Real estate season is here and in full swing. If you’re looking to move or purchase your first home, but are having trouble weighing the options of a new home versus existing construction, we’ve got some great insights about new construction homes that might help influence your decision.
Spring cleaning? What spring cleaning?
With the beginning of the spring season comes that all-important task of spring cleaning. You’ve got to wipe all the winter crud away and get your home fresh and ready for the warmer months. But in a new home your typical spring cleaning list that covers wall to wall, floor to ceiling, and a general deep clean – goes out the window (the already clean, brand-new window). There’s no need to break your back moving appliances so you can clean behind them or to smoke yourself out of the kitchen trying to use the self-cleaning function on your oven. In new construction your baseboards will be sparkling white, window blinds are dust-free, the shower and bathtub have zero soap scum, and everything is brand new and ready for you to settle in. Instead of spending several days putting some elbow grease into your cleaning, you can do a maintenance quick clean with some light vacuuming, dusting, mopping, and maybe a little scrubbing.
Turn-key
It doesn’t get more move-in-ready or “turn key” than new construction. From day one the work is already done for you, you don’t have to lift a finger. Instead of spending all your weekend at hardware and home renovation stores working on upgrades or a remodel, you can enjoy a leisurely Saturday in your new place as soon as you’ve unpacked. Not only does this leave you more time to enjoy life in your new abode but it’s also a huge financial benefit.
Low/No Maintenance
With modern, new appliances, heat, air, and plumbing, you should be able to enjoy a repair-free lifestyle for several years. Where as a home that is coming up on the 10-year mark may be looking at pricey repairs for a variety of things such as a hot water heater replacement ($250-$500), dishwasher repair ($80), or garage door part replacement ($100). There may also be bigger items looming on the horizon such as an HVAC tune up, repair or even a replacement ($1,000-$8,000), roof repairs ($1,000+) and appliance replacement ($3,000+). Maintenance and repair costs can add up quickly but these are things that don’t need to be considered when purchasing a new home as not only are you unlikely to require such repairs, but in the rare event that you do, most, if not all things, will be included in your home warranty or covered under individual product warranties.
No hidden surprises
In a new home, what you see is what you get. You don’t need to worry about finding unplanned issues during a home inspection such as a mold problem behind the drywall in the basement, rotting subfloor, or asbestos.
Long-term Savings
New construction today is much more energy efficient than homes built even five years ago, let alone homes built ten or 20 years ago. Older homes often have energy-wasting single-pane windows, inefficient heating and cooling systems, and lesser insulation. Most new homes are now built with updated, energy efficient windows, better heating and cooling systems and more efficient insulation products.
So if you’re looking to purchase a home and you’ve decided on new construction, give one of our experienced realtors a call. We can show you the new construction options available that meet your family’s needs when it comes to home amenities, location, and budget. Or if you’d prefer existing construction, we can help with that too. Our team is prepared to work with you to find the right home for you and your family.