There’s nothing like a newly constructed home, a pristine place unmarred by floor scratches and nail pops.
On the other hand, an older home has withstood the test of time. Over the years, the house has settled, leaks have been discovered and patched, and, in general, the bugs have been worked out.
Is a new or older home better for you? Here are the advantages of each type of construction.
New Home Advantages
Low Maintenance:
New construction is far less costly to maintain than older construction. The 2009 American Housing Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau showed that 26% of all homeowners spent $100 or more a month on house maintenance, compared to only 11% of owners...
You've seen the house flippers on HGTV use staging techniques to make empty properties look lived-in, but as a homeowner trying to sell your house, you’ve already got plenty of stuff. Do you really need to bother "staging" it?
In a word: Yes.
According to the Real Estate Staging Association, professionally staged homes sell 73 percent faster and often garner a higher selling price. That’s because staging is all about showing off your home’s best features while eliminating or reframing as many downsides as possible. Just as you’d dress up a little nicer for a date you really wanted to impress, dressing your home up can help make potential buyers fall in love with it.
And you don’t need to hire a professional to achieve results....
Making a major change to your home?
Before you splurge five figures, think about how your update will impact your home's eventual re-sale value.
An upgrade that seems like an awesome idea now (like turning your garage into a giant ball pit for the kids) could come back to haunt you when you put your home on the market ... and find the market doesn’t like what you’ve done with the place.
If you’ve got a renovation or new project on your wish list, take a look at the following first to make sure your future self will remain happy with the changes.
Go For It
A new roof – Roofs are expensive, and if yours...
A house is one of the most important investments you’ll make, and it's also the place you and your family will call home.
But what you don't know can hurt you. An unexpected major repair – like needing to replace the roof – can yank tens of thousands from your bank account.
How can you minimize this risk? Before you sign on the dotted line, get a home inspection to make sure you know exactly what issues to anticipate.
Here’s what you can expect when you schedule an inspection.
Preparing for the Inspection
Finding an inspector. Your real estate agent should be able to recommend some good inspectors they’ve worked...
