NEW
VS. OLD
Which
is the best home for you?
If
you are in the market for a home, you have no doubt been
faced with the decision as to whether you should be a used
home or a new home. There
are pros and cons on both sides of the issue so it is important
that you consider both.
Pros
and Cons of an Older Home
There
is the obvious that you may be getting a home that has the
driveway done, or a fence built, and possibly some landscaping
done. These items can be expensive to install in the first
place, however they are, in some cases, more expensive to
repair than to install. You should check the state of repair
of those items before determining their value. One advantage
of a resale home can be its location, if the location suits
you. The faults in a used home are usually fairly visible,
however, depending on the age of the home, the components
may be at or near the end of their useful lives. Since there
is no warranty, you should invest your money by hiring the
services of a competent home inspector. The neighbourhood
is usually built up and the landscaping mature and their
may be recreational services already in place. You should
look at the condition of these services, the state of repair
of the schools in the area, even if you don't have children.
You want to make sure that the home is can be resold easily.
There are generally less move in costs since some fixtures
such as drapery rods may be in place, drapery may have been
included in the price, and lighting fixtures may have been
upgraded. However, since today's standards for plumbing,
electrical, insulation and heating systems are much higher
that even 5 years ago, the operating cost of an older home
may be much higher.
Advantages
of a New Home
The
main advantage of a new home is choice. You can choose the
colours of the bricks, shingles, siding, flooring, paint,
windows, cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, electrical
fixtures, carpet, ceilings, trim and doors. You can choose
the style of home, type of home, floor plan, positioning
on the lot, location in a subdivision.
A
big difference in new homes is the open to above or higher
ceilings typically found in today's homes. Most older homes
have eight foot ceilings whereas today's homes feature the
availability of nine and ten foot ceilings. Basement ceiling
heights can be increased as well with fairly minimal expense.
Try to increase the heights in a resale. home.
You
can choose from a standard floor plan, you can modify an
existing plan, or even create your own custom floor plan.
New homes require less maintenance than before. Most new
homes have shingles that last 20 years and vinyl clad or
vinyl sash windows that are almost maintenance free. They
are never repainted on the exterior. The siding, eaves and
fascia are also maintenance free vinyl or aluminum. Probably
one of the most important considerations is the warranty.
All new homes come with a seven year major structural defects
warranty. All of the electrical, heating and plumbing distribution
systems are covered by a two year warranty. Another major
consideration, is that you are not stuck with other people's
choices. Maybe you don't like lavender bath tubs, or chopping
block counter tops. Some colour trends such as grey and
rose are completely out of style now, but it would cost
around $ 20,000 to remove and replace ceramic tiles, kitchen
cabinets and counter tops, and to repaint. Unless this is
factored into the price, you may end never be able to recoup
the renovation costs when it is time to sell.
It's
Your Choice
You must weigh
all of the factors carefully, then decide whether you should
buy new or used. If you think that you may want a new home,
visit our site in Hamilton or Ancaster. The model homes are
open daily from 1 - 5 PM. Feel free to call and make an appointment
if these times are not suitable. Our sales staff would be
happy to assist you. Since our staff are all licensed REALTORS,
they can assist you when you are selling your resale home,
or if you decide on a resale home, they can assist you in
that regard as well. For more information about our REALTORS
see www.homeliferesults.com |