Buying a New Construction Home vs. a Used, Existing Home

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make. Before even deciding to buy a home, you might wonder whether to choose a pre-owned or a new construction home. This question is just the start of a series of questions about the pros and cons of a new home versus a used one. Will you save money with a used home? Is a new home too expensive? How long will it take to build a new home versus renovating a pre-owned one? Depending on where you want to live, your desired lifestyle, your budget, and more, you may want to consider buying a new construction home.

McKee Builders wants you to have many opportunities for a better life. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing exceptional-quality homes. Open-concept floor plans, high-end features, energy-efficient technologies, materials, and construction are just the beginning of some advantages of buying a new construction home over a used home.

What to Know About Buying New vs. Used Homes

Floor Plans Designed For Today

NEW: A big pro for building a new construction home is enjoying a floor plan designed for how you live today. You’ll also be able to personalize the floor plan before the building begins to ensure you get a home that fits your needs. New homes come with open-concept layouts and flexible rooms that you can use for whatever you need. They also often have larger windows to provide more natural light.

USED: You’ll be hard-pressed to find a pre-owned home with an up-to-date layout. Frequently, the bedrooms, closets, and windows are much smaller, with the flow from the living room to the kitchen area disrupted by a wall.

Energy-Efficiency, Home Systems, & Smart Technology

NEW: There’s peace of mind with a newly built home. All the systems are brand new, including the HVAC system, appliances, roof, and foundation. Pre-owned homes will likely need renovations, leaving you with more work and needing to invest more money in repairs. Our low-maintenance communities offer the latest technology and smart features that make your life easier. Newer homes also provide substantial energy savings from low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and better insulation to healthier building materials. With a McKee Builders home, you’ll enjoy everything you love without these extra worries.

USED: An existing home is less likely to have energy-efficient appliances and can be poorly insulated. This could cause you to use or lose extra energy, increasing your utility bills. Even if you replace dated wiring and install smart technology, it will cost more to add it in since the house isn’t structured to incorporate it.

Warranty From a Trusted Builder

NEW: When building a house vs. buying a used home, you’ll want to consider the protection and guarantee that comes with a builder’s warranty. A new construction home will have a warranty lasting anywhere from one to ten years. It can be used for materials and workmanship, plumbing and electrical systems, and even costly structural repairs.

USED: Buying a pre-owned or existing home will certainly not come with these guarantees. You’ll have to factor in potential renovation and repair costs into the price of the house, which can become a hassle depending on the age of the home.

The Best Locations

NEW: The right location can make all the difference when looking for the perfect home. 

Buying a new construction home often means buying a lifestyle. From builder communities to master-planned communities, you’ll find that new homes are set within prime locations near everything you could need (often with tons of amenities).

USED: Finding an existing home in a neighborhood close to everything may prove to be a little more complicated. You may be stuck in an unfamiliar location or lot that you didn’t necessarily want or choose due to looking for something near your job, good schools, and local conveniences.

Is a New Construction Home Right For You?

If you’re still deciding whether to opt for a brand new home, consider all the advantages discussed above. A brand new home lets you choose from a wide variety of modern floor plans, upgrades, and finishes. And with McKee Builders, you can personalize a new home to fit your ideal lifestyle.

Our homes are built to be healthy and smart to last generations. You’ll find Low-E windows throughout our homes. These windows minimize the amount of infrared and ultraviolet light that comes through the glass without reducing the amount of natural light that enters the home. Better energy efficiency and performance mean lower utility and maintenance costs. McKee homes use 15-30 percent less energy than typical new homes and even more when compared to most resale homes on the market today. They also provide wall-to-wall comfort with consistent temperatures from room to room. Fresh, filtered air reduces indoor pollutants, dust, pollen, and other allergens. You and your family will feel and hear the difference between a heating and cooling system that has been engineered and installed to deliver comfort efficiently.

The options of places to live with a new construction home are endless. Each community we build is thoughtfully designed and placed in areas with easy shopping, dining, and entertainment access. They even include exciting amenities of their own, with walking trails, pools, sports courts, playgrounds, green spaces, and more. Plus, the timeline for moving is very flexible since you can choose to build your home from the ground up or select one of our available homes that are ready within a variety of timeframes.

Start Your Search for New Construction Homes for Sale With Us

With a newly constructed home by McKee Builders, you’ll revel in the advantages. From quality construction and energy efficiency to innovative designs and unique personalization, a new home is the best way to go. Explore our new homes for sale throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware to see what we mean. If you have any questions, we’re happy to help! Just connect with us by phone or online today!