Moving Up: The Top 6 Advantages of Building New

If you’re feeling unsatisfied with your current home, it’s time to take a look at your options. You might be able to purchase another new-to-you home or remodel, but many families throughout Winnipeg are choosing to build brand-new instead. This is because, while it may sound more expensive at first, the benefits outweigh any upfront costs.

Learn more about how building a new home can help you get out of your current home and into the lifestyle you’ve been dreaming about.

1. Your Design, Your Way 

When you build a new home, you get to make all of the decisions about the way the home looks. This includes the type of flooring, colours on the walls, and the types of fixtures you’ll have in the bathrooms and kitchen. Best of all, you don’t have to do the work - the builder does it for you with the products you've chosen.

When you renovate your current home or purchase a resale home, you can make some changes to better fit the look you want, but you often have to do the work yourself or hire a variety of contractors. It’s easier to get everything you want in a new home, all done in the process of the build, no renovations required.

2. The Perfect Floor Plan

Of course, choosing a great home design means choosing the ideal floor plan for your family - and adjusting your current home's layout is much harder to do. In fact, renovations like this are time-consuming and costly, while other resale homes still may not have the modern layout you want (meaning you'll only wind up in the same situation all over again). 

Because there are so many home styles to consider, brand-new homes tend to have everything today’s families are looking for: an open plan for the living area, laundry on the second floor, mud rooms to keep the home organized, and ample space for relaxing and playing together. 

3. A Great Neighbourhood 

You can’t change the location of your current home. But the great thing about building a new one is you’re able to choose a potentially better or newer community. Neighbourhoods with new homes tend to be up-and-coming as well as popular for families, looking for ample amenities, green spaces, playgrounds and more. In many cases, your children will go to brand-new schools with the latest equipment and you'll be close to new restaurants, shopping destinations and services. 

4. Less Worry and More Warranty 

If you’ve been in your home for a while, you know what it’s like to deal with maintenance. In a new home, you won’t have any of these same worries. Things simply won’t break down, and if they do, they may be covered under the builder’s home warranty. You won’t have to spend your weekends working on fixer-upper projects, and you’ll be able to spend your money on the things you really want instead of sinking it into more repairs.

5. Save Money 

Older homes certainly have their charm, but they simply can’t compare when it comes to energy efficiency. New homes feature all of the latest building materials and technology - guaranteed to help you save money on your utility bills. Brand-new appliances, furnaces, water heaters and smart systems are just a few examples as to why new homes are more cost-effective. 

Triple-pane windows keep the home air-tight and comfortable. You may even be able to position your home in a way that makes use of the sun’s energy even without installing solar panels (a green incentive offered by many new home builders). All of these things added together result in big savings for you. 

6. Creating Your Ideal Lifestyle

When you buy a resale home, you’re often settling in some way or another. The location may not be ideal or the home itself may have a few problems. Choosing to build a new home instead means you have a unique opportunity to create the life you’ve always wanted for yourself, by finding your perfect home in a new community. 

This starts with choosing a community that matches your needs, whether that’s a neighbourhood with a lot of bike trails or one where you can get the pie-shaped lot you've always wanted. You’re then able to pick a home that has all of the elements you’ve been dreaming about. It’s really nice to have so much control over everything that relates to your new home.

Choosing the Right Builder

There are many great builders to choose from in the Winnipeg area. So, when you're ready to take the first steps toward building a brand-new home, here are a few questions you'll want to ask any builder you're considering: 

What Are Your Qualifications?

Obviously, you want a builder with the experience to do the job well. A good builder is likely a member of several professional organizations, including the Manitoba Home Builder's Association, and they’ll have many years of experience. They may have even won some awards for design, quality, or customer service. Ask about this up front.

Where do you build? Can I visit a show home? 

Websites can make any home or neighbourhood look great, but nothing beats seeing for yourself in person. Builders typically have show homes in each of the communities they build in, and viewing the homes is as simple as walking in. Occasionally, you may have to schedule a tour if your schedule doesn't line up with the advertised open hours, but this can vary from builder to builder. 

It’s important to remember that show homes are meant to highlight just some of the things a builder can do. If there’s a particular model you’d like to see, ask the builder if they have any show homes or spec homes of that model. Also, keep in mind the majority of builders highlight some of their best work in the show homes so they likely have upgraded features.

Can You Build the Type of Home I Want?

In the excitement of touring various show homes and communities, many people forget to ask the most basic questions. If there are particular things you want in a home, you need to be sure that the builder can handle those requests. For instance, if you and your parents each want to purchase opposite sides of a new duplex, you’ll want to make sure the builder actually builds duplex models. You'll also want to be sure they build in a community you want. 

What Kind of Warranties Will I Get with a Home Purchase?

As we mentioned earlier, the warranties that come with a brand-new home can ease your mind about the purchase. You won’t have to worry about paying for repairs soon after you move in. However, some warranties are better than others. Make sure you fully understand the details of all the warranties and what your responsibilities as a homeowner are.

What Can I Expect During the Build Process? 

You want to get a sense of a typical timeframe of a new home build. At first, the process might seem overwhelming because you have to make choices about several little details of the home. However, most builders make this easier by breaking things down. You start by making some major decisions about the floor plan and the exterior elevation, but don’t have to get down to the nitty-gritty until later in the process. Still, you want to know what to expect when it comes to financing, down payments, and material selections - and how much longer you have to make these decisions.

Which Are Standard Features and Which Are Upgrades?

Price is important. Most builders will show the “starting price” of their homes, minus any additional features or upgrades. While many builders include high-end features (such as luxury vinyl plank flooring for instance) as standard, re-creating the show home will add to the original starting price. 

As you tour show homes, don’t be afraid to ask questions to better understand your upgrade options. Which of the features you see come standard and which ones are upgrades? How much do those upgrades cost? Sometimes, a company with a higher starting price offers a better deal because, again, they include the features you want as part of the standard package.

What’s Included in Your Price?

When you get a price quote, make sure to ask about everything that’s included in that price. Things like the cost of the lot, exterior landscaping, driveways, exterior stairs and pathways, and outdoor decks or patios aren’t always part of the standard price and must be added on. 

Adding those and other costs of buying a home can bump the final figure out of the price range you're comfortable with. It’s smart to get a quote that fully includes everything when budgeting for your new home. Talking to a lender before house hunting can help you get a more accurate idea of where you stand. 

Of course, we know building a brand-new home isn’t the right choice for everyone, but those who make the leap are extremely satisfied with their decision. Take some time to explore our communities and our show homes. You’ll be surprised by how easy it can be to build the home of your dreams.

Originally posted May 11, 2017, updated November 22, 2018.