Hello, my name is Iggy and I live in Perth, Australia. Last month, I was out in my garden enjoying the sunshine when I noticed that there was something strange on my roof. I climbed up onto the roof of my home and discovered some damage. While I was up on the roof, I took a long look down at my garden. Seeing it from such a strange angle made me realise how overgrown it looked. The next day I called in some contractors to fix the problems. While they worked, they taught me plenty of cool tips and tricks.
Before you buy a new home, you may want to think about the option of having a home built for yourself. You may assume that a home for sale is the more cost-effective option—and in some cases it may be more expensive on the outset to hire a home builder—but this thinking can be shortsighted. Remember that a home is an investment that you'll have for years, if not decades, and it's good to think of those long-term costs when considering the best option. Note a few factors to keep in mind:
1. Repairs that will soon be needed
Most homes for sale will need repairs within a few years of purchasing. This can include a new roof, new flooring, repairs to a cracked foundation, repairs to electrical or plumbing systems, and any combination of these things. The cost of these potential repairs should be considered when comparing the price of a home for sale with a home you have built. A new home with new building materials and quality construction can mean avoiding these major repairs for a decade or more, making it the most cost-effective option in the long run.
2. Energy efficiency of the home and appliances
How energy efficient is a home on the market, including its appliances? Older homes are often notorious for having cracks and leaks that let in cold air during the winter and warm air during summer, and the insulation in these homes may also be brittle and thin as well. Older hot water heaters and furnaces may not run optimally, so they too can mean more energy being used.
All of these things add up in higher utility bills that you'll face when you purchase a home for sale. This too is a consideration when comparing the long-term cost-efficiency of a new home that is more energy efficient, versus an older home.
3. Installing money-saving materials
Money-saving materials that you install in a new home can also make it a better option, as many of these are more expensive to put into an older home that's already on the market. These materials might include low-flow toilets or urinals in the bathrooms, a metal roof that helps to insulate the home, and even solar panels. If it's more affordable to have these installed in a newly built home and they help you to save more money on your utilities over time, this too can be a reason why a new home is more cost-effective than one for sale.
For more information, contact a company like Overland Homes.
Share26 March 2015
