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Pros Of Building A House

If your considering building a new home then I’m sure your weighing the pros and cons. Is it worth it or should you just buy something on the market? How much will it really cost? How long will it take? What’s the experience like? Is it stressful? There’s lots to think about and a ton of decisions to make when building a new home. Especially if it’s your first one. In this article we’ll discuss the Pros Of Building A House and leave the cons for another article.

There are tons of articles that go into the many details of the building process and the many pros vs. cons. But this article will focus on just a few main reasons why building your own home can be such a wonderful, one of a kind experience. I’m writing this from our my knowledge and experience as a designer, homeowner and home builder with over 20 years experience. Having built or designed dozens of homes and working with hundreds of clients, I feel that building your own home is much better than buying an existing home on the market. If you can afford it.

Who doesn’t love things that are brand new. Especially when they’ve been custom designed and built just for you exactly how you want them. I remember the first time I bought a new car that I spec’d myself. It was a great feeling because all I’d ever driven before were used cars.

A house you design and build yourself has the same feeling times 10. Every bit of it can be whatever you want it to be.

Here are my top benefits of building a new house.

You Get Whatever You want

One of the top pros of building a house is that you get whatever you want. How much is complete freedom worth to you. For me it’s a heck of a lot.

When you shop for a new house on the market you can only choose from what’s out there. And the odds of find a home that’s perfect are slim. That’s why the renovation market is always so hot. It’s very common for a new homeowner to buy a home and then remodel the whole thing. It’s expensive and you can only remodel so much.

I’ve always preferred building a home exactly the way I want it rather than remodeling someone else’s house.

Even if you don’t have a huge budget I still think it’s better to build your own home. Home ownership isn’t always about money. Of course you still need to have enough to build what you want but the benefit of designing my home how I want it is very important to me. And a huge benefit of building your own home.

You’ll be able to choose the look for both the exterior and interior of the house. Everything from choosing a plan to picking out each interior finish and color is up to you.

As long as you stay within your budget, you have the freedom to pick out exactly the look and feel you want for the home. The size, style and floor plan. Every detail is up to you. When buying an existing home, you lose all of that freedom unless you do an extensive remodel. Which can be very expensive.

Unless you build your own home you’ll be moving into a house with someone else’s design until remodel and make it your own.

Beautiful shingle style new home featuring grey siding, stained wood doors and white trim.

Beautiful shingle style new home featuring grey siding, stained wood doors and white trim.

Instant Equity

If you build a new home properly, you will have instant equity when it’s complete.Lot’s of people build home’s for profit. Even if your living in the home and not selling it’s still a great feeling to have some equity if you need it.

One of the best pros of building a house are the potential financial benefits. This is something I achieved with every single home I’ve ever built. Each home appraised for more than the total building cost. And yes, that’s all in, including land, permits, fees, etc.

Realize that I was paid to build or work on these homes as they were being built and the homeowners still had equity in the end. If you managed the construction as your own GC then you could make some real profits. That’s spec home building at it’s finest. Even a cheap builder will soak up 10% – 20% of the total cost to build which is all your equity of you do the job yourself.

There are a few important factors if you want to have equity in a home after you build it.

  • Location. Make sure you build in the right place and don’t overpay for the land. But paying a little more to be in a better area can give you a return later on.
  • Style. Don’t build an ugly home. Even though this is your own home and you can do whatever you want,make sure to build something that will sell if you have to. Build a home that not only suites you, but will be something others want as well.
  • Plans. A hidden fee is the cost of blueprints. A custom set can cost over $20,000. But stock plans and alter them rather than designing a custom home from scratch.

Building a home with a timeless design will help the resale value of your house when it comes time to sell. Things such as a neutral color pallet and simple designs will help control costs and make it appealing to buyers. You can add more of your own colors or style in the decorating which you take with you.

Quality

In my opinion the biggest pro of building a house is the quality assurance. You can oversee and inspect every stage of construction and every board used in the house.

It’s always seemed strange to me that as a builder everyone always asks to see the finished product. It’s a good idea to do it. A good looking shiny car with a fresh wax is impressive, but what about what’s under the hood, looking at the frame and inspecting the tires. You can easily test drive a car to see if it’s running well but that’s not so easy to do with a house.

Some things are just impossible to see and get missed at a home inspection. Even great home inspectors can’t see through walls or into a foundation. I’ve been reading horrible stories about bad builder my entire career. How they removed the rebar from footings after inspection to save money which caused foundation cracks. Or how they watered down concrete to save money which resulted in more foundation cracks. And what about that builder who bought bad drywall from China and made everyone sick.

There are tons of bad builders out there who cheat on purpose. And then there are other who mean well but aren’t good at what they do. And then there’s bad materials to deal with. A huge benefit of building your own home is that your in charge of all this. You can personally inspect and approve everything that’s done on a daily basis. There’s just no way of doing this unless you build it yourself.

New custom built homes have lower maintenance. Siding, stone, metal and asphalt roofing and trim are all maintenance free.

New custom built homes have lower maintenance. Siding, stone, metal and asphalt roofing and trim are all maintenance free.

Low Maintenance

Another one of the huge pros of building a house is maintenance. There isn’t any. At least not for a long time anyway.

Personally, I hate to maintain things. I work in the construction industry so when I get home I just want to relax. A major benefit of building your own home is that everything’s new and under warranty. If it breaks, someone else will fix it and the cost is covered.

This newness extends to everything in the house. Even the small day to day things. No leaky gutters, chipped paint, foundation cracks, broken siding, or ripped screens.

And there won’t be major issues either. When you buy an older home you have big things to worry about like water issues, mold, insect damage, foundation issues, the roof, etc. These big things are expensive to fix.

New construction normally means lower maintenance. One of the great things about modern construction is that materials tend to be made maintenance free. Older homes used a lot more wood and paint. Especially on the exterior. But these days homes use more vinyl and composite which means a lot less maintenance. Even after a few years, a home built today will have less maintenance long term simply due to it’s modern design.

Your mind will be much more at ease when moving into a brand new home versus one that’s older. Whenever you buy a new home there are always concerns as to how it was built and maintained in the past. Everyone I know who bought an older home has had issues that didn’t show up during the home inspection. This won’t happen when you build new. You can inspect every board as the home’s being built so there won’t be any maintenance surprises down the road.

Latest Technology

Another one of the pros of building a new house is that you can include all the latest technologies.

Smart homes are very popular at the moment. Door bells with cameras, remote control of your heat and AC, online security and smart lighting systems. All kinds of cool new home technologies are coming out almost every year and you can integrate them all in your house design. Sure, most of these systems can be added to an older home too. But it’s not as seamless.

Another big benefit is wiring. Older homes used different types of wiring because the internet wasn’t as widely used or as fast. many modern homes include Ethernet or Cat cables throughout the house in place of those old fashioned phone lines almost no one uses any more.

Other things like high outlets for a wall mounted TV can be included too which eliminates all those ugly hanging wires.

There are advancements in other things too like windows. Modern skylight come with remote controls that open and close the windows as well as the shades. And their programmable. This wasn’t something you could do even 10 years ago.

Ovens are a big difference too. High end homes are using more convection and professional style appliances. These require a 220v outlet by the oven and an upgraded gas line. It’s much better to install these from the start.

You may not think of insulation as a technology but it is. Modern homes use thicker walls and better insulation which are both energy efficient. And then there’s solar technologies to consider. These days a home can be run entirely off grid. That wasn’t really an option a decade ago.

If your into using the latest home technology then you’ll definitely benefit from building your own home.

Modern homes have lower energy bills because of how they're design and built.

Modern homes have lower energy bills because of how they’re design and built.

Energy Bills

A new home built today has much better insulation than homes built even 10 years ago. The exterior walls are thicker and so is the insulation. And that’s just looking at the bare minimum energy codes.

There have been big advancements in home energy efficiency numbers over the past 10 years. And you can take advantage of them all if your building a new home. One of the biggest pros of building a house are modern building techniques. Things like double stud walls, spray foam, better house wraps, water mitigation and more energy efficient HVAC equipment can all be included in your build.

And so can renewable energy sources. Solar panels are much better than they used to be.  Especially when paired with a home battery system. When you combine solar with more insulation and better HVAC equipment what you get is very low to no energy bills. These days it’s possible to be completely net zero without any loss in comfort. That was only a dream a few decades ago.

Have you every heard of LEED, Enery Star or Passive House. There are rating agencies that give guidance on building a home Green and Energy Efficient.Passive House is even a verifiable standard that you can test once the house is complete.

If you want the advantage of lower energy bills each month then building a new home is the way to go.

Financing

There are quite a few banks giving very good terms on new construction loans. We typically work with TD and as I write this the rate is around 3% which rolls into a conventional mortgage when the home is done. Plus you pay interest only until the house is complete. Now that’s a pretty darn good deal which makes building a home more affordable than it used to be.

In the past a lot of potential homeowners bought a house rather than building one because they didn’t have the money to build. It’s always been harder to get financing to build a new home rather than buying one. And to some extent that’s still true today. But it’s gotten easier and more affordable over the past few years. Even many large national banks are offering new construction loans in most markets which makes financing easier to get.

One of the pros of building a new house is the help a bank will give you in terms of it’s cost and design. Most banks will do an accounting of what the total build cost will be vs. the home’s final value before they approve the loan. To do it you need plans, a lot picked out and a price from a builder so they know what everything costs. Then they figure out what the home will be worth. If it’s a good deal they’ll approve the loan and if it’s not then they won’t.

If you build a home without the bank then you’ll have to do this cost analysis all by yourself.

Ariel view of a beautiful Modern Farmhouse style new home featuring a white and black color scheme.

Ariel view of a beautiful Modern Farmhouse style new home featuring a white and black color scheme.

Bulk Discounts

A big way builders save money on the construction cost of a home is through bulk discounts. It’s one of the pros of building your own home. Especially if your the GC.

When you go into any supply store, even big box places like Home Depot, builders generally get a discount. It’s because of repeat business and bulk orders. You may buy a gallon of paint a year but a builder can easily buy 100. And they’ll be 20 at a time. You can do the same thing when your buying materials for an entire home.

The more you build, and the bigger, the cheaper things tend to get. And this goes for labor expenses too. In general a subcontractor will give a builder a slightly better price than a random homeowner. Why? Repeat business. They operate in the same way as a supplier. If you’re giving them bigger jobs and the potential for repeat business then you’ll get a better price.

This even applies to many consumer products. For example Home Depot has a place called the bid room. You can ask about it at the Pro Desk. Basically how it works is that if you order enough at once they’ll give you some sort of discount on materials. I order everything through the bid room when I build a home. Sometimes the saving can be as high as 30%. It’s definitely worth the time and effort but you need big orders.

Planning is very important when building a home. If you plan right and order in bulk you can save quite a bit of money.

Trends

While I don’t recommend building a house that’s overly trendy, one of the benefits of building your own home is that the style will at least be current.

Even if you buy and remodel an older home there could still be architectural features that feel dated. That’s why I always recommend my clients use designs that are timeless. Layouts like the split level are pretty much completely out of style these days. But they’re very popular among older homes in my area. And there’s no way to remodel your way out of the design. No matter how much time, effort and money you pour into remodeling a split level, in the end, you’ve still got a remodeled split level.

Older homes tend to be closed off with more interior walls while new homes are more open. You can change this with an extensive remodel and new beams but it’s expensive to do.

An advantage of building a new home is that it’ll be up to date and current. Not trendy but in style. Designs like the Modern Farmhouse are super popular right now and won;t be going out of style any time soon. If your building a new home with the plan of making some money then I definitely recommend going with a current style and staying away from anything dated.

This is true of materials and colors too. Color schemes are lighter these days and more natural. Muted wood floors, white cabinets, marble, quartz, grey, white and black. Use pops of color with your accessories and have fun with metallic surfaces.

By building an in style home you can maximize your return on investment and create immediate equity in the home.

Happiness

Have you ever heard the phrase, “the pride of home ownership?” Well it’s a real feeling that’s amplified when it’s you who designs and built your own beautiful home.

One of the best pros of building a house is how happy it makes you feel every day. Believe me, when a house you possibly spent years dreaming of, designing and building is finally complete, it’s a wonderful feeling. I could hardly sleep the night I spent in my first home. It’s very exciting. I couldn’t wait to have family and friends over to show them every little thing. Buying a home is fun too, but it’s not the same as building one. It’s not as personal.

It’s also a great feeling to have all your needs met just as you want them to be. When you buy an older home there are generally compromises that get made. Maybe the bedrooms or closets aren’t as big as you’d like or the layout isn’t perfect or you wish you had one more bathroom. But the price was right and area was good so you went for it. The home isn’t perfect but it’s good enough and you can remodel some day. That’s not how it is with a new home.

There’s a deep satisfaction that happens when you live in a home you designed and built yourself. Everything you spent time laying out on paper is now a reality you interact with every day. The things in your home are all there because you put them there. That feeling is missing from an older home.

When you design and build new, your home is truly your home. It’s one of a kind, designed and built by you. It’s a very happy and satisfying feeling.

Personality

Another one of my favorite pros of building a house is the personality. When you design and build a house from scratch it’s truly your own.

With an older home or something remodeled you’ll still be confined a bit by other peoples choices. That’s not at all the case when you build new. As long as you stay with the codes and your budget, you can do whatever you like. Infuse the home with your own taste and personality right down to the smallest details.

Maybe your someone who wants a huge walk in closet, a big bathroom but a small bedroom. That’s fine, you can do it. Maybe you want a grand curved staircase and an open ceiling in the foyer. A great room with a stone fireplace. Or maybe you want something very classic like a Colonial or Modern Victorian.

And it’s not just about the style of the home and layout options. Even small details like the backsplashes, cabinetry, hardware, faucets, sinks, paints, flooring, countertops, etc. Everything is up to you. While I do recommend staying current and appealing to a mass audience, the finest homes reflect the personalities of their designers.

Don’t be afraid to add some personal touches in your design. It doesn’t have to be a huge thing, sometimes small touches have the biggest impact. For example there’s a builder who puts a stained glass transom above every kitchen sink window as a signature piece. It’s subtle but it’s there and makes the home his own. Little touches like that are very exciting and a great conversation piece.

Even though the majority of the home should be appealing to the masses if you want to maximize your equity, I do recommend using a few personal touches here and there. especially if it’s the home you plan on living in for a while.

Summary: Pros Of Building A House

If your considering building a new home then I’m sure your weighing the pros and cons. Is it worth it or should you just buy something on the market? How much will it really cost? How long will it take? What’s the experience like? Is it stressful? There’s lots to think about and a ton of decisions to make when building a new home. Especially if it’s your first one. In this article we’ll discuss the Pros Of Building A House and leave the cons for another article.

There are tons of articles that go into the many details of the building process and the many pros vs. cons. But this article will focus on just a few main reasons why building your own home can be such a wonderful, one of a kind experience. I’m writing this from our my knowledge and experience as a designer, homeowner and home builder with over 20 years experience. Having built or designed dozens of homes and working with hundreds of clients, I feel that building your own home is much better than buying an existing home on the market. If you can afford it.

Who doesn’t love things that are brand new. Especially when they’ve been custom designed and built just for you exactly how you want them. I remember the first time I bought a new car that I spec’d myself. It was a great feeling because all I’d ever driven before were used cars.

A house you design and build yourself has the same feeling times 10. Every bit of it can be whatever you want it to be.

If your considering the pros of building your own home I hope some of the info above will help.

If you have any questions or comments e-mail us any time. We’d love to hear from you.

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