When major home improvements such as a new bedroom or additional bathroom becomes necessary, many homeowners find it difficult to decide whether to go the renovation route or build a new house that suits current and projected future needs.
There are a lot of factors to consider before deciding what road to choose from. Most will focus on the cost, but the verdict to do one versus the other should not be based on the construction price alone. There are many things to consider like location, age of the house and personal needs.
Here are some points you might want to consider before choosing which path to take:
Renovation
Remodelling could be either easy or hard. For example, if you love the old flooring or walls of your house and you don’t want it removed, then this is the right choice for you. But a remodelled old house is still old, unlike a newly built house which has modern finishes and strong and stable foundations.
Yes, renovation also allows you to choose a new design for your house to suit your needs, but unless you do a total overhaul, parts of the old design will remain. When you do change everything, then that is basically building a new house already. As it is, when a house is under renovation, the builders are forced to work with the existing structure. Additionally, it may take a while for them to reconstruct or improve an area. Also, renovation tends to be disruptive while construction is still on-going and might even require you to move out of your house for a certain period of time.
Keep in mind as well that remodelling always has surprises and you must prepare extra money to cover up some additional expenses in case your allotted budget isn’t enough.
So if you do not want to deal with all that, then building a new house in a more appropriate neighbourhood can be the better option. However, if the lot you currently have is something you don’t want to part with or is large enough to accommodate home additions, then renovation is the way to go.
Building a new home
Building a new house might be one of the largest investments you will ever make considering that you need to demolish your old abode and start from scratch or move to an entirely new neighbourhood. You may find it expensive, but it is a much better long-term investment compared to renovating. Starting fresh has its advantages as you get what you have exactly envisioned a dream house can be.
Don’t worry since there are a lot of people who can assist you in building your abode. For instance, if you’re living in Western Australia, look for house builders in Perth who specialise in home design and construction. They can help you customise your ideas and translate your vision into the luxurious and ideal home you’ve always wanted.
Unforeseen costs can be minimised as well or even avoided if you and your contractor can come up with a fixed price for the construction project. Still, it is important to have extra money on hand just in case problems do arise in the process.
All in all, thinking of whether to renovate or build a house from scratch is a big decision. So don’t get paralysed. Whichever way you go, it’s important to plan and do what suits your needs best.