The new home vs. resale debate is something every homebuyer must face. Will you shop for both new construction and resale? Just new homes? Only resale? There are many factors to consider with this choice. As a homebuilder, we’re biased toward new construction, but we also understand the benefits to buying new many people tend to overlook.

1. The “done” factor.
   For many working Americans, weekends define the quality of their lifestyle. Maybe you work 40 hours a week, but Saturday and Sunday are the times you try new restaurants, pursue your hobbies and spend quality time with family. When you buy a resale home, you could be purchasing your share of weekend projects inside the home. Even a home in good condition may need cosmetic changes to suit your style. By committing to these projects, you are making a choice to work on your home and set some of your lifestyle interests aside. When you build a home from the ground up, cosmetic choices like paint and backsplash tile will be personalized to your taste—and best of all—those projects will be done, potentially reducing your weekend projects.
2. Energy efficiency.
   While many buyers would love environmentally friendly features in their home, not everyone can afford to expand their budget to include the latest energy efficient technology. What many don’t realize is that some of the most effective energy-smart features aren’t as obvious as a rooftop full of solar panels. Don’t discount the potential energy efficiency of simply choosing a new home over a home that was built in the previous century. The framing methods, insulation and a variety of other factors contribute to the level of efficiency. Learn more in our story that tackled New Home Construction Fact & Fiction.
3. Lifestyle features.
   With a resale home, you will likely be working with a layout built for the lifestyle of another era. For example, the dishwasher didn’t become a common household appliance until the 1970s. That means the layout of the American kitchen before this era didn’t make room for one either. Today, we design our kitchens to work efficiently for the modern home chef. The dishwasher, and all the other appliances, will be placed for ease of use and livability.

   The New York Public Library posted a page out of a 1941 magazine that polled their college readership on the number of clothing items they owned. The results are quite different than what we might see from the same questionnaire today. College women only owned between 3.5 and 11 blouses and between 3 and 10 pairs of shoes. The size of closets of the time reflects these smaller wardrobes. Many people living in older homes today must convert a bedroom into a closet or buy standing closets to create more space.

   And although the size of the closets has gotten steadily larger through the decades, don’t assume that every closet built in the last ten or twenty years will be adequate for your storage needs. With newer homes, the closets are more likely to be built large for today’s lifestyle needs. When in doubt, be sure to take a tape measure on your tours.

Related articles:

• Why Buyers Are Moving Away from Resale
• New Home or Resale?
• New Home vs. Resale Home: Maintenance Edition

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