Homebuyers have many decisions to make, but one of the biggest is that weighted question of old versus new. You’ll find staunch proponents of both options, from the history buffs who swoon over structures that have stood for decades, to modern families who prefer everything to be untouched and new. If you’re wavering on this point, consider these major benefits of buying your home brand new.
Have a look at these 5 reasons you should buy a brand new home!
You Won’t Have to Redecorate Immediately
Old homes often come with unfortunate finishing touches made by previous owners, leaving you with major redecorating projects as soon as you’ve taken possession. If you don’t want to spend your first few weeks of homeownership replacing orange shag carpeting or painting over pace walls, a new home offers an easy answer. You can customize many features to suit your tastes. From counters and cabinetry to trim and flooring, there are plenty of ways to make a new home your own from the beginning. This frees up both time and money for easier decorating projects, like hanging curtains and picking out throw rugs.
You Can Live Repair-Free for Your First Year
When you move into your new home, everything is brand new; you don’t have to worry about the kinds of repairs and upgrades that may top your to-do list in an older house. Most homes come with a new-home warranty. If yours doesn’t, then this is something you should definitely negotiate into the contract. With this guarantee, everything from the plumbing to the building materials will be covered for at least the first year.
The comfortable assurance that everything will stay in perfect working order while you’re settling into your new abode can ease some of the financial concerns that come with this kind of major purchase. You can rebuild some of the savings you spent on your house while everything is conveniently under warranty. This way, you’ll have a nice emergency fund underneath you in coming years.
You Can Build the Home for Your Family
When you’re shopping for a used home, you have to work with the structure you get. Building a new home gives you a wealth of options for creating the ideal home on your favorite lot. Most communities give you several choices so you can pick the style, size, and floor plan that work for you.
New Homes Must Adhere to Strict Building Standards
Your new home will have to adhere to today’s strict building codes, which means it will probably be safer and more energy-efficient than an older house. It’s easier to merge energy-saving building designs into a new home than it is to remodel an existing structure to achieve a higher level of energy efficiency. Though building requirements vary by state, you’ll find many green home builders who both meet and exceed regulations to create some of the greenest homes possible.
While energy-efficient homes cost marginally more to build, the savings can come back to the home buyer in less than four years. After that, you’ll enjoy cost savings in the form of lower utility bills throughout the life of your home.
You Can Enjoy the Feeling of Founding a New Community
In an existing neighborhood, you’ll probably be “the new family” for the first few years. Moving into a well-established community can leave you feeling like an outsider. If you have a home built in a new community with several new constructions, you’ll move in with several other families who are just settling into the neighborhood. This can create a friendlier atmosphere, as everyone is in a similar situation and looking to establish a safe and welcoming community together. Get into a new community early, and you can enjoy the feeling of being one of the “founding fathers” of your neighborhood.
If you love customization but don’t want to do it all yourself, a new home is a way to go. Pick out everything from energy-efficient windows to sleek wood flooring to suit your taste, and you’ll come home to a place that is truly yours from day one.
Do you prefer a brand new house or an old one?
*The unedited image by Sue Mischyshyn /CC-BY-SA-2.0
