Looking for a new home is an exciting event in your life. You get to start dreaming about a new life in a new place and the luxuries and comforts that come with it.
When you live in Wells Branch, Texas, you’re already living in a lovely small town. A beautiful, new home would just be the cherry on top. And if you’re moving into the Austin area, Wells Branch is consistently considered as one of the best places to live around Austin.
However, how do you decide what home to buy between all the Wells Branch homes for sale? Are you going to buy new or used? If you’re looking to buy new, do you want a pre-built home or one that is already complete?
There’s a lot of questions to ask yourself while home hunting for a new house.
Benefits of a New Build
Whether you’re planning on hiring a contractor to build a home from scratch or looking for a brand new pre-build construction home, there are a lot of benefits to opting for a new build.
They may be a little more expensive initially, but over time your equity will increase and you’re sure to enjoy many benefits used-home owners don’t get to experience. If you’re on the fence trying to decide if buying brand new is worth it, here are some things to consider when weighing your options.
1. Design Contribution
If you choose to not only buy brand new but to start from the ground up, you have two major benefits most homeowners never get to experience – design input and lot selection.
First, if you’re looking into a newer sub-division, you can pick the lot where you want your home to be located. This can be a huge perk, as sometimes even the perfect home is in the wrong location, which can soil any deal. Instead, when building your home from scratch, you not only get to pick the sub-division, you can often have your choice of available lots.
Secondly, most homebuilding contractors allow future homeowners to make a lot of design-based decisions to make sure your home is exactly what you want. The includes a myriad of options, including but not limited to:
- Floor layouts
- Room layout
- Number of bathrooms
- Type of Flooring
- Wall textures/finishes
- Room colors
- Fixtures (lights, faucets, showerheads, sconces, doorknobs, etc.)
- Appliances
- Outlet and Switch Locations
These are just a handful of common examples, but rest assured, there are many more design elements you’ll be able to contribute to. This is beneficial because once the house is finished, it will perfectly meet your standards and be move-in ready.
2. No Previous Tenants or Hidden Secrets
When you buy brand new, you can rest easy knowing no one has lived in the house before you.
Regardless of whether you believe in ghosts or spirits, the previous homeowners’ presence will often “haunt” the house. Between damages, design choices, and odd smells left behind, you will constantly be reminded of the previous tenants if you move into a used home.
Sure, there are updates, repairs, and make-overs to help make the home yours, but some people have trouble getting comfortable knowing the home once belonged to someone else. Maybe they don’t like the idea of walking around barefoot where others have or using bathrooms frequented by other people. Either way, there is something incredibly comforting knowing you live in a home no one else has ever inhabited.
Finally, when people sell their homes, they often cover up undesirable issues. You never know what type of secrets lay hidden, such as water damage, mold, wood rot, faulty appliances, patched walls, etc. Buying a new home will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises down the road.
3. Builder Warranties
Another great benefit of buying brand new is the builder warranties that come with the house!
Similar to buying a new car, when you buy a new home it’s under “factory” warranty, although in this case, it’s called builder warranty. This typically includes everything in the house.
While certain things like appliances (hot water heater, fridge, stove, etc.) are generally only covered for a year or two, they may have extended manufacturer warranties. However, many building companies apply structural warranties on the house that could extend anywhere from 5 to 20 years.
The structural warranty includes any major issues with the roof, walls, flooring, electrical, etc. You can take peace of mind knowing if something goes wrong, it’s covered, and not by you.
When you buy a resale home, there may or may not be a used-home warranty. However, most major issues won’t be uncovered until years down the road, whether they were pre-existing or not.
4. Great Community and Neighborhood
When looking at Wells Branch homes for sale, an important factor is the location of your future home. Typically, brand new homes are built in high-quality communities and neighborhoods.
If you have kids, this is especially important, as their safety and childhood experience will be largely based on where they grow up.
Some of the new sub-division communities even come with swimming pools, lovely parks with playgrounds, tennis courts, walking/biking trails, clubhouses, and more!
5. Quality Construction
One thing you can nearly always guarantee while choosing a brand new home is the high quality of construction. Just as technology is always advancing, so does construction.
Contractors are constantly finding stronger and more efficient building methods. This means fewer repairs and maintenance in the years to come and few things to worry about as a homeowner.
6. No Age-Related Problems
While many aspire to buy and refurbish old homes, it can be a tedious process, if not a huge mistake.
Older homes can come with a lot of structural and internal problems. These big-picture issues can end up costing you a small fortune just to keep the home safe and comfortable for living.
These issues can include:
- Roof problems
- Cracked/shifting foundation
- Out-dated electrical
- Energy inefficiency
- Plumbing problems
- Mold
- Water damage
- Pest damage/infestation
Don’t get us wrong, beautifully remodeling a fixer-upper can be incredibly rewarding, it just may not be the best choice for you and your family.
7. Easy Maintenance
Because you’re looking at buying new, you don’t need to worry about tedious maintenance on the house.
Because everything is brand new, you won’t have to worry about plumbing, electrical, or appliance-related problems. You can take comfort in knowing you’ll be warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
8. High Energy Efficiency
Brand new homes also come with high energy efficiency ratings. This includes new eco-friendly appliances which are always advancing. These Energy Star certified products are not only better for the planet, but they also save you a ton of money.
Brand new homes also come with eco-friendly windows, doors, insulation, etc. Houses are being built and designed in new ways to improve how well they save in electricity to heat and cool your home while keeping your family comfortable. In the Texas heat this is especially important in the hot summer months when electricity can cost a fortune if a home is not built to high energy efficiency standards.
9. Not Negotiating With Previous Home Owners
While looking at Wells Branch homes for sale, think about the actual buying process. Many times, buyer/seller negotiations can be a huge headache for both parties.
The problem is people always want the best deal and this can be a challenge. Additionally, homeowners selling their home have memories and emotions tied into the house that skew their opinion of how much it’s worth.
Buying a home from a builder will help you avoid tedious negotiations based on emotions and unprofessional motives.
10. Financing Perks
New home builders often work hand-in-hand with financing entities. Sometimes, if the building company is large enough, they even operate their own financing and mortgage companies. Opting to use your builder’s lenders can give you some opportunities for a great deal, both long and short-term.
For example, working with an affiliate lender could lead to lower interest rates, lower closing costs, or bonus paying points.
When you’re buying for a previous homeowner, they won’t be inclined to help you out financially, unless they are particularly desperate to get out of their home.
11. No Fixer-Upper Projects After You Move In
Finally, when you’re looking at Wells Branch homes for sale, consider the convenience of buying a brand new home.
When people tour used homes with their significant others or their realtor, the basis of their commentary is often about what they will change when they move in. For example even projects as simple as repainting rooms take time, money, and planning.
However, most desired changes aren’t limited to repainting. Most resale home buyers have a laundry list of projects they want to do before they’ll feel comfortable living there.
Explore Brand New Wells Branch Homes For Sale
Ultimately, when you’re looking at Wells Branch homes for sale, you need to do what’s right for you, your family, and your budget. Make sure you take your time in making this big decision. This could be the home your kids grow up in or where you finally settle down and get married. Whatever stage of life you’re in, consider buying a new home and avoiding all the hassles of buying used. if you’re looking for a beautiful, modern home for sale in Wells Branch, contact us to get more details on our new builds at Park at Wellspoint.