Should You Buy Or Build Your Home in Mid-Missouri? 10 Tips to Help You Decide

Buying a Home vs. Building a Home Custom Home in the Ashland, MO Area: Which Is Better for You?

It’s not every day you’re faced with the decision of buying a home with a real estate agent or working with a custom home contractor. When moving on to this milestone in life, there are many aspects to consider and evaluate carefully. If you’re unsure whether you should follow the traditional home buying process or build a custom home in central Missouri, these 10 determining factors may help you come to a final decision.

What does it cost to build a house in mid-Missouri & how much does an existing home cost? 

Many people believe building a custom home is automatically more expensive because it is constructed from new materials, but this is actually untrue. As of July 2023, the median price of an existing home in Missouri is roughly $262,500. Because building a custom home is catered to your budget and your specific living situation, the total cost could easily be more or less than this value. In addition, a custom home is made brand new for nearly the same price as an existing home showing signs of aging or damage. When it comes to a new construction home in Ashland, MO, you are paying for quality over quantity. 

If you want more customization options, a new construction home in central Missouri is the better option 

The best part about hiring a custom home contractor is the freedom to build your dream mid-Missouri home! If you enjoy expressing yourself through your home, new build construction is perfect for you. As the name suggests, a custom home gives you the option to include whatever you want, whether it’s a game room downstairs or a laundry room connected to the kitchen! This saves you the time and extra money of making additions to an existing home in the Ashland, MO area.

Energy efficiency in a mid-Missouri custom home vs. an existing home 

Since new construction homes are built with a brand new HVAC system and the latest insulation, they are much more energy efficient than buying a home in central Missouri. If you’re frustrated with your current energy bills, it may be because the house and its ventilation system have years of wear and tear. With a custom home, energy conservation is one less thing you have to worry about!

Building a custom home in the Ashland, MO area means more flexibility on location 

Location is a huge benefit to any home in mid-Missouri, and often what homeowners prioritize most on their search. If the existing homes in your area are in inconvenient locations for your lifestyle, building a custom home may be the better option. Before a new home is built, you must secure a plot of land for the construction project. This offers you flexibility on the location of your custom home in central Missouri, and can even give you more opportunities for privacy depending on where you build. 

Custom homes in central Missouri are better for implementing modern technology features

Not only is a custom home more efficient because of its updated design, but it also allows more room for modern technology. Custom homes are much better for incorporating current security features, high-functioning showers, and more! There are so many possibilities with a custom home to make your day-to-day life just a little bit easier, and Watts Construction has the innovative team of home builders in Ashland, MO to accomplish this. 

A custom home can better accommodate specific needs for you & your family in mid-Missouri 

Another potential downside to buying a home in central Missouri is a lack of accessibility. If you or any of your family has a disability, it’s important for your home to aid these needs. Some necessary features could include larger showers, appropriate heights for countertops, and ramps for entering the house. Since a new home in Ashland, MO is customizable, your living space can be much more diverse for all types of abilities. 

Which is easier to maintain: custom homes or existing homes in central Missouri? 

Due to the nature of an existing home, it may cost more to maintain. Fixing roof leaks, installing new floors, and repairing a faulty air conditioner are just a few of the many issues a home older than 25 years can have. These costs pile up over time and the upkeep can become frustrating. On the other hand, a custom home in mid-Missouri is built with brand new foundation materials, plumbing, and more, so you don’t have to worry about maintenance problems for a long time to come. 

The timeline of building a custom home & buying a home in Ashland, MO 

Like many of the best things in life, building a custom home in central Missouri does require patience and time. For a new construction home to be built with care and precision, it can take approximately seven months for the final product to be finished. That being said, buying a home isn’t much faster – from the preapproval stage to the closing sale, it can take anywhere from 6 months to a year. Consult with our professional home builders on how long it would take to finish the custom house you’re envisioning, and this could help you decide the better timeline.

Building a mid-Missouri custom home could be better for your long-term future 

A custom home can be beneficial not just for your current family, but for the future as well. Whether you’re making room for one more in the family or you’re aging in place, having a new construction home in central Missouri will last much longer down the road than an existing home. This custom home can be passed down for generations in your family, serving you both now and later in life. 

Is custom home building a more competitive market for homeowners in Ashland, MO? 

One of the biggest disadvantages to buying a home in mid-Missouri is the competition. There are plenty of other people looking for a house, and real estate agents have a vast array of clients to work with. There is much less competition when building a custom home because once you own a plot of land, all you need is a dependable contractor by your side! Custom home construction is not as dependent on the current housing trends as traditional home buying, saving you the stress of trying to find a good home in a struggling market. 

Choose Watts Construction as Your Custom Home Builder in Mid-Missouri for a Newly Built Home Made With Care. Contact Us Today! 

At Watts Construction, we guarantee to give you a custom home worth the time and price in central Missouri. We build high-quality new homes in a number of communities including Ashland, Lake Ozark, and Columbia, MO. The team at Watts Construction is savvy on modern home building and dedicated to homeowner satisfaction. To start home construction with our caring professionals, reach out and call today!