Buying A New Construction Home
Buying a new construction home is one option to consider when searching in Huntsville and North Alabama. Depending on the builder and stage of construction, you may be able to choose a floor plan, select finishes or purchase a home that is already underway.
Depending on what’s important to you, you may find that the advantages of a new construction home outweigh the benefits of a pre-owned alternative.
So here are some of the reasons why we decided to build!
1. Floor Plan Options
When we decided to build our home, we were both nervous and excited. We had never built a house before since we’d been in the military and moved so often. It just didn’t really make sense for us to buy, much less build, a home during that time. So, once we decided to build, we were both nervous and excited.
One of the biggest reasons we decided to build was that, at the time, there were very few existing homes on the market and the ones that were did not fit our style, or needed too much work, or were just asking more than we wanted to pay.
The first step on our adventure was to visit several of the local builders to get a feel for the build quality and the style. It didn’t take us very long to figure out which builders had floor plans that would work for us. For us, choosing a floor plan that suited our everyday life was one of the greatest benefits. Available plans and changes vary by builder, lot and construction stage, so ask what is included and what costs extra.
2. Home Warranties
Oftentimes when you purchase a new home, you get a new home warranty from the builder or a third party company. In our situation, the builder provided a one year warranty on just about everything. So for the first year when we had a warranty issue, which was only once or twice, we simply had to call or log onto our builder’s website and put in a warranty request. For us, it was easy and we had a good experience.
After the first year, a third party company became responsible to take care of items that were covered under a second warranty such as electrical, plumbing, ductwork, and things like that. The same company provided a structural warranty for an additional 8 years. We actually never had to request any other warranty repairs after the first year.
A couple of other thoughts: First, once you’ve moved in make sure you register all of your appliances with the manufacturer to include the water heater and HVAC systems. Check the manufacturer’s written registration deadlines and coverage terms; any extended coverage depends on the specific product and manufacturer.
Second, some things will go bad or break and they may not be covered under warranty. We actually had an issue with our roof shingles. It turned out that there was a manufacturer defect and they were wearing out faster than they should have. This had nothing to do with the builder or the installers. The good news for us was that the manufacturer of the shingles agreed to replace our roof at absolutely no cost to us.
Just know that having a home warranty is good, but it is by no means perfect and won’t cover every single thing. It also depends on the builder. There are some builders that have good warranty departments and some that are well, not so good, so do your research!
3. Community Amenities
Another benefit is that many new home communities have lots of amenities to offer. They may include everything from playgrounds, pools, tennis courts, walking paths, workout equipment, and possibly a clubhouse. Communities with a lot of amenities will more than likely include a homeowners association. HOAs can be very polarizing, and there are some great ones and some not so great ones.
The goal of the HOA is to keep the neighborhood in good shape and make sure everyone is abiding by the rules that they agreed to when they made their home purchase. And with all these amenities you will also more than likely have HOA dues, which are used to maintain the amenities. As we said, we know that HOAs can be very polarizing so if you’re concerned about the HOA, talk to folks in the neighborhood before you buy. Before we built our home, we would go on walks in the new neighborhood just so we could get a feel of the place.
4. Homes Already Under Construction
Some builders offer homes that are already under construction or completed. These may be worth considering if you do not have time to build from the beginning. Availability and completion dates vary, so confirm the specific home’s status, remaining work and expected closing timeline.
5. The New Home Feel
For us, one of the best features is that it is just all new. It smelled new, it looked new, it was new. We were able to be there from the day they started to break ground until the day we moved in. It was a fun and exciting experience for us. We enjoyed visiting the building site to see what was accomplished. Yeah, there were certainly days and sometimes a few weeks where absolutely nothing happened, but that’s just how it goes. Once you get past that part you can enjoy the process more.
Before visiting model homes or registering with a builder, consider speaking with your own real estate agent about representation. Ask whom the builder’s sales representative represents and how the builder’s registration policy works.
Your agent can help you compare options, understand the steps in the purchase and coordinate questions about inspections, the walkthrough and closing. Discuss the scope of representation and compensation in advance.
New construction still deserves a careful review. Ask about independent inspections, included features, upgrade costs, deposits, deadlines and what happens if completion is delayed. Obtain the written warranty and review its coverage periods, exclusions, maintenance requirements and claim procedures. The warranty experience described above was specific to our home and is not a promise of coverage for another purchase.
Thinking about buying a new construction home in North Alabama? Contact Glenn and Jodi to discuss your location, budget and timeline.
You can also browse homes for sale or explore our North Alabama community guides. Our general search includes different types and ages of homes; contact us for help narrowing your search to new construction.
Meet Glenn & Jodi
We’re Glenn and Jodi Meder, a full-time husband-and-wife REALTOR® team with Legend Realty in Huntsville, Alabama. We’re a proud retired Army family, self-professed HGTV nerds, and parents of three wonderful adult children and an adorable granddaughter!
We’re grateful you stopped by our blog. Whether you’re buying, selling, relocating, or simply exploring North Alabama, we’d love to hear from you.
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