At some point in their life, every homeowner is usually faced with the decision – should I buy a new home, or should I just renovate the one I have? Or perhaps, the choice lies between a new construction opportunity, and that tantalizing “fixer-upper.”
When deciding between a new build and a renovation, there are several factors you need to consider.
New Construction vs. Renovation
- Is the needed renovation extensive? Renovating a bathroom, adding new floors, or replacing the roof are all fairly straightforward projects. If the expected renovation is comprehensive and requires upgrades to all major systems, you may wish to consider a new build.
Of course, some people simply want to stay in their home – so we recommend using a general contractor for renovations.
Did You Know? Lindahl Construction not only builds new homes in Sarasota and Longboat Key, but are experts in remodeling and renovations.
- Do you have the stomach for renovation? Unless you are well-practiced in the art of home renovation, the process of demolition and rebuilding can be very stressful. Even with a home inspection, you never really know what you will find behind walls, under floors, or buried in the backyard (such as utility wires or old septic tanks).
Unless you hire a general contractor, you will need to vet and employ contractors, manage schedules, and if you cannot be onsite – trust that all is going exactly as they are telling you. You may find out parts of the home are not permitted correctly, or run into issues obtaining permits for what you wish to build.
There are always surprises, and things rarely go exactly as planned. If you have a strong stomach and a sense of adventure, a total home renovation may be for you.
New Builds: Your new home builder is your project manager, and takes responsibility for permits, meeting zoning requirements, and building everything up to code. With everything in the home being new, there are no surprises as to condition of materials or hidden “gotchas”.
- Is your budget flexible? There is an old movie called “The Money Pit”, which tells the story of a couple who buys a home with an eye towards renovation – and everything that can go wrong, does.
The problem with a renovation and its potential hidden surprises, is that you may find yourself facing a large expenditure you weren’t expecting. If the project is not progressing as planned and costs keep rising, you may find yourself short on cash.
New Builds: When you plan a custom home with your Sarasota building contractor, every option, feature and cost is outlined and agreed to. Your contract ensures that you understand the cost of the project, and can budget accordingly.
- Can you live with the mess? If you are attempting a renovation at your own home, you’ll have to work around the dust, chaos and contractor schedules. While this is a short term problem for a long term benefit, it can become tiresome, especially if the project drags on longer than expected.
New Builds:
There is something amazing about walking into your pristine, new home – built exactly as you requested, and ready for new memories. - Do you have a time frame? If you have a schedule and a completion date you are hoping to hit, you’ll have to rely on the schedules of all of your contractors. If one contractor is waiting for another to finish their part, you could get backed up.
This is another great reason to hire a Sarasota general contractor to project manage your renovation.
New Builds/General Contractors: Although delays happen sometimes, you generally have an understanding as to total timeframe, as the home builder is coordinating all of the services under the same umbrella.
No matter how you decide to approach your dream home, the professional and experienced team at Lindahl Construction is your best choice in Sarasota and Longboat Key.
Home renovation or new build, we’ll take all the worry and responsibility off your shoulders. Call today for a no obligation discussion as to which is best for you.