H5

Carla Bouchard

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If you're in the market for a home, how do you envision your ideal abode?

Do you see yourself in a cozy old Victorian treasure complete with gingerbread trim and ornate fireplaces?

Or does the image of a brand new home built with today's state-of-the-art technology and Jacuzzi off the master bedroom beckon to you?

Either way, you will find that the rewards of purchasing your own home are really quite immeasurable.

The security, comfort and peace of mind you get from home ownership -- regardless of your preference for old or new, are well worth the investment.

Look and compare

As you search for a home, you may want to look at and compare those that are both old and new before zeroing in on your particular preference. It is important to keep an open mind.

For instance, you may find a perfect 60-year-old gem behind the George Dumont Hospital or in the old West End.

However, it may need a lot of renovation and tender loving care.

Yet, as much as you might love the home, it may not necessarily fit into your budget plans.

Or your hectic schedule if you plan to do a lot of the work yourself.

On the other hand, you may find a new home attractive, but would have to spend extra money on landscaping and installing some of the amenities like curbs, which may be part of the package in an older home.

And in many cases, brand new homes aren't always as close to the amenities you may crave -- like corner stores, libraries, shopping and recreation areas -- simply because the neighbourhood hasn't developed yet. (However, it's still not too hard to get from anywhere, to anywhere in the Greater Moncton area.)

Advantages of an older home

Advocates of older homes will tell you that it is difficult to duplicate the charm of an older house in a newer one.

In addition, with an older home you often get the added advantage of improvements made by previous owners.

Some of the benefits of an older home are that you can see exactly what you are getting and don't have to try to picture the completed house from a set of blueprints.

You don't need a virtual-reality program to give you a 360 degree view, because, well, you're right in the house in the first place.

And with an older house, it's probably been "shaken down" -- which means that any structural faults are clearly seen and can be or have been corrected.

On top of that, the landscaping already exists.

Also the neighbourhood is fully built up and its character has been established, which often means that there are existing recreation areas and a variety of local services.

And there are generally fewer immediate move-in costs because basic features like drapery tracks (and sometimes even window coverings) are already installed.

And chattels such as special lighting fixtures and appliances are often included with the sale of an older home.

Advantages of a new home

On the other side of the coin, new home advocates will point out that buying a brand new house is like getting a fresh start.

You can make a choice between a custom-built home designed exactly to suit your needs and a home built from plans you have seen built into a model home.

Some of the advantages of buying a new home are that you have much more flexibility in customizing your decor and landscaping to suit your tastes.

You get fresh, unblemished walls and you can usually choose the type of flooring, carpeting and cupboards that you want.

And with most new homes, you generally get more storage space (such as closets) and larger rooms. Also today's minimum standards for plumbing, electrical, insulation and heating systems are higher than ever before.

Plus land values traditionally tend to increase during the first few years as neighbourhood services develop and the subdivision nears completion.

Regardless of what type of home you choose -- old, new or in between -- be sure you examine all your options first, so that you and your family are happy with the final choice. And don't forget to consider location; experienced buyers know that it is always the number one factor.

* Carla Bouchard is owner/broker of Royal LePage Metro in Moncton. Her column appears each Saturday in Home & Garden.