If you’re in the market for a new home, then you might find yourself faced with a choice between a newer property and an older one. While there’s a great deal to be said for the historic charm and cost-effectiveness of an older property, there are reasons to prefer a newer one. Let’s take a look at some of the more persuasive benefits of buying a new home.
Lower repair costs
If you’re buying something that’s brand new, then you shouldn’t have to worry about maintenance for the first few months and years. If you’re buying something old, on the other hand, then regular maintenance should be considered a necessity, even if it’s in seemingly great condition. Should you find that continuous repairs are necessary, then it might be time to take legal action in the form of a housing disrepair claim.
More environmentally friendly
Newer properties tend to have more convincing green credentials and all of the benefits that go with them. They’re built with cavity wall insulation as standard and conform to more modern building regulations. You can therefore expect them to be cheaper to heat during winter. The savings you accumulate might well offset the premium you pay when buying new. And, that’s before you factor in the environmental benefits.
No chain
If the property is new, then there’s no existing occupant who needs to find somewhere else to live. No chain means a vastly reduced chance of hiccups during the conveyancing process. You won’t have to lose any sleep over the likelihood that the property of your dreams will slip through your fingers!
You can play a role in the design specs
If you’re overseeing the build yourself, then you can play an active role in determining the layout of the property. It includes the materials and techniques which go into building it. If you’re looking to custom-build the home of your dreams, in other words, then a new build is the only way that you’re going to get it done. You don’t need to oversee the construction yourself to influence its direction: if you’re buying a property off-plan, then you might expect some input into the way that it’s put together.
Modernized design
We’ve already mentioned how modern building standards can lead to greater energy-efficiency. But they also confer other advantages. For one thing, you’ll benefit from more fire-resistant materials, linked smoke alarms, and the electrical safety that you’d expect from a complete rewire.
Similarly, you can expect a higher standard of security, thanks to more modern doors, windows, locks, and alarms. While each of these things can easily be retrofitted onto an existing property, you might end up paying for something that you end up replacing within a few months – better instead to simply buy something that’s new. As you see there are many benefits of buying a new home. We recommend you perform a cost benefit analysis before deciding to buy a new home.
