Home Maintenance Costs Become Extensive in Older Homes

The maintenance on the 19-year old home has become expensive and a burden. After having three large windows replaced a year ago, you now find yourself paying for the residing and painting of the entire exterior. Luckily, an insurance settlement paid for the replacement of a damaged roof. It paid for the installation of new gutters and downspouts as well. Just when you think that you have finally caught up and have paid for the last major improvement, another emergency arises. Luckily, you have already paid to get your two daughters through college, but the stress and cost of maintaining the large 3,000 square foot three story home is ridiculous. You are ready for something smaller. Something with less maintenance.
Master Planned Community Developers Offer New Homes with Little Maintenance
Whether you are looking for homes by Westbay or another developer in planned communities around the country, the maintenance free aspect is very appealing. Unlike homes that were built some 20 to 30 years ago, today’s new home builders have access to a wide range of maintenance free materials.
In a National Association of REALTORS survey, 65% of buyers indicate that they want a home with central air conditioning. Additionally, storage, space, and appliances are top priorities for many new home buyers. In the year 2013, 89% of buyers purchased a home with a laundry room. And while all of these common sense amenities are very important, it is also important to find a builder who is looking toward the future of the exterior of the home as well. Composite shingles and decking materials as well as siding that requires little or no maintenance or painting will make for a more relaxed lifestyle.
In addition to amenities, location is also important to many buyers. A recent survey of 1,500 millennials looking to purchase homes indicated that 66% preferred suburban locations. Another 24% preferred rural locations and only 10% were looking for homes in the city metropolitan areas. Selecting a builder is often determined by the location where you want to build. Homes by Westbay in Florida, for example, are more commonly found in suburban home developments. These planned communities are a little more rare in a downtown city location.