Buying

7 Reasons Why a New Home Can Be Better than an Established Property

Prospective home buyers often wonder whether a new or existing home will best suit their needs. New homes are often in good supply and have plenty to offer, including the following benefits:

1. Floor plans suited for today’s lifestyles

Homes are often bigger now than in the past, with the average new home now at an all-time high of 2,600 square feet. The floor plan in new homes is very likely to be open, with one room flowing into another. Rooms are likely to be larger in general and designed for families to enjoy together.

Living-Room-in-New-Construction-Home1

Kitchens in particular are often larger, with an eat-in area included. Homes usually have more storage, including larger closets, and a media room can be included. They may have a double or even triple-car garage.

2. Modern features and decor

New homes can offer modern features that already-existing homes often lack. A new home’s kitchen is more likely to have features such as top-of-the-line appliances, a kitchen island and granite or quartz counter tops. Buyers are also more likely to get hardwood floors and modern lighting such as skylights. The bathroom may come equipped with amenities like a whirlpool tub. It also may have appealing architectural features such as tray ceilings and crown molding. It probably has higher ceilings than an already-existing home.

Master-bedroom-in-luxury-home

3. Better primed for technology

New homes also can reflect our modern, plugged-in lifestyles. Many come with a bonus room that can be used as a home office, and some also have technologically advanced features such as walls that are pre-wired for flat-screen TVs and other entertainment. They may also be pre-wired for security systems.

Today’s homes even have more outlets than those constructed in the past. This may seem like a small detail until buyers are faced with the problem of not having enough outlets where they need them.

4. Safer, more energy-efficient products

Homes built today are constructed to meet today’s more stringent building codes. Materials used are often safer than those used in the past. Homeowners won’t run the risk of encountering costly problems like lead paint and asbestos that could cause serious health problems.

Today’s new homes are also required to meet tough new code standards for energy efficiency. Almost every part of a new home represents an improvement in this area. New homes are 30 percent more energy efficient than existing homes, according to the Department of Energy and the U.S. Census. Some have also earned the Energy Star certification, meeting standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

In addition, homes have better air quality than ever before, thanks to better ventilation and products.

5. New subdivisions with appealing amenities

New homes are often located in new subdivisions. Many of these have covenants and Homeowners Associations that help protect buyers’ investments.

Often, residents will have the benefit of amenities such as a community pool, clubhouse, gym, jogging trail, playground, tennis courts, or other facilities. These features can add greatly to enjoyment of a home and subdivision, and they can give residents invaluable opportunities to socialize and get to know their neighbors. When there are several new neighbors moving in, it can be easier to get to know everyone. For the one family moving into an already-established neighborhood, it may be more difficult to get to know the neighbors.

Modern-Single-Family-Homes

6. No maintenance worries

New homes have the advantage of fewer maintenance issues. Over time, even the most well maintained home will develop problems that need to be addressed. These can be costly in terms of money as well as time.

With a new home, owners are likely to be free of major repairs for at least the first few years. This can alleviate a lot of costly headaches that can go along with plumbing, roofing, heating and cooling, and appliance issues that can plague older homes. And many times, a warranty will be included in the cost of a new home, so if something does go wrong, the builder will fix or replace it at no cost to the buyer.

7. Customization may be possible

In some cases, a home buyer may be able to customize all or some of his or her new home. Particularly for empty nesters, this may be their chance to finally get exactly the home they want. Buyers can sometimes choose their lot, floor plan, and other details such as flooring and paint colors. In any case, they won’t have to deal with out-of-date décor, appliances, and other things that they can’t wait to change.

Kitchen

Buyers won’t have to compromise and live with features that they just don’t like – they can put their personal stamp on their new home from the very beginning, inside and out.

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Christine is the Content Marketing Coordinator for Homes.com. She's a small town girl at heart, who currently lives in Norfolk, VA with her husband and their fur baby. When she's not working, she enjoys cooking, decorating, traveling, and binge watching Netflix. As a proud Virginia Tech alum, she also loves cheering on the Hokies!