Having a Home Built in Edmonton

Posted by on Thursday, November 29th, 2018 at 8:00am.

Should you Buy a New or Pre-existing Home?One of the first decisions Canadian home buyers face is whether to purchase an existing home or a newly constructed one. While obvious reasons may exist for choosing one over the other, such as buying a new home because it has never been occupied or choosing an existing home to save some money, the ultimate decision may rest on other important factors.

If you are considering the purchase of your next home home and are unsure of whether to focus on new construction or the existing homes market, the following information will help you make the right choice for your home buying situation

Is Location a Deal-Breaker?

While new home communities typically offer newly constructed roads that are a joy to drive on, these homes may not well-located for the use of certain amenities, such as public transportation and shopping that can be done on foot. Existing homes, especially those is older areas often offer more convenient access to shopping, public transportation, and other needs and wants. Before making a final decision on buying a new home or an existing one, make sure to factor in your family's actual daily schedules and activities and make sure that any home you decide to pursue will meet those needs easily.

How Much Home Maintenance is Acceptable?

Another factor to consider when purchasing a home is to decide what level of home maintenance is comfortable for your skills and budget. In most cases, a well built, newly constructed home should offer a decade or more of trouble-free occupancy. However, an existing home that has been properly cared for, updated, and maintained may also offer a relatively trouble free occupancy for several years after purchase. Before deciding whether to go with a new home or an existing one based on potential maintenance needs, buyers should first consider:

  • Whether the builder is including a builder's warranty on the new home and if so, is it one that will cover the whole house or one that is more limited in scope
  • The results of an in-depth home inspection for the existing home
  • The buyer's ability to perform home maintenance tasks and make at least some basic repairs
  • The buyer's expected budget for maintenance for the foreseeable future

Buying an existing home can offer a significant savings. However, buyers should always look at the purchase prices along with the cost of any expected repairs, updating, or maintenance to determine if the savings is enough to offset these costs. If not, the new home may well be the better choice.

Is an Established Lawn Important?

Since new homes are typically built on freshly cleared lots, a decision to purchase one usually means forfeiting mature trees and well-established lawns. In addition, new homes (and those built in the last decade or so) may also be built on much smaller lots than older homes located in well-established neighbourhoods filled with large yards, mature landscaping and plenty of room for kids and pets to play. Buyers who plan to spend much of their time outdoors should pay particular attention to the lawn size and condition to help them make the best choice for their situation.

Having a Home Built in Edmonton

When you move to Edmonton, you have to consider the house you want. Some people decide that they'd rather build their home, since it gives them options that they wouldn't have otherwise had. If you're one of them, you have plenty of choices for getting a new home built. Whether you're looking for the ultimate in a luxury estate or you're focused on something more modest but still nice and comfortable, you have such great options in and around the Edmonton area. The piece of land you choose to build on is very important, so take your time with that decision.

There are gated, private communities where you can build, or you might want something that's more rural. You'll generally get a lot more land by going out of town a little way, but that's not necessary for everyone. Some people prefer small lots, because they don't have to do a lot to take care of them. Others want as much space and privacy as possible, which is also something to consider. No matter which you like best, you can make a great decision and focus on getting just the piece of land that's going to be perfect for you.

Once you've secured the land you love, you'll need to get started building. There are many different home builders in the area, and it's important that you talk to them and get estimates and opinions. It's about the quality of the house, but it's also about the relationship you have with the builder. You want to be able to work with him or her to create the house of your dreams, as opposed to just struggling through the process. When you have a good builder you can really talk to, you'll have a lot better chance of getting the house you want on time and on budget.

Consult a Professional Builder and Real Estate Agent

For more assistance in making the right choice between a newly constructed home and an existing one, buyers should take time to discuss their situation with their real estate professional before beginning their search. Their agent will be able to help them use information about their housing budget and market trends, as well as other important factors, to determine which one will be the best possible choice.

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