Whether your family is growing, your lifestyle is changing, or perhaps the style of your current home just isn’t working for you anymore. You now face the hard decision of deciding between building a brand-new home on the block you love vs renovating your existing home. We’ve mapped out some points to consider when making this major lifestyle choice.

There are positives and negatives for both options, it all depends on the final outcome you require. If your home has historical charm that you just can’t see yourself parting with, then taking on a reno may be the way to go. But if you have a rough diamond that you couldn’t sell for much more than the value of the land, then there are plenty of reasons why starting from scratch and making it completely yours could be better off for you in the long term.

Energy Efficiency
Building a home from scratch allows for more control over еnеrgy consumption. Building materials, floor plans and utility systems are all built with energy efficiency in mind, thus reducing your еnеrgy costs in the long run.

Modern Technology
Older homes always lack modern technological features. Building from the ground up integrates futuristic construction technologies and gives you the chance to upgrade your humble abode!

Design Options
If you’re thinking of building or renovating, chances are you want to create something that is aesthetically pleasing and suits your individual style. Building from scratch gives you the freedom of designing your home, your way. With flexibility that’s often squashed from renovating an established structure.

On the other side of the wall, if your existing home has stunning timber floors, decorative ceilings and stonework that you wouldn’t find anywhere today, or want to give up, renovating is on your to-do-list.

Less Maintenance
Yes, every house has different maintenance requirements. We are not talking how often your floor needs cleaning. We are talking termites, salt damp, roof leaks, foundation issues, repainting, and the list goes on.

Sure, some of these maintenance concerns can come with a new build, however, they are much less common. I am yet to meet someone who doesn’t love the sound of less maintenance. New builds also come with added peace of mind in the form of construction warranties. One piece of paper that you will absolutely hold onto.

Efficient Layout
It’s much еasiеr to design your home with a specific purpose in mind than to convert an old one that was intended for a different home owner (even if that person was you a few years ago). Starting from scratch will give you 10x more flexibility. Think latest trends in colours and styles, open floor plan, smart home technology and sustainability. 

The Hassle
Ah, the logistics. A new build doesn’t require you to live on-site and listen to your non-preferred music genre from the early hours of the morning. Sure, you can pop in to see the progress, however, that is on your terms. It does mean that you need to find alternative accommodation, renting or staying with family being the popular choices. 

A renovation is something you have to live with 24/7 for as long as it takes. Brushing your teeth in the laundry sink, relying on microwave and kettle-only meals, and seeing complete strangers in your pyjamas. As a child of a family home renovation during my primary school years, these are all from firsthand experiences.

Cost Effective
The overall cost for a renovation will depend on how many changes you intend to make, especially structural changes. As a general rule, a whole home of renovations will typically cost more than a complete new build. 

Similarly, a new build price is dependent on the size, style and finishes you select. However, these choices are all based on what you want, not what you have that needs to be removed and then updated. If do you choose to knock-down and rebuild, you also avoid the stamp duty on a new block of land. 

No Surprises:
Unlike a reno where you often won’t know what you’ll be paying until it’s complete, when building brand new you know what you’re up for before you start the build. No stress about going in blind and blowing the budget midway through the project!

To discover more about how Kookaburra Homes can work with you on your knockdown rebuild project, get in touch with us today.

 

Last updated 28 June 2024 at 3:35pm

By Amy Rosendale

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