When buying a new home there are a lot of things to consider. Location, size, amenities, budget, etc etc. But the first thing that we must decide is if we are going to buy new o used.
I am pretty sure that a lot of you can debate on one side or the other and with very strong and convincing arguments, but the fact of the matter is that reasons to buy new outweigh the ones to buy used.
After much review we have compiled a list of the strongest reasons to buy new, which I am confident that you can agree completely.
Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality
As new technologies are being developed and becoming more readily available, homes are becoming more and more energy efficient. Even within each builder, homes built today are more energy efficient than 3 years ago.
Even Smart technologies contribute to this end now a days. Take the NEST thermostat for example. This device learns with time, collecting data from your home and appliances, it calculates how long it takes for your HVAC system to reach the desired temperature, how long it takes your home to shift from said temperature and adjust accordingly to maximize time, speed, temperature, etc.
Spray Foam insulation and tank-less water heaters are another perfect example of features, which are also included features in every ICON Home by the way, that help maximize efficiency and save you money at the same time. Spray foam in particular also helps make the home air tight which in turn increases indoor air quality as an added bonus.
Warranties and Lower Maintenance Costs
With all those reality shows out there creating hype on flipping homes and remodeling those old houses that time itself has forgotten, there are more and more people jumping into finding those real estate treasures that turn out to be hidden gems.
The fact of the matter is that these homes can become a real nightmare, from surprise expenses in foundation, structural integrity, worn appliances and devices that start breaking down as soon as you move in. Unless you are an experienced contractor or have an army of inspectors, the safest route is going with a new home.
Think about it for a minute, all materials, devices and appliances are brand new, at the beginning of their life, so no surprises there. And even it you end up with a defective appliances, which does happen from time to time, they will be under warranty. This basically means, no guess work, no stress and no added expenses, not to mention that newer appliances and materials are more efficient and last longer than they used to, resulting in overall lower maintenance costs.
Safety Considerations
Building codes are usually updated regularly, and are normally guided by newest research, technology and materials. So it isn’t a surprise that most up to date circuitry with advanced safety measures, higher efficiency and safer furnaces, water heating systems, kitchen appliances, and more fire-retardant materials make a new home much safer to live in than used homes.
Asbestos quickly jumps to mind in this topic. I still recall when research first showed how it could affect your health and just how common it was in constructions before the 1980’s. One of the worst things that can happen when buying your used fixer upper is finding out that there’s asbestos everywhere, but even worse than that is not finding out and moving in to a health hazard without knowing it.
Lower Costs to Purchase
This might seem as a contradiction as we usually think that buying used is cheaper than new. How ever, we are referring to how much out of pocket money is needed to purchase one or the other.
There are incentive programs available in some cases and closing cost assistance is available directly with ICON when buying a new home. We do offer to cover some of the closing cost with any lender, however when using our preferred lender, we cover most of the transaction cost. Taking off the maintenance cost, the need to fix anything out of pocket and having ICON cover most of the closing cost makes buying a new home more affordable hands down.
It's all new!
You are the first to live there! You get to be the first to use the shower, to cook in your new kitchen, the first to watch your new child or grandchild crawl or take their first steps on the new flooring. Let’s face it we all love new! …it might be a little luxury… but I think you deserve it.
