Move-up buyers know what to expect. They know that building a home is an imperfect process at best and that disparities between their imaginations and the final bricks and mortar are inevitable. The lower satisfaction among first-timers also points to the importance of being prepared and knowing what to look for in shopping for a new home. Our own brief list of helpful hints follows. Whether buying new construction is better than buying an older property depends on the buyer.
Some buyers insist on a brand new home while others believe the older the better.
Perhaps the most commonly cited reason for buying new is the lack of maintenance on a new home. The typical face brick and vinyl siding on today's new homes is much easier to care for than older wood siding or old brick that may need tuck pointing. The roof on a brand new house should be maintenance-free for years, and it's under warranty if problems arise. In some ways, however, older homes may be the better maintenance bargain. We routinely find that contractors and developers skip many of the necessary details when converting or building new.