There are many reasons to consider knocking down and rebuilding your home rather than renovating. In this blog post, we will discuss the seven main reasons that make rebuilds a better option for most homeowners. If you are on the fence about whether or not to knock down and rebuild, read on for some helpful information!
1. Complete control over design
When you renovate an existing home, you’re limited by the existing layout and design. If you want to make major changes, such as adding another bedroom or expanding the kitchen, it can be very difficult (and expensive) to do so.
A complete rebuild gives you the opportunity to design your dream home from scratch, without having to work around existing features. You can choose the exact layout that you want and all of the fixtures and finishings will be brand new. In addition, a rebuild provides an opportunity to add new features that may not have been possible in your previous home, such as a pool or a second storey. If you’re looking for complete control over the design of your home, a rebuild is the way to go.
2. More cost-effective
Any home improvement project is bound to cost a pretty penny. But if you’re considering a complete rebuild, you might be surprised to learn that it can actually be more cost-effective than a renovation. This is because you can take advantage of bulk discounts on materials and labour, as well as other economies of scale. As everything is new, you won’t have to worry about hidden damage or unexpected repair costs. Of course, a rebuild is a major undertaking and there are some drawbacks to consider.
For one thing, you’ll have to live elsewhere during the construction process. Unless you own the property outright, you’ll need to obtain financing for the project. But if you’re looking for a way to get the most bang for your buck, a complete rebuild is definitely worth considering.
3. Fewer surprises
A complete rebuild offers the advantage of having fewer surprises. When everything is new, you know exactly what you are getting. With a renovation, it can be difficult to assess hidden damage or defects until work starts. This can lead to frustration and extra cost if repairs are needed that were not anticipated in the original budget. A rebuild means that all aspects of the house will be brand new and up to current building code standards.
This provides peace of mind knowing that the house has been built to the highest standards and will last for many years into the future. In contrast, a renovation may include some repair and replacement of old materials which may not meet current building code standards. As such, a complete rebuild may provide greater long-term value for your investment.
4. Better resale value
When considering whether to renovate or rebuild your home, one important factor to consider is resale value. In general, a complete rebuild will result in a higher resale value than a renovation.
This is because a rebuild effectively gives you a brand-new home, while a renovation simply updates an existing home. potential buyers are often willing to pay more for a brand-new home, rather than one that has been previously owned. Additionally, because a rebuild starts from scratch, you have the opportunity to incorporate the latest trends and technologies into your design, which can also add to the resale value.
If you’re looking for complete control over your home’s design or want the peace of mind that comes with starting from scratch, then knocking down and rebuilding may be the best option for you.
Of course, the final resale value will also be influenced by factors such as location and the overall housing market. However, if you’re planning on selling in the near future, a complete rebuild is likely to give you the best return on investment.
5. Faster completion time
If you’re considering demolishing your existing home and starting from scratch, you may be wondering about the impact on completion time. Although it may take longer to actually demolish the home, the overall process can actually be faster than a major renovation.
This is because renovating typically requires working around existing elements (which can often add significant time to the project), whereas with a rebuild everything is new so there are no such constraints. Of course, there are other factors to consider when making your decision, but if speed is a priority then starting from scratch may be the best option.
6. Easier approvals process
Depending on your municipality, it may be easier to get approvals for a complete rebuild than for a renovation. This is because when renovating an existing home you may need to comply with historic preservation guidelines or other regulations that don’t apply to new construction projects.
For example, if you’re renovating an older home in a historic district, you may need to get approval from the local historical commission before making any changes to the exterior of the property. Similarly, if you live in an area that’s subject to floodplain regulations, you may need to obtain a special permit before you can begin any renovations. In contrast, if you’re starting from scratch with a new build, you won’t have to deal with any of these potential hurdles.
As a result, the approval process is often simpler and faster for new construction projects.
7. Less disruptive
Although a complete rebuild may sound like a major undertaking, it’s actually often less disruptive than a renovation. This is because with a rebuild you can move into a temporary home or apartment while construction is taking place, and then move back into your new home once it’s completed.
In contrast, if you’re renovating your existing home you’ll need to live there during the construction process, which can be disruptive and inconvenient. Additionally, because a rebuild starts from scratch, there’s often less debris and construction waste to deal with than with a renovation.
All of this means that a complete rebuild is usually less disruptive than a major renovation, making it a good option if you want to minimise the impact on your daily life.
Final thoughts
There are pros and cons to both renovating and rebuilding – it really depends on your specific situation and which approach makes more sense for you. But if you’re looking for complete control over your home’s design or want the peace of mind that comes with starting from scratch, then knocking down and rebuilding may be the best option for you.
Starting from scratch also has its perks when it comes to the resale value of your home. A newly built home will often fetch a higher price than one that’s been previously owned, even if it’s of comparable size and quality.
