The first part of the remodeling journey for all our clients is to figure out whether we are a good fit for each other. And for us, we want to figure out if remodeling your home is right for you. But you should consider all your options: remodeling, building, or buying a home. Because each option comes with its own benefits, challenges, and long-term implications. And even though we’d prefer you to remodel with us, we really want to help you find what fits your lifestyle best.
Making the Right Choice
There’s no universal answer to remodeling, building, or buying a home, but here’s a chart and some focused questions that will give you a quick, direct answer. Keep reading if you want to get into more nuanced reasons.
Love your home but want it to be a better fit?
Want a new home with everything tailored to you?
Need to make a big lifestyle change and make it fast?
Remodeling: Transform What You Love
Remodeling allows you to stay where you are while making your home work better for how you live today. Instead of starting over, you build upon what already exists. Upgrading layouts, improving flow, and modernizing finishes one or more rooms at a time.
Pros
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Preserve what matters most.
Keep the location, neighborhood, schools, and community you already love. -
Tailor your home to how you actually live.
Because you live there, you already know your home’s pain points and can plan accordingly to fix them. -
Flexible scope and phasing.
You can remodel individual spaces, whole floors, or take a phased approach over time. -
Often more cost-effective.
Especially when you factor in the equity you already have and the increase it will bring to resale value.
Considerations
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Hidden conditions can be uncovered.
Homes may reveal structural, electrical, plumbing, or other issues once work begins. -
Construction happens close to daily life.
You may be living in or near the home during the process, and that can be very disruptive to daily life. -
Limitations because of the home.
The home’s make-up (size, lot, layout, etc.) can limit how drastic some changes can be, especially if cost is a factor. -
The team makes all the difference.
Remodeling success relies heavily on working with a design-build team that communicates clearly, plans thoroughly, and manages the process from start to finish.
Building a Home: Everything Exactly How You Want It
Building a new home allows you to design everything from the ground up. Instead of working around existing layouts or past decisions, you’re creating a home based entirely on your preferences, priorities, and long-term plans. For homeowners who want full control and are willing to invest a great deal of time, planning, and money, building offers a fresh start with very few compromises.
Pros
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Total control over layout and design.
Building allows you to design a home completely tailored to your wants and needs. -
Brand-new systems and materials.
From framing and insulation to mechanicals and finishes, everything is new.
Considerations
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Everything has a price.
Typical builds in our area (Capital Region) range from $200 to $400/sq ft, and that’s for a small builder-grade home. If you want something more custom, you’ll be looking at seven figures. -
Longer timelines and more planning.
Building typically takes more time than buying or remodeling, with permitting, site work, weather, and material availability all impacting the schedule. -
Land availability and location trade-offs.
Finding the right lot can be difficult, and available land may be farther from established neighborhoods, schools, and amenities.
Buying a Home: Change Your Situation Quickly
Buying an existing home allows you to make a major life change without waiting for design and construction. You can tour homes, compare neighborhoods, and move into a new space relatively quickly.
Pros
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Fastest path to a big change.
Buying allows you to change location, layout, and overall lifestyle faster than the other options. -
Access to different neighborhoods and communities.
Purchasing a home can open the door to school districts, amenities, or communities that better fit your current stage of life. - Clear understanding of what you’re getting.
You can evaluate everything upfront without waiting for construction to be completed.
Considerations
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Compromises are almost always required.
It’s rare to find a home that checks every box, so you may need to settle for a layout, size, finishes, or features that aren’t ideal. -
Competitive markets can increase costs.
Low inventory and high demand can drive prices up quickly. -
“Move-in ready” doesn’t mean ready for you.
Even well-maintained homes often require updates or renovations. Especially once you start living in them and realize the good, the bad, and the ugly of what it has to offer.
Have You Made a Decision?
If you’re still weighing which path makes the most sense, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our team helps homeowners evaluate whether remodeling, building, or buying is the right move based on their goals, home, and long-term plans. Through thoughtful conversations and clear guidance, we help you understand what’s possible and what will deliver the best outcome. We may be a little biased towards remodeling, but that’s to be expected! So reach out to start the conversation and gain clarity on the decision that’ll help you come home to quality.
