...The Pros and Cons of Building New

Pro: Limited options

But wait – limited options is a good thing, too! Unless you’re a home design pro, it’s easy to get paralyzed by the sheer amount of choices you can make when building a home. When building a custom home through a hired contractor instead of a development company, many buyers have to hire architects and designers to help them sift through the wide array of options and make smart decisions. In that way, having, say, six kitchen faucets to choose from instead of six hundred, is actually a benefit to buying new construction, and can help ease the stress that comes from having too many options.

Con: Upgrades aren’t cheap

The first price you see when choosing a new construction home is the base price of the property. This includes the structure itself (without any optional addons, like extra bedrooms or first floor bump outs), and may also include things like the lot the home will sit on and the landscaping that will surround it – or not. It also includes all the standard finishes, which are often not the best looking or highest quality options. To get your house looking how you want it, you’re going to have to choose some upgrades, and those will quickly make the price of your home go up. Things like wood floors instead of carpet, recessed lighting, fireplaces, and updated kitchens are all going to add on to the cost of your home in big ways. Make sure to factor in additional costs and be conscious about finding a balance between getting the things that you want and staying within your budget.

Pro: Energy efficiency

Newer homes across the board are taking advantage of innovations in energy efficiency, and if you build new construction, chances are you will get a home that is specifically built to use less energy. There are a lot of variables in a home that can be optimized for energy efficiency, including insulation and air sealing, heating and cooling, and appliances. When you build new construction, you have more say over the strategies used to reduce your home’s carbon footprint. Your builder likely already includes some of those options, like energy efficient windows, which can prevent the 25%-30% heat gain and loss attributed to less efficient windows. Ask about other energy saver options as well, like dual flush toilets, smart thermostats, and LED lighting.

There Is something cool about being the first person to eat, sleep, and use the bathroom

In

a home :)

Pro: Less maintenance costs

New homes aren’t necessarily immune from needing repairs, but the chances of having to fix a leaky roof or a broken pipe are significantly lower, meaning less stress and less money spent while everything is still new. In addition, most builders include a range of warranties with their homes, which may include a short term full structure warranty and a longer term exterior warranty. It’s a big financial benefit, and a nice relief in the years following such a major purchase.