If you’ve been thinking about buying a new home versus a used home, you know how overwhelming a decision like that can be. There are pros and cons of buying new construction in Austin, and you might see yourself leaning towards one type or the other. If you’re still confused, here are 16 signs you should buy a new home over a used home in Austin.
#1: You Can’t Stand the Thought of Living in a “Used” House
The thought of using someone’s dishwasher and sitting on someone’s toilet absolutely grosses you out. Even if you could get over those two, there is no way you would walk on someone else’s carpet with bare feet. If you’re the type of person who can’t see yourself living in someone else’s house, even after a thorough cleaning, a new house might be for you. Are you looking to add extra space to your home? Another feature that gives you more space and looks beautiful on the outside? A sunroom is a great installation feature that looks beautiful, feels wonderful inside and is energy-efficient, saving you money on heating and cooling bills.
#2: You Need a Specific Floor Plan that Meets Your Families Needs
You’ve been looking and haven’t found any floor plans that meet your families needs. You could buy a house and just have a lot of empty space, but that seems wasteful. If you need the flexibility to modify a floor plan, convert a dining room to an office or have a very specific floor plan that works for you, buying a new house might be the best way to go.
#3: You Have Very Specific Taste in Fixtures
If you’re the type of person who is going to go through any resale house and change out all the light fixtures, door handles, faucets and curtain rods, you might be better off buying a new house and selecting everything. Cost to change out all of these items could add up pretty quickly.
#4: You’re Not Handy and Don’t Want to Pay a Contractor to Remodel
Not really interested or able to do home remodeling projects? Think hiring a contractor is pretty expensive? Rather put your cash into trips or stuff? If this sounds like you, buying a new home is probably the way to go.
#5: You Don’t Want to Worry About Homeowner Maintenance for a While
Everything – from appliances down to roof and plumbing – is new. If that excites you, buying a new house is probably the best strategy for you.
#6: You Like the Idea of Being Under a Builder Warranty
The builder’s warranty covers a majority of the systems and components in your house. If someone goes wrong with a covered item, the cost to repair or replace it is a builder’s expense. If you like the piece of mind that comes with a comprehensive builder’s warranty, buying a new home might be for you.
#7: Energy Efficiency is Extremely Important
Homes that were built even a few years back are nowhere near as energy efficient as homes built today. Today’s homes use the most recent energy technology. Everything from insulation to appliances are as energy efficient as can be. If you are the type of person who is going to make energy improvements to an exisitng house, you might be better off buying a brand new house instead.
#8: You Need to Minimize Monthly Utility Costs
With energy efficiency comes lower utility costs. Newer homes cost much less to heat and cool when compared to older homes of similar size. This could be a savings of hundreds of dollars per year. If you would rather put that money into the equity of your home, buying new construction might make more sense for you.
#9: You Want to Be Involved in the Building Process
If you need to see what’s behind the walls of your house, building a new home is the only way to do that. When you build a new house, you’ll be able to see what it looks like at all stages of the process. If you want to be involved in the building process, buying a new home is for you.
#10: You Use a Lot of Electronic Devices
Are you the type of person that uses a lot of electronic devices? Do you ever blow a circuit where you currently live? That might mean you don’t have sufficient electrical power. New homes have the newest technology in wiring, as well as a much higher load than existing construction for this getting the right professionals can make a difference, since there are services of electrician near me where you can find the best electricians for this type of works. If you need the capacity to use electronic devices without worrying about not having enough power, a new home might be for you.
#11: You Want to Design Your Own Garden
If you have a vision for what you want your yard to look like and aren’t willing to live with someone else’s landscaping, a new home might be for you. Yards of new homes start with a blank slate. Though you might get some sod and a few trees, you’ll be able to tell the builder where you want those trees placed. Builders usually deliver a yard at a bare bones state, which is perfect for you to get started with your landscaping project without worrying about tearing out bushes.
#12: You Can’t Stand Stains on Your Garage Floor
Even the most careful homeowners can’t avoid stains on their garage floors. Whether that be from oil leaks, chemicals or paint, there is likely to be something. If that’s just plain unacceptable, buying a new house is probably for you.
#13: You Love to Entertain
Many of the new homes are designed with entertainment in mind. Grand kitchens with high end appliances, plenty of counter space and seating for guests are common. Even more popular are the grand rooms with all of the public spaces in one room, so no one is left out of the party. If you love to entertain and need a place to put guests, buying a new home might work best.
#14: You are Very Sensitive to Allergens
New building materials, like cabinets, are being constructed with less harmful chemicals and are much easier on the nose of an allergy sufferer. Air filtration systems are also much more efficient at filtering out allergens than they were years ago. If you are sensitive to allergens, buying a new house might be for you.
#15: Your Move Timeframe is Flexible
When you build a home, a builder can give you an idea of when they think the home will be complete, but due to weather and material availability, it might get delayed. If you have a flexible living situation and won’t be left homeless with construction delays, buying a new home might be for you.
#16: You Want to Save Money on Property Taxes During the First Year
You’ve spent a lot of money to buy a house and a lot of expenses occur in the first year. Any decrease in other expenses would hugely help your monthly budget. Many times, new homes don’t get reassessed at the tax appraisal office until the year after they’re built, which can be a savings of a few thousand dollars in the first year’s property taxes. If your new home is one of these, just remember though you’ll save this year, next year your taxes will go back to market rate, so you’ll want to save some for those.
Considering Buying a New Home in Austin?
Don’t let the on-site agent talk you into working with them! They represent the builder and aren’t going to negotiate a better deal for you. Your own buyer’s agent is the only way to ensure a Realtor is really on your side when you buy a new home. A buyer’s agent’s fee is paid by the builder, so it cost nothing for you to hire your own representation.
Our team of experienced buyer’s agents can help you find the right builder and neighborhood and negotiate a great deal. We know which Austin builders are better than others and can help you make sure you’re buying a quality built home. If you’re looking for a Realtor to take more of a consultative approach and not hard sell you the first home you see, we might be the right team for you. Check out our Austin Home Buyer page to learn more about our team and how we work. Then, fill out our Buyer Survey, email us at info@11OaksRealty.com or call us at (512) 827-8323 to schedule a no obligation consultation.
New Homes for Sale in Austin
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