantages of buying new versus resale. A 20-year-old home might come with a home inspection, but it doesn’t come with a builder standing behind the work. With Destiny Homes, it does.
See What Fits Your Budget
Whether you’re looking at a townhome starting at $270K or a four-bedroom plan in the $375K to $475K range, every Destiny home comes with a strong list of included features. No guessing, no hidden costs, no surprises at closing.
Explore our floor plans to find the layout that works for you. Check out financing info to see how the numbers break down. And when you’re ready to talk specifics, contact our team to schedule a walkthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the base price include at Destiny Homes?
The base price covers the home plan itself, including vinyl siding, standard flooring, appliances (dishwasher, microwave, oven), full HVAC, plumbing, electrical, a fully sodded yard (up to 10,000 square feet), a driveway, sidewalk, permitting, inspections, construction management, and warranty coverage. The lot is priced separately.
Does the base price include the lot?
No. The base price covers the plan, and the lot is priced separately. This lets you compare plan costs across different communities without bundled pricing getting in the way.
What design selections do buyers make?
You’ll choose your main elements like siding, stone accents, countertops, and flooring during a design appointment. With Destiny, you get more choices than most builders offer. You can choose faucets, handles, light switches, shutters, built-ins, doors, and so much more.
How long does it take to build a Destiny home?
Most homes are completed in 90 to 120 days from contract to move-in. That’s well below the national average of about seven months.
Are upgrades available?
Yes. You can upgrade countertops, flooring, exterior finishes, and more. Pricing for upgrades is provided upfront during the design process.
References
NAHB: What Home Buyers Really Want, 2024 Edition (National Association of Home Builders)