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Buying a home is hard. As soon as you decide that you want to move, there are about a million things to think about, and unfortunately, it’s never as simple as finding a home that you like and moving into it. You have to take time thinking about the location of any prospective house, the condition of the structure, the wiring and plumbing, the size of the house, the number of rooms and about the facilities in the surrounding area. You might need to consider local schools or how you might get to work. Even when you have found the perfect home, it could take you a long time to get a mortgage approved, to get surveys and conveyancing and to finally get the keys to your new house. It often takes months or even years from deciding that you want to move to a new home and actually moving into it.
This time can be stressful. You can find the financial pressures upsetting, and you may face depressing knockbacks. Then, of course, there’s the physical strain of moving itself, as well as the mental exhaustion that comes with always having lots to sort out and never being able to take a break.
When we’re looking for a new home, one thing that many of us think about is whether we’d like to live in a new house or not. Builders like Redrow are building high-quality homes in sort after areas. But is it worth it? New homes can be more expensive than an old house in the same location that is the same or a similar size, so why would you bother buying new?
Well, a new house has many, many benefits. Although it’s fair to say that it might be a little dusty for the first few weeks, especially if the work has only recently been completed, it’s also true that a new house can be a fantastic investment. Here’s a look at some of the benefits of buying a new home.
It’s Easier to View (Even a Show Home)
Viewing houses is never as fun as we’d like it to be. We’d love to go in and just look. It would be great if a walk around, snooping in other people’s houses gave us the information that we need to buy a home. But it won’t. Instead, we walk around making sure all the lights work, looking for hidden storage and checking the taps. We usually forget to ask about the neighbors or energy bills, and we come out feeling as though we’ve missed important details and haven’t got a clue if we want to make an offer or not. Other people’s furniture, and decor can make it much harder. It can be almost impossible to imagine yourself living in a house, with your decor choices and furniture if it is filled with other people’s stuff. Viewing a new home can be a lot easier, even if it’s just a show home and not the house that you will eventually live in. First, the taps should work, and if they don’t, they would if you bought it. Second, it’s empty or filled with generic pieces. It’s easier to imagine yourself living somewhere that no one else does.
You’ll Get Design Input
When you buy an older house, you get what you get. While the previous owners might leave some things, like blinds and curtains, which are easy to remove, things like the carpets, cupboards and other floorings will be what the previous owner had. They might have been the same for many years, and are unlikely to match your tastes. Changes like this can be expensive, and certainly not what you want to be doing when you first move into a new house. Often, when you buy new, if you make your offer early enough into the development, you might be allowed some design input. Some of the decisions might be small, like choosing the color of your kitchen cupboard doors, others might be much bigger, like the layout of your bathroom. It will depend on the builders and what they are offering.
Warranties are Included
New builds usually come with a ten-year warranty. This means that if something goes wrong with the structure of the home, or anything that was installed or included with the sale, for example, a fitted oven, then it will be under warranty and you won’t need to claim on your home insurance. This can save you a fortune.
It Will Be Energy Efficient
New homes are built under strict regulations. They have to meet energy efficiency standards. Many are made with wall and loft insulation. They may have solar panels, smart meters, sun tunnels, and other features that both help the environment, and save you money on utilities.
New Homes Give You a Great Chance to Build a Community
Most new houses are built in communities. Few developers build just one home. Most build streets or blocks of them. This means that your neighbors will also be moving in around the same time, and local businesses are drawn to the area. This isn’t the same as moving into an existing community and trying to fit in. It’s a great chance to become part of a community, to make friends and to build a fantastic local spirit.
Security and Safety
New houses are safer for a few different reasons. Firstly, that community spirit. Everyone is keen to help and protect each other. Second, it’s a new house. It’s sturdy and secure; the structure is safe and will protect you. Finally, you might find that your new build is filled with modern security features and gadgets.
The Best Deals and Opportunities
New builds give many first time buyers an opportunity that they might not otherwise have. Some come with exclusive deals, like help to buy and shared ownership, which aren’t available on older homes. These can be the only way that many people are able to get on the property ladder.
Less Maintenance
New homes have their niggles. Plaster cracks from expansion, little things go wrong. But, the bigger things, like the boiler, tend not to go wrong for at least a few years.
It’s All Your Dirt
Isn’t it terrible when you move into a house, and the bathroom isn’t clean? It’s not dirty, but there’s black between the tiles and grime around the toilet. It’s not your dirt. You don’t know why it’s there or where it came from. In a new house, the dirt is all yours, which can be quite comforting.
It’s Easier to Make it Your Own
New houses are magnolia. Unless you’ve had design input, most of the house will be plain, or neutral. This makes it much easier to make it your own and settle in quickly. It also means that you can take your time before decorating.
Increased Value
The value of your home is often linked with the last house that sold in your area. With a new build, this can be the last home that sold in the development. If you buy early on, between your purchase and the final sale, the prices might have risen above the rate of inflation, making your home automatically worth more.
Some people, of course, will always prefer a home with history. They like a house that can tell a story, that’s unique and perhaps even a little quirky and different as opposed to shiny and new. In the end, the choice usually comes down to personal preference. But, whichever side you fall on, you can’t deny that a new home has a great many advantages.