When to Remodel vs Build New: A Homebuyer’s Guide

In the United States, it seems every home comes with its own little personality and unique characteristics. From ornate town houses on the East Coast to quaint Spanish style homes in the West, every corner of the country has put its own personal spin on home and community.

This abundance of choice makes the home buying process particularly exciting and gives families options for remodeling their current home in a neighborhood they’re familiar with, or starting fresh with a new construction home and the new possibilities it provides. Both options present opportunities for building the home of your dreams while connecting you with the community.

The Lilyana community has experience with the costs, time commitments, and resources associated with new construction and remodeled homes, and they’re here to help you decide which route is right for you and your family.

Consider Available Space

When choosing between remodeling or building a new home, it’s important to find out whether or not your current lot holds enough space to accommodate the type of remodel or renovation you and your family would like to make. Measure the dimensions of your home’s lot and compare the amount of available space with the addition or renovation your family would like to build.

If there is plenty of space on your existing lot and your home’s infrastructure is able to support the addition, you can start budgeting and making a financial plan to remodel your home. If space is limited, it may be a good idea to start considering the benefits of buying a new build instead of remodeling.

Consider Going Green

Another important consideration when deciding between new construction or remodeled homes is whether you and your family would like to “go green.” Every home in the Lilyana community is built with a deep respect for nature and the Texas landscape, and one of the benefits of buying a new build — particularly homes in the Lilyana community — is the ability to add environmentally friendly upgrades.

Older homes are beautiful, imbued with character from previous owners and architecture from the past. But many older homes may have a harder time supporting the latest energy efficient technology. This ability to add energy efficient upgrades is a benefit of buying a new construction home. With options for  water saving fixtures, energy efficient HVAC systems, lighting solutions, better insulation, and new smart home technology, a new build home can help reduce your carbon footprint and save money on energy each year.

Consider Your Time Frame

There are two important time frames to take into consideration when deciding between a new construction or remodel. First, how soon would you like the project completed? A new construction takes approximately six months while a remodel can take a matter of weeks, depending on the extent of the work.

The second timeline to consider is how long you plan on staying in the home. Experts suggest you will need to stay in your home for at least 5-7 years to get the full return on your remodeling investment. If you and your family foresee a long future in your current home, it may make more sense to choose that route.

For families that are moving for work or intend to move within the next two or three years, anyway, it may be more beneficial to buy a new construction home that doesn’t need remodeling and focus on building relationships in the community and spending time with family.

Consider The Cost of Remodeling vs Buying New

There are quite a few benefits of buying a new build over renovating your current home. With a new construction home, you can choose customization and design specifications for every room in the house! With a remodel, you may have to introduce changes one room at a time.

Additionally, renovating and remodeling can quickly get expensive. Whether you are hiring professionals or doing it yourself, things add up fast, and unforeseen issues or costs can push back the project. This is especially true of older homes. You have to consider not only the cost of labor and materials, but also elements like electrical and plumbing that may need to be brought up to code when considering to remodel vs build new.

Consider The Convenience of New Construction or Remodel

Another benefit of buying a new construction home vs renovating is not having to live in the house while it’s under construction. Between dust, fumes, and just general inconveniences, it can be hard to coexist when a remodel is going on, especially with curious little ones running around the house.

Particularly for families with small children or those expecting a new baby, a benefit of buying a new build is that you and your family can focus on what’s really important while skilled builders and craftsmen construct your home while you live somewhere else. Having this distance from the noise and drone of construction can allow you and your family to relax and carry on with life as usual.

If you are interested in a new construction home, the residences in the Lilyana community are built new with upgraded appliances, large open floor plans, and yard space perfect for raising families in a calm environment. With a new build home from Lilyana, families can take advantage of hikes, biking trails, and community amenities while adding upgrades and customization to make their home special. Find out more about the benefit of buying a new construction home from Lilyana today.