When it comes time to think about home improvements, you may be wondering whether you should build a new home or renovate your old one. Each option has its pros and cons, so it’s important to weigh them carefully.
It all comes down to what works best for you and your family. Here are some things to think about when making your decision:
New Home Construction
Should you choose to build a home from scratch, you’ll first need to design it. Once that’s finalized and approved, you’ll build it from the ground up. You’ll decide what materials are used for the build and how the wiring and plumbing are set up, among other things.
New Home Construction Pros
When it comes to building new, there are a few key benefits you can enjoy:
- Choose Your Home Design: One of the best things about building a new home is that you get to choose the design. You can find a plan that fits your needs and wants perfectly, or work with a designer to come up with something totally unique.
- Customize Your Home: Once you’ve chosen your home design, you get to customize it however you want. You can add all the features and amenities you desire, from extra bedrooms and bathrooms to pools and home theaters.
- You Can Plan Ahead: With a new home construction project, you have plenty of time to plan everything out. You can take your time choosing materials and finishes, and make sure everything is just how you want it.
- Everything Is New: When you build a new home, everything is brand new. From the appliances to the flooring, everything is fresh and in perfect condition. You don’t have to worry about any repairs or replacements.
A new home build gives you the freedom to customize every last detail to fit your needs.
New Home Construction Cons
Of course, there are some downsides to building a new home as well:
- It Can Be Expensive: Building a new home can be expensive, especially if you want all the bells and whistles. You may end up spending more than you would if you renovated an existing home.
- It Takes Time: Building a new home takes time – usually several months, or even longer. If you’re in a hurry to move in, this may not be the best option for you.
- There’s No History: When you renovate an old home, you’re preserving its history and character. But when you build new, that history is starting from scratch. If that’s important to you, then building may not be the right choice.
If you have the funds, the time, and aren’t particularly attached to your old home, a new custom build can be a great option.
Old Home Renovation
If you decide to renovate your old home, you’ll need to assess what needs to be done. Maybe the roof needs to be replaced, a wall needs to be taken down, or the kitchen needs to be updated. The extent of the renovation depends on how much work needs to be done.
Old Home Renovation Pros
Here are some of the pros to renovating an old home:
- Save Money: Renovating an old home can be a lot cheaper than building a new one. You may only need to replace a few key features or update the wiring and plumbing, which can save you a lot of money in the long run.
- Preserve Memories: Many people choose to renovate their old home because of its sentimental value. Maybe it’s where they grew up, or they’ve made many memories there. Renovating allows you to keep those memories alive and preserve the home’s history.
- Save Time: Renovating an old home can be a lot faster than building a new one. You may only need to do a few key renovations, rather than gutting the entire thing and starting from scratch.
The time and cost savings are hard to ignore. And for some, you can’t put a price on memories.
Old Home Renovation Cons
It’s not all roses, though. Here are a few cons to renovating an old home:
- It Can Be Difficult: Renovating an old home can be difficult, especially if you’re trying to maintain its original character. Sometimes you have to get creative with your renovations in order to keep everything looking as it did before.
- Really Old Home: If your home is really old, the renovations may be more extensive and expensive than if you were to renovate a newer home. You’ll need to do a lot of research to make sure you’re replicating the original details correctly.
- Extensive Damage: In some cases, the damage to an old home may be too extensive to renovate. If the roof is caving in, the walls are falling down, or there’s mold and mildew everywhere, it may be time to call it quits and demolish the home altogether.
How extensive you’ll need to renovate will ultimately play a role in whether you choose to go through with it or start fresh.
Should I Build a New Home or Renovate My Old One?
It’s more than just “clean slate vs old charm.” Every homeowners’ wants and needs are different. Whatever it is you choose to do, you’ll need help.
Winthorpe Design & Build can carry you the rest of the way. You don’t need to worry about designing a home from scratch or figuring out if this wall is load-bearing or not. Our team of designers and professionals will handle all the minutiae.
Reach out to us through our new process. Whether it’s a “custom makeover” or “just a little of the top,” we’ll design and build it for you.
