Is a New Construction Home Right for You?

Buying new construction makes the most sense for some home buyers. Instead of choosing a home that already exists, they're taking the opportunity to start from scratch. Whether you buy a new home that was built with your input or not, there are some serious advantages to choosing this route. We'll look at why so many homeowners make the effort.

A Clean Slate

This is often the most quoted reason for people to buy a new home - they want to start fresh. Appliances, floors, closets, attic: everything is new. There are no scratches to find under the shelves, no dirt where the cleaners couldn't reach. There's no old wallpaper to tear down, carpet to rip up or asbestos to worry about. It's a pristine residence just waiting for you to make it your own.

Convenient for Moving

When you buy a new home, you (usually) don't have to worry about the plumbing, electricity or foundation. Because a new house hasn't been subjected to many years of soil shifts and traffic patterns, you can rest easy when you move in. This is not to say that there are never problems with new construction, only that if you're working with (or buying from) someone reputable, you likely won't have any issues. This is a huge perk, especially for people who don't have time to negotiate with a seller on who's going to cover which repairs.

Low-Maintenance

This advantage is related to the previous one, but a necessary distinction. New homes tend to have fewer maintenance requirements because there's been no wear-and-tear on the property. Homeowners don't always factor in the high costs of system upkeep, a budget error that can drastically eat into their savings. Plus, new homes often don't cost an arm and a leg, meaning more long-term savings without the upfront-costs.

Home Warranties

New homes usually come with a warranty. This means that if an appliance does break down or you notice some puddles in your basement, you can have the builder cover the costs of repairs. Pre-owned homes often require you to purchase a limited warranty that may not cover all defects or system failures. While the plumbing may work when you first test it at an Open House, it might fail quickly once there are multiple people using it.

Environmentally Friendly

All construction crews will have their own protocol and policies for building. However, they are expected to comply with local, state and national environmental standards. This all translates to more responsible homes and lower utility bills. Before you negotiate on a new home though, ask if the building will be given an energy rating by a third-party assessor. This will give you a better idea of the amount of effort put into energy conservation and avoiding environmental impact.

Room to Negotiate

From the floorplan to the style, new construction homes are modern and usually customizable. Even if you haven't personally worked with the builders from Day One, there might be some degree of flexibility before the move-in date. So if you want better appliances or luxury cabinets, you might be able to work something out. While new homes are unlikely to budge in bottom-line price, the numbers aren't set in stone. If a home has been sitting for a while, it never hurts to ask. After all, whatever they don't use on your home will just be used in the next project. 

Buying new construction means getting a property without the stains of time. If you're looking for something that will be easy on your budget and better for the environment, there's really no better choice.