Pre-Owned vs. New Construction: How to Decide

To buy new or to buy used? That is the question. Whether to buy a pre-owned home or a new construction is a big decision, but owning a house that’s never been lived in before has a lot of advantages you might not know about.

If you’re on the fence about buying a new home versus buying an existing one, here are a few things you should consider.

Start Fresh

Forget about painting over the last owner’s lime green walls, cleaning up after someone else’s mess or dealing with additions that might not be well constructed. Unlike with a pre-owned home, you won’t get stuck with someone else’s ideal house when you buy new.

 

Instead, you’ll be starting with a blank canvas that you can fill in to suit you and your family’s tastes and lifestyle. All Starlight homes are new, fresh slates for you to add your personal touch. So after you move in, all that’s left to do is start making memories.

Save on Maintenance Costs

When you buy a pre-owned home, you can expect to make repairs sooner or later–and some can be costly. Most appliances only last about 10 years, so depending on the age of the house you purchase, you might soon be replacing the HVAC unit, stove or kitchen appliances.

 

Even if a pre-owned home passes inspection, you could still end up needing to repair even more expensive items, like plumbing and electrical systems, or a roof within months of handing over your hard-earned savings for a down payment.

When you buy a new construction home, it’s all, well, new. Not only are appliances likely to last longer, but also, you can be sure of the structural quality and workmanship of the home you build. Plus, Starlight offers Workmanship, Distribution Systems, and Structural warranties, and that makes it a lot easier to sleep at night in your new home.

No Surprises

Don’t worry, there isn’t any 1980s wallpaper lurking beneath your freshly painted walls (we promise), stained carpet pads or leaky faucets.

 

When you buy a pre-owned home, you never know what you might uncover as you start to make the home your own. When you buy a brand new Starlight home, what you see is what you get. Save the surprises for that party you’re going to plan in your new backyard.

Know Your Neighborhood

So you find the perfect pre-owned home–only to discover it’s not in an area you love. If you’re lucky, you notice this before you put down an offer and dodge a bullet. But if not, you could end up moving in and realizing within a few months that the neighborhood isn’t what you thought it would be.

 

When you buy new, you not only get the floor plan you want–you’ll also know exactly what type of neighborhood you’re moving into. Starlight communities are located in quiet areas where you can enjoy walks with the family or relaxing nights in. As an added bonus, some communities have pools, playgrounds, parks or even a lake. Many of our communities are also conveniently planned to be near shopping, groceries, schools and more.

Is new construction right for you? Whether you’ve made up your mind or you’re still deciding, we can help guide you through the process of building your future home. Contact us today to get started on the journey.

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