To build a new house or renovate an old one?
Happy Friday (or Thursday night)!
As many of you know, I have changed my career path and became a residential project manager for a top national builder earlier this year so this post is very relative to my own current experience. After 7 months I have thought to myself about the benefits and negatives of both new and old house given that I live in an old house and build new ones daily.
So many factors influence us when deciding a new place to call home ranging from location to design and other countless factors. Often, we are distracted by the shinny new model homes or the stories of old house horrors. At the end of the day each one has there own benefits and drawbacks.
Lets start with that old house you have always dreamt of owning. Maybe its a southern plantation or a craftsman bungalow. There are so many benefits of buying that old dream house from quality of materials, ITS MADE FROM REAL WOOD, to the true detailing that most new homes could only dream of. My personal house has leaded glass windows, beveled glass french doors, and multi-piece crown moulding throughout. I would have spent a fortune getting the same detailing in a new house. If you are in to getting a great deal for bespoke quality things, you cannot go wrong with most older homes. Now, lets not forget there are MANY drawbacks. Sketchy wiring, leaking plumbing, sagging structural members, and list goes one. Most items though are very fixable with some time, money, and effort. Living in an older home is like living with that amazing older relative. There are a few minor drawbacks, it might not be the newest trendiest floor plan, but it makes you feel comfortable just knowing that it has seen 90 summers so far. Its porch is on the front over looking a mature street and is big enough to sit on and say hi to the neighbors.
The new houses. So many benefits for the new owner. It is BRAND NEW! The structure is straight, square, and plumb. The windows are energy efficient. The floor plan is an open concept following todays trends. But just like old houses there are many downfalls I think the biggest include lack of honest detailing. All of the trim, cabinets, and tiles are imitations of what they are meant to be. The walls are not plaster, rather easily dented drywall. The house has a facade with detailing and thats it, no details around the entire home. There is no sense of community to the front of the home. What does all this mean? Homes have become more of a short term item, like a car lease, than a true investment. The engineered flooring can never be refinished. Most new houses are meant to be redone in much much less time than those old places. The structure is fine, but everything else in todays home will need redone in as little as 5 years.
So when you go to buy your next, first, or last home take a second to look past the curtain. What do you really want? What do you value? make your choice and be happy with your decision, each one is not headache free.
-Sean
As many of you know, I have changed my career path and became a residential project manager for a top national builder earlier this year so this post is very relative to my own current experience. After 7 months I have thought to myself about the benefits and negatives of both new and old house given that I live in an old house and build new ones daily.
So many factors influence us when deciding a new place to call home ranging from location to design and other countless factors. Often, we are distracted by the shinny new model homes or the stories of old house horrors. At the end of the day each one has there own benefits and drawbacks.
Lets start with that old house you have always dreamt of owning. Maybe its a southern plantation or a craftsman bungalow. There are so many benefits of buying that old dream house from quality of materials, ITS MADE FROM REAL WOOD, to the true detailing that most new homes could only dream of. My personal house has leaded glass windows, beveled glass french doors, and multi-piece crown moulding throughout. I would have spent a fortune getting the same detailing in a new house. If you are in to getting a great deal for bespoke quality things, you cannot go wrong with most older homes. Now, lets not forget there are MANY drawbacks. Sketchy wiring, leaking plumbing, sagging structural members, and list goes one. Most items though are very fixable with some time, money, and effort. Living in an older home is like living with that amazing older relative. There are a few minor drawbacks, it might not be the newest trendiest floor plan, but it makes you feel comfortable just knowing that it has seen 90 summers so far. Its porch is on the front over looking a mature street and is big enough to sit on and say hi to the neighbors.
The new houses. So many benefits for the new owner. It is BRAND NEW! The structure is straight, square, and plumb. The windows are energy efficient. The floor plan is an open concept following todays trends. But just like old houses there are many downfalls I think the biggest include lack of honest detailing. All of the trim, cabinets, and tiles are imitations of what they are meant to be. The walls are not plaster, rather easily dented drywall. The house has a facade with detailing and thats it, no details around the entire home. There is no sense of community to the front of the home. What does all this mean? Homes have become more of a short term item, like a car lease, than a true investment. The engineered flooring can never be refinished. Most new houses are meant to be redone in much much less time than those old places. The structure is fine, but everything else in todays home will need redone in as little as 5 years.
So when you go to buy your next, first, or last home take a second to look past the curtain. What do you really want? What do you value? make your choice and be happy with your decision, each one is not headache free.
-Sean
People frequently choose to upgrade their homes with modern interior and exterior features when compared to building a new home because it can be tough to leave a home you have lived in for a long time or simply because it is not your choice. Your dream home could be yours if you start from scratch, and you might be able to cut some long-term costs. My Home Handyman can tackle all type of home repair job.
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