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Five Things To Keep In Mind When Buying A New Home

October 5th, 2015

The allure of buying a new home is undeniable. It’s your chance to create a home for you and your family from the ground up, without inheriting the previous owners’ decisions and style preferences. You get new everything – freshly painted walls, pristine floors, new carpeting, the latest appliances, and more. And if you work with a builder before construction begins, you get the opportunity to truly make your mark by participating in the design process from beginning to end.

But after working with new home buyers at Carnes Crossroads for the past several years, we’ve discovered that there are a few things many people don’t consider when they embark on the process of building or buying a newly constructed home. Here are some things to keep in mind when considering a new home:

The kitchen is the most important room in the house.
A new home is an opportunity to get a completely upgraded kitchen, which is something that many people coming from a previously owned home are looking for. Upgrading or renovating an existing kitchen can be an expensive endeavor, so people do tend to focus on the kitchen when looking at a new home to make sure that it is up-to-date and features the latest materials and appliances. Also, kitchens tend to be the focal point of today’s homes, so it’s important that the kitchen in your new home is designed to serve your family’s needs.

New homes do not typically come with a washer, dryer or refrigerator.
Only about half of all homes sold include the washer, dryer and refrigerator, and in the case of new homes, they almost never do. We have found this to be a surprise to many new home buyers, who often assume that their new home will come complete with all new appliances. It’s certainly something that you can negotiate with the builder, but it will be reflected in the price of the home and it usually makes more sense for a buyer to select and purchase their own large appliances based on their personal budget and preferences.

No matter how large a home is, storage is always a priority.
Everyone always asks about storage. In smaller homes it’s a matter of necessity in order to make sure there is room for the accumulated belongings of the buyers. But even in the largest homes, many clients are looking for specialized storage like extra-large laundry rooms, wine cellars, extended garages, ample kitchen cabinetry, walk-in pantries, etc. Make sure you talk with your builder about maximizing storage space through closet design and use of “dead” space in the attic or crawl spaces. And know that closet shelving is typically not included in a new home. Buyers are often surprised by this, but there are so may ways you can build out a closet, leaving them empty really allows the buyer to make the most of the storage space for their individual needs.

The master bathroom shower is often a feature that buyers pay extra attention to.
Our agents have noticed that many buyers now prefer large showers to soaking tubs in the master bathroom. Consider how likely you are to use a tub, and if you don’t think you will, it might be worth it to use the space for a larger shower. You can also upgrade your large shower with a steam setting, benches or multiple shower heads for a truly deluxe shower in your master suite.

Be sure to inquire about the community’s home owners association.
People who have never lived in a new home community like Carnes Crossroads may not be aware that common areas like parks, pools and trails are maintained and managed through a homeowners association, and that as a homeowner they will be required to contribute towards the cost of managing and maintaining these amenities through monthly or annual HOA dues. These fees should be considered as part of the cost of owning and maintaining the home.

There’s a lot to consider when buying a new home, so be sure to talk with your builder and sales agent about any questions you may have as you work through the process. Here at Carnes Crossroads Real Estate, our sales associates work closely with each of our builders to make sure our buyers get the assistance they need every step of the way. For more information about how we can help you with your new home purchase, contact us or visit our Information Center.