Building Versus Buying Established

When it comes to owning a home – whether it is your first, second (or even third or fourth home) – you need to make the all-important decision; Should I start afresh, and build something completely new and unlived in, or own an older, established home? 

Here at Aveling HQ, we sometimes like to do things the old-fashioned way – and we’re doing that by using a good old pros and cons list. 

So, let us break things down and really weigh up the options! 

Buying Established 

Pros

  1. You Do Not Need to Wait for Your Home to be Built

    In fact, it could be only a matter of weeks before you move into your newly purchased home.

  2. Try Before You Buy

    You can physically step into the home, take a look around, and get a feel of the place. How do you feel about its external render? Are the bedrooms big enough for you and your family? Does the alfresco cater to your needs? Seeing exactly what you are getting, makes it much easier to visualise exactly how you will make this home your own, and if it can accommodate your needs.

Cons

  1. Do Not Judge a Book by its Cover

It is the old-time saying that we just can’t get enough of it, and for good reason. Older homes generally receive some wear and tear (some of which you mightn’t see on ‘the surface’). There might be costly issues lingering about, which can cause long-term pain (especially for your wallets) if something stops working, falls apart or is showing signs of deterioration. 

  1. You Cannot Style it Exactly How You Want It

If you have been dreaming of beautiful wooden flooring, floor-to-ceiling windows, and black tapware – finding a home that satisfies all of your needs (and wants) isn’t going to be easy. In fact, it will be near impossible. 

  1. No Grants for First Homebuyers

If you happen to be a first homeowner, you do not have the opportunity to enjoy an additional $10,000 towards your first home when you buy an established one. Many people do not realise this, but in Western Australia, the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is not applicable to established homes.

Building New 

Pros 

  1. Make Your House, Your Home

Making selections about your home can be a fun, exciting and incredibly rewarding experience. How many bedrooms do you need? How many bathrooms? Do you need a large alfresco, and what about an audio-visual room? Selecting everything down to the materials you use really can make your home feel like your own.  

In fact, we have many wonderful house designs to choose from which can be adapted to suit your needs. 

  1. Location, Location!

Nothing beats having your favourite café just a short stroll away (We all need our Sunday morning coffee!) 

Choosing where you live (and the kind of home you will live in) makes life just that little bit sweeter! New, new, new! 

Your home does not come with any hidden problems or issues. Everything is brand-new and built to the highest quality, meaning you can enjoy all the benefits of having a fresh place to live in. 

On another note, newer homes are far more environmentally conscious than older ones – a win for your wallet and an even bigger win for the environment. 

Cons 

  1. Patience is a Virtue

We are full of classic sayings today, aren’t we? The good old waiting game is not exactly fun but enjoying the journey towards homeownership brings many fantastic milestones. After all, we’re completely FOR having slab parties! 

If you are someone who needs a home right away and waiting is not a possibility, then building a new home might not be for you. 

So, what will you decide to do? If you have any questions about building or owning a new home, our friendly team of housing specialists is ready to help.