Material selection:

Deciding on what materials you want on your home can make all the difference in the long term success of your investment. Not always are the most expensive items the best selection for your goals. Other items are worth the additional cost to you upfront for the long term pay off. From roofing to the grade steal you choose to put into the slab, all have return on investment. (ROI) For example: choosing to use 5/8th rebar vs. a welded wire can add additional life to your foundation. Much like deciding to spend the extra money on installing a metal roof vs. a shingle one. Knowing that you will never have to replace or repair items is always a good decision.
On the other hand sometimes spending the cash for expensive items such as carpet or granite counter tops can ultimately just cost you more when it comes time to make needed repairs or replace these items. Generally there are better uses for your monies than fancy "Jewelry" items. Carpet typically will not hold up as long as tile or wood floors and holds massive amounts of dirt (sand) as well as ten times its weight in dust, mostly made up of dead skin. Granite needs to be taken care of with kid gloves and is not ideal for rental applications. I love the look of granite but do not see the ROI that I typically would like to get in any product that I place into a property of mine.
Sometimes people believe that going cheap on some items at first with plans to later replace these items with more pricey items is a good way to save money upfront. I have never understood this idea as it adds additional cost to the permanent items that you wish to have eventually in your home.
Getting a higher seer HVAC system is going to save you money on your electric bills, But typically in salty environments, that are found on beach properties, the return on the additional cost will not be realized before the unit is worn out. Where as a closed cell product (spray foam) as insulation is an additional cost that most do not consider even though the ROI is outstanding considering its longevity. Not only will this product last longer than bat insulation or even cellulose, but it seems to provide additional structural support.
There are literally hundreds of items that go into your home. To maximize the ROI its important to know what options are at your disposal to get the most back in the long term.
Unfortunately there are not many avenues for your exploration as to what products will do best in one location and will require a certain amount of research to make sure you get whats best for you and your investment.

Jeph (J.B.) Burnett.