When my first child had an accident at home, I realised we hadn't childproofed the house as well as we could have. Thankfully, they were fine, but I learned my lesson and began a thorough inspection of my home and garden. I got to work addressing the various hazards we had overlooked, and I started this blog to help other parents think objectively about the hazards in their own homes. I post about a variety of topics, such as pool safety, choosing a safe garden fence, storing medication and cleaning products, window and door locks and kitchen safety for kids. I hope you find my blog useful and informative.
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Childproofing Your Home And Garden
Questions Most Homebuyers Ask about Having a New Home Built
Ana Gonzales
Having a new home built just for you may seem like a luxury, but in truth, this option for home buyers is more affordable than you might imagine. There may also be many benefits to having your own home built that you haven't realized, and these may make it a better option in the long run versus buying a home already on the market. Note a few questions that most homebuyers ask about having a new home built and discuss these with a builder so you can determine if it's the right choice for you.
1. How can it be cheaper to have a new home built?
The price of having a new home built may seem steeper than existing homes on the market, but remember that your home costs you more than the purchase or building price. There are the repair costs, costs of upgrades, utility costs, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and other such costs to remember. If a newer home is built in a certain neighborhood with lower property taxes or is built with energy-efficient appliances, double-glazed windows, and other such features, it may actually be cheaper to own even if it's more expensive to build.
2. Why would a homebuilder say it's more expensive to upgrade an older home for the features I want?
It's easy to dismiss this type of information as just being a sales pitch for a new home builder's product, but note that an older home may have older wiring that cannot support your larger appliances and electronic devices that demand more power. An older home may also have older cables that cannot deliver sufficient broadband signals to keep your Wi-Fi connected in all areas. An older home may also not be plumbed to support a spa or whirlpool tub.
Installing the features you want in an older home such as a theater-size TV screen, home office, multi-head shower and so on may mean expensive upgrades to the wiring, plumbing, and the like. Keep these factors in mind when deciding whether to buy or build.
3. Can a person get everything they want with a new home built for them?
There are builders who offer custom homes built just for you in particular and those who build a certain number of model homes. While a custom builder will try to incorporate every feature and aspect you want into your new home, remember that they're limited by local codes and need to ensure that the home is structurally sound as well. Discuss all the features you want with a custom builder but be prepared to work with him or her to adjust your plans accordingly.
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