by Alex France

From the ground up, first-time home buyers open up their wallets to purchase homes built exclusively for them.

 

Tuesday McLean had a plan. She was ready to take the first steps toward homeownership after years of renting. A single mom of two young boys, Tuesday needed a place large enough to accommodate herself and her growing children. When given the choice of purchasing a pre-owned home or new construction, she chose new construction--a custom-built home in a brand-new development. “It had the same number of bedrooms and baths, but it had none of the previous owners’ headaches.”

 

With her decision, Tuesday joined a growing number of first-time home buyers who have chosen to create their new home from the ground up.

 

She bought her home from T&M Homes, a builder based in Torrington, CT. T&M Homes made buying new construction an attractive alternative to buying an existing home. T&M CEO, Steve Temkin explained, “You get to pick your floors, choose your kitchen cabinets, and even create additions like a bonus room or finished basement. Once you start, it can be quite addicting. It becomes pretty hard to shop for a home any other way.” For Tuesday, the selection process was easy. “It took me about 15 minutes to choose all my options. I knew exactly what I wanted. Granite counter tops were a #1 priority.”

 

However, buyers should be cautious. Many different options are offered during the selection process, so a solid plan needs to be in place to avoid going over budget. Buying a new home fitted with all the amenities offered in most builders' display homes or “Model Homes” could end up costing tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars over the base price.

 

For Tuesday, buying new construction turned out to be less expensive than she had expected. She looked at other homes for sale in the area and found that for just a little bit more money, she could have a brand-new house appointed exactly as she wanted. The new construction also included a one-year warranty on the entire home, including appliances.

 

While new construction may eliminate the repair worries that can come with buying an older home, it may not always be the perfect solution. New construction has its own headaches for the uninitiated.

 

For instance, in many cases you are initially selecting a dirt and gravel lot to build on. This could mean waiting months before your home is built and "move-in ready," and pose a potential problem for those under time constraints.

 

Newly constructed homes also naturally begin to settle after they are completed. This settling and structural shifting may cause problems such as cracks in the wood frame, nails to pop up, and misaligned doors. “My job brings me in contact with a lot of construction companies,” says Tuesday, a sales representative for a well-known kitchen and bath supply manufacturer, “so I knew some of these things were going to happen.” But for buyers who are unaware, these unplanned expenses can be very frustrating.

 

Tuesday has a few thoughts for those considering buying new-construction homes.

 

 

Buying a newly constructed home can be a very exciting experience. With well-chosen help and some solid planning your first new home might really be… new.