If your current home in the Florida Panhandle isn’t meeting your needs, you have three main choices: remodel your current home, move into another existing home or build a custom home. For many people, building a new home is the best option. Read on to learn why.
New Construction Homes Mean Lower Maintenance Costs
With a home less than ten years old, you can expect to pay roughly 1 percent of the home’s value for necessary maintenance every year. Homes 10 to 20 years old usually cost about 2 percent to maintain, and homes 20 to 30 usually require an annual investment of around 3%. Once your home is more than 30 years old, you will likely pay 4% or more each year to keep it in good repair.
Building a custom home may help you save money over the long term in the form of lower ongoing maintenance. In addition, it will likely spare you most of the hassle of emergency repairs. You may even be able to get a warranty on your home to cover the cost of repairs for a set period.
New Construction Homes Mean Improved Efficiency
The older a home gets, the less efficient it becomes. Tiny cracks around windows and doors can let in hot air, overworking the air conditioner in the summer. Insulation can deteriorate and no longer act as an effective barrier to the elements. A new home would likely be far more efficient, meaning you would spend less on utilities, and it would be friendlier to the planet.
You may even be able to include green features in your new home to boost energy efficiency even more. For example, your home could face away from the afternoon sun to keep conditions cooler in the summer, or it could feature a smart heating and cooling system that gives you more control over energy use.
New Home Construction vs. Existing Home Purchase
Many people believe that new home construction always costs more than buying an existing home. However, that’s not always the case, especially right now in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Housing shortages are now common throughout the country. In Florida, housing shortages as of March 2022 are affecting the Gainesville and the Miami-Fort Lauderdale areas, and the demand for construction in Gainesville and Palm Bay areas has led to slowdowns with permitting. As a result, more people are looking to the Florida panhandle where, so far, there is a sufficient supply of homes.
Because of the demand, housing prices are rising throughout the state and in many other parts of the country. This means existing home sales may be costlier than new construction in some areas.
Older Home Remodeling vs. Custom Home Planning
What about home remodeling? Is it a better solution than building a home using custom home plans? It depends. If your goal is to transform your existing house to suit your needs, you may need to make a significant investment. In 2022, residents of Escambia County reportedly spent between $8,285 and $66,281 to renovate their homes. That is significantly less than the average cost of building a new home. However, there is a good chance that those who invested in renovating still don’t have a house that fits their needs.
To decide whether it’s best to remodel, make a wish list of everything you would like to do to your house if money was no concern. Be sure to consider:
- How modern your kitchen is
- How modern your bathrooms are and if you have enough in your home
- If you need space to work from home
- If you need additional bedrooms
- If you want to change the layout of your home, such as moving from a closed floor plan to an open one
- If your garage size is adequate
You may find that your home would be perfect for your needs if it would take only one or two projects. If that’s the case, remodeling may be the better option. However, a lengthy wish list indicates that hiring custom home builders to design a house to your exact specifications may be the more affordable option overall.
Now, think about how satisfied you are with:
- Your neighborhood
- Your proximity to shopping, places of worship, medical care, etc.
- Your local school district
- Your current commute to work
If you’re dissatisfied with one or more of the above, no remodeling project will solve your problem. Custom homes allow you to relocate to an area that is a better match for your life and your personal preferences.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a House?
The average cost of building a home in Florida is roughly $350,000. Cost of luxury home construction of course is dependent on the design and amenities included. As a custom home builder, Highpointe DBR can design a home that suits your needs, fits your lifestyle, and meets your budgetary requirements. Contact us today to learn more about our custom homes.