So you need to move house; its too small, its too big, we need a better area for schools, I need to be closer to work or transport links.. whatever the reason moving house can be a minefield! Another decision you might have to face is – New Build or Renovate?
Moving house can be a stressful but exciting time. Thinking about all of the changes ahead, this might be a lifestyle change which offers you greater freedoms, more space, a home more aligned to your needs.
In this blog post we'll consider the decisions and factors which need to be faced to decide whether you build a new build home or whether you opt to renovate an older property.
I hope by the end you will have a greater understanding of the pros and cons of each option – I will not sway you one way or another (I find it hard to decide which I prefer myself - having moved multiple times!) but hopefully my experience and insight as an Interior Designer will educate you to make your own best and most informed decision.
So firstly you need to understand your options.
When I say New build do you think of an already built and finished home which you can move into or a piece of land on which you will build a home after designing it yourselves and choosing every finish? Or somewhere in between? Knowing exactly what you are looking for is half the battle. The other half is having a realistic idea of what it takes to get what you want.
There are varying options depending on where you live, your budget, the lifestyle you wish to have and many others. The stage of life you are at is also a huge contributing factor. When my children were younger the idea of moving into a home where everything was already taken care of was the dream. Now they are a bit older and supposed to be more independent (note: ..supposed to be..) I enjoy a home we can work on to make it our own. Having a realistic idea of how much time you want to devote to working on your home is important. Even if that’s purely the planning stage, getting the designs how you want them and choosing materials and finishes it all takes time and brain space.
Again, the same varied options apply to renovating. Do you think of a house that needs a cosmetic refresh or are you thinking of completely gutting and sympathetically restoring a 20 room manor house? The same factors apply – do you have the time, budget and energy to complete a renovation or restoration of that size at this time in your life?
For this blog post I'm going to be comparing buying a developer-built new build home and buying an older property which requires renovation. This is probably the most common scenario in the UK so we’ll look at the pros and cons of each of these.
New Build
Typically buying a new build requires a larger budget, this can be enough to make it unobtainable for some. There are financal schemes sometimes offered by the developers to make it more accessible and also government schemes such as shared-ownership etc but to buy a new build home outright can be the more expensive option. So why is this?
New build homes in the UK will have to meet high eco regulations such as the Future Homes Standard (FHS) due to be implemented in 2025. This aims to eliminate the dwellings’ reliance on fossil fuels by using low-carbon energy such as ground source heat pumps etc.
Property developers and contractors will ensure the house meets structural safety regulations. It will have been checked at integral points throughout the construction to ensure it has been built safely and meets the regulations of that area. Different areas have different regulations as they have varying factors to consider. For example, a house in a mountainous region will need to withstand heavy snow which needs to be considered when designing and building its structure and the weight it must be able to hold. A new build home will usually come with a 10-year NHBC build warranty or equivalent which should protect you against any structural issues that arise during the first 10 years.
New build homes must have high levels of insulation, efficient heating systems and incorporate renewal energy sources such as solar panels etc. They must meet a SAP (Standard assessment procedure) rating of at least 80. SAP assess the energy rating of the building.
The new build will have met the standards for Fire safety with mains powered smoke alarms fitted on each floor which are interlinked so they all sound when one detects smoke. Walls, floors and ceilings will have fire resistance to ensure the building structure will not collapse should a fire start – this is to allow occupants to escape safely. In certain rooms, fire doors will also be fitted in order to contain the fire to prevent spread and to also give the occupants time to escape.
Also, New build homes in the UK must be accessible to all. This means they must be accessible for a wheelchair user with adequate space in the internal layout as well as accessible toilets.
New build homes will have a modern layout – meaning they will have a more open layout than that of an older house. They are designed for how we live today. Our way of living has evolved over the years as technology and building developments have changed. We now have more open living, giving us a more sociable space. We have a more relaxed way of life so will often entertain in the kitchen rather than having a separate more formal dining room. With developments in glazing, we now have larger windows as they don’t need to be small to limit heat loss. These factors would have been considered and therefore a new build will have a pleasing layout with modern amenities.
They are finished in neutral colour schemes which you are able to easily live with meaning you don’t have to decorate straight away.
Another often overlooked element of moving into a newly built home is the community you are moving into. Sometimes there is animosity surrounding new builds and new developments from the existing area. However, you have to remember everyone moving into the new development is moving in at the same time. You get to know each other and establish your roots there at the same time, you are all discovering your new homes and areas together which can create a strong bond.
All of these regulations and factors have been taken care of for you so you have the confidence to know you will have an easy, safe, energy-efficient and accessible home to live in. This all takes money, skill and more importantly time. With a new build, you are paying for the convenience and ease of moving straight in.
So, what about renovating an older property? They are often a less expensive option than New builds if you are comparing similar-size properties in a similar area obviously. Moving into an older property usually means there is work to be done i.e. renovation or perhaps restoration. This requires money, time, energy and skill however you will be able to plan your home exactly as you want it.
Depending on the home you have bought and the level of renovation you are undertaking you may have to re-wire, re-plumb (this will mean the house will need to meet the current regulations) and look at the insulation of the building. When you bought you would have had an EPC rating of the house and hopefully a full building survey. This will help you identify the areas of the house that you will need to work on straight away to make it a warmer, safer and more efficient building. You don’t want to pay to heat the air escaping out through the roof!
You may want to extend the current property or perhaps change the layout to a modern one by opening up the space. You have full control – as long as the structural engineer and building control agree – over how you want the space to be.
Renovating can be exciting and empowering, but it can also be really hard work and if you aren’t careful or don’t have a very tight plan the budget can snowball. Having a realistic budget is key and getting lots of quotes gives you a good idea of the costs you will be looking at.
Standard parts of a renovation can include: new electrics, new plumbing to update boiler, radiators etc, new flooring, update fire alarms or add fire doors if changing layout, Painting and decorating, new kitchen and bathroom, possibly new windows and Front door, Checking chimneys and flues and updating if necessary, checking guttering… the list goes on but the most important points will have been covered by your building survey.
Whilst there are many factors you will need to consider when buying an older property there are also many positives.
It is a more sustainable option than buying a new build. Even though an older home may not currently be as efficient as a new build you are reusing a structure that already existed – depending on size, materials etc a new build house likely emits around 15-100 tons of CO2. Although this is less than an older inefficient house would over its lifetime if you make the older home efficient it is more a sustainable option.
Buying an older property is exciting as you can discover the house as you live in it. Uncovering layers of wallpaper, revealing original flooring and learning about the property and the previous owners. You may not like their style or décor choices but it’s an interesting part of the houses’ history, now it’s your home you are able to change it and make it yours.
It's important to remember if you are living in a Listed building you will need to get LBC (listed building consent) before you make any changes.
Having been settled for a number of years older homes aren’t usually subject to issues which can arise from a new build. They are established and although they may be a bit wonky they will usually be old wonky and fully settled!
Often older properties come with larger gardens, even if this doesn’t interest you now think about the potential it may offer you in the future. Any amount of land that comes with a house is a bonus in terms of the value; it may mean you can extend in the future therefore growing the value of the house again and meaning it can evolve with you. If you have substantial land you might be able to build on it in the future if planning allows. For some having a large garden is an absolute must, most new builds don’t have large gardens, so this might be a deal breaker.
Older buildings can sometimes have period features which you won’t find in new builds. Original features aren’t only beautifully ornate ceiling roses and plasterwork but also a kitchen hatch in a 1960s home or metal window frames in a 1930s home. These features add a quirky and unique touch to your home, making it feel individual and adds to the character of the space. You can choose to restore them faithfully, perhaps make a feature of them or take them out; the options are there for you to decide.
Moving into an older property means you are likely moving into an established area. Your new neighbours will know the area, the other neighbours etc and can be a wealth of information when it comes to finding out about your own home. Oddly my home used to be lived in by a lady who now lives across the road so she knows all about the history of the house and has been useful in explaining why certain things are as they are.
So having looked at the various aspects of both a new build and renovating an older house you will need to ask yourself some big questions, such as..
Budget
Do we have the budget to buy a new build? (The average in our area is……..)
Can we afford a renovation project? (An average 3 bed renovation is…)
Is this a great investment for the future?
What are the resale values of houses like these?
What are the comparable running costs of the houses?
Time
Can we afford the time to work on the house at the moment?
Do we want to?
Would we do lots of the work ourselves?
Do we have the time for the planning and design stage?
Do we want a project we can get our teeth into and do together?
Do we have other pressures on our time at the moment?
Lifestyle
What is my style more aligned to? Modern or more traditional? Clean contemporary or maximalist?
Do we prefer village life or living in a development?
Do we want outdoor space?
Will a new build allow us our creative freedom?
Are there opportunities to extend?
I hope this has been a helpful starting point and may have brought to your attention some factors that you hadn’t thought of. Now you have a clearer idea of what’s included with each choice it’s time to make your decision.
Did you find this post helpful? Is there anything you considered when you had to decide between old and new? If so comment below, I would love to know your experiences.
I love working on houses and see great potential in nearly all of them; It’s a joy to add character and features to new builds but also so rewarding to bring back to life an older neglected home.
If you think you would like my help with working on your project – be it a new build or an older property get in touch and we can discuss which of my design services would suit you best – I would love to help
Useful resources –
Old house handbook (more suitable for much older homes) - Marianne Suhr & Roger Hunt
The Handbook of Home design - Laura Jane Clark
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