Worth the Wait: Purchasing a New Construction Home

Are you in the market for a new home? Buying a house is always exciting. However, you’ll have numerous important decisions to make before closing day. A common conundrum is deciding between pre-existing or new construction. There are many reasons that building may be worth your wait.

Know the Quality

When you buy a pre-existing home, you don’t always know the history. Not all materials, construction techniques, and builders are created equally. Some professionals, such as Bill Starkey, expert craftsman, have decades of experience, while others are new to the scene.

If you build a home, you can be involved in the process every step of the way. Select a building company that suits your quality expectations, from the groundbreaking to the finishing touches.

Select the Finishings

When touring homes, what you see is what you get. Certain defects may be corrected before closing, but the overall aesthetic will remain. For some buyers, that means future DIY projects and renovations.

Renovations will then incur costs to manage the waste you produce, including purchasing skip hire. The best size for DIY and renovation projects are 6 or 8-yards, and the potential cost of things like this should be factored into your decision.

Building allows you to select your finishings along the way. There is customization variation between builders, but you can expect input for details such as paint colors, trim, carpet pile, faucets, countertops, light fixtures, and tile.

Choose the Floor Plan

There are three main varieties of builders. Each allows you to choose your preferred floor plan in some manner.

Tract Builders

Tract builders are the big companies you see putting in neighborhoods throughout your region. Generally, the company will offer a handful of pre-designed floor plans for buyers to select from. You won’t be able to make big changes to the plans. However, some tract builders offer subtle changes like incorporating sunrooms and bump-outs.

Spec Builders

Spec homes are between tract and custom builds. This type of builder does not mass produce. Instead, they usually secure a small number of lots and build unique homes on each one. Construction often begins before a buyer is secured. You may be able to impact the floor plan if you become involved early in the process.

Custom Builders

Custom homes are the top tier of building. Any reasonable design you can imagine can be drawn up and constructed by a custom builder. You will be involved starting with the lot selection and blueprint creation. While you are guaranteed to get the layout you want, custom builds do come at a higher price point.

Enjoy a Warranty

No matter what home you purchase, you will have the option to get a home warranty. The degree that the warranty covers varies greatly between pre-existing and new construction.

Builder warranties offer more protection. Each company will have its own terms, but you can expect a year or two of coverage on materials and up to a decade for structural issues. If a new appliance package is included in your build, you can even enjoy manufacturer warranties. Pre-existing home warranties generally cover appliances and systems but not structural aspects.

Only you can decide what type of home is right for your future. These benefits may tip the scale towards new construction.