Why do people hate new builds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp- well is sounds to me that you are doing good construction. There is definitely good construction out there. Certainly you could open up an old home and find a shit show of old wiring and turn of the century newspapers as insulation.
My point is that it really does come down to taste.
I could have bought a huge, new house a little further out. Commuting isn't an issue for us. I prefer something that's been around and seen some stuff.
If I had had over a million I would have looked to renovate closer in, not find new construction close in.
It's ok to prefer new things, but many people don't like the soullessness of new homes.

Soullessness is an intangible. To some people, a house is soulless if no one has lived there before. This cannot be mitigated until a couple of generations come and go. To others, any house located in a neighborhood they see as undesirable or lacking in substance or too remote, is soulless. It cannot be defined in architectural, or quality-of-construction terms. What's soulless to one person is a welcome blank slate to build memories to another. What's charming and full of character to one person is suffocating to another.

Intangible maybe... But it's pretty universally understood that when a home has soul - it's been around awhile. Yes, some people like blank slates. They aren't the people buying and loving old brick ramblers, colonials, and cape cods. The people walking into their brand spanking new house aren't swept away by the feeling of history. Yes these two sides value exactly what the other side loathes. Its not jealousy, just different tastes.

soul, charm, cozy etc... these are all made up terms realtors have used to make you believe that the uneven wall or crookedness of old homes is appealing. You drank the koolaide. What history? Most homes have no history unless you are talking about the 1 or 2 out of 1000s that maybe a world leader or founding father lived in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp- well is sounds to me that you are doing good construction. There is definitely good construction out there. Certainly you could open up an old home and find a shit show of old wiring and turn of the century newspapers as insulation.
My point is that it really does come down to taste.
I could have bought a huge, new house a little further out. Commuting isn't an issue for us. I prefer something that's been around and seen some stuff.
If I had had over a million I would have looked to renovate closer in, not find new construction close in.
It's ok to prefer new things, but many people don't like the soullessness of new homes.

Soullessness is an intangible. To some people, a house is soulless if no one has lived there before. This cannot be mitigated until a couple of generations come and go. To others, any house located in a neighborhood they see as undesirable or lacking in substance or too remote, is soulless. It cannot be defined in architectural, or quality-of-construction terms. What's soulless to one person is a welcome blank slate to build memories to another. What's charming and full of character to one person is suffocating to another.

Intangible maybe... But it's pretty universally understood that when a home has soul - it's been around awhile. Yes, some people like blank slates. They aren't the people buying and loving old brick ramblers, colonials, and cape cods. The people walking into their brand spanking new house aren't swept away by the feeling of history. Yes these two sides value exactly what the other side loathes. Its not jealousy, just different tastes.

I could not agree more. All of my homes have been new builds. I grew up in a 1920's house, but with all the renovations, it did not have the charm that so many of you talk about. I definitely prefer a new build where I can pick out my finishes, cabinets, layout, etc. This is important to me because I know what will work for my family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a problem with new homes in general. I've seen some that I'd love to buy. In fact, our last home was new construction.

My problem is with (regardless of age, but tends to be newer homes):
- poor aesthetic (windows off scale, yuck siding, big box, all garage up front, etc.)
- doesn't fit in neighborhood
- doesn't fit in lot

And it doesn't bother me if someone else has this because it doesn't affect me, but I prefer smaller, well-thought-out floor plans for my family. 3000 would be the largest I'd go and I'd be fine with less.

your reasoning is stupid and subjective

Subjective, sure. But how is it stupid? I want the neighborhood to look nice and cohesive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a problem with new homes in general. I've seen some that I'd love to buy. In fact, our last home was new construction.

My problem is with (regardless of age, but tends to be newer homes):
- poor aesthetic (windows off scale, yuck siding, big box, all garage up front, etc.)
- doesn't fit in neighborhood
- doesn't fit in lot

And it doesn't bother me if someone else has this because it doesn't affect me, but I prefer smaller, well-thought-out floor plans for my family. 3000 would be the largest I'd go and I'd be fine with less.

your reasoning is stupid and subjective

Subjective, sure. But how is it stupid? I want the neighborhood to look nice and cohesive.

the only way you are going to get that is to move to an HOA community of new builds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp- well is sounds to me that you are doing good construction. There is definitely good construction out there. Certainly you could open up an old home and find a shit show of old wiring and turn of the century newspapers as insulation.
My point is that it really does come down to taste.
I could have bought a huge, new house a little further out. Commuting isn't an issue for us. I prefer something that's been around and seen some stuff.
If I had had over a million I would have looked to renovate closer in, not find new construction close in.
It's ok to prefer new things, but many people don't like the soullessness of new homes.

Soullessness is an intangible. To some people, a house is soulless if no one has lived there before. This cannot be mitigated until a couple of generations come and go. To others, any house located in a neighborhood they see as undesirable or lacking in substance or too remote, is soulless. It cannot be defined in architectural, or quality-of-construction terms. What's soulless to one person is a welcome blank slate to build memories to another. What's charming and full of character to one person is suffocating to another.

Intangible maybe... But it's pretty universally understood that when a home has soul - it's been around awhile. Yes, some people like blank slates. They aren't the people buying and loving old brick ramblers, colonials, and cape cods. The people walking into their brand spanking new house aren't swept away by the feeling of history. Yes these two sides value exactly what the other side loathes. Its not jealousy, just different tastes.

soul, charm, cozy etc... these are all made up terms realtors have used to make you believe that the uneven wall or crookedness of old homes is appealing. You drank the koolaide. What history? Most homes have no history unless you are talking about the 1 or 2 out of 1000s that maybe a world leader or founding father lived in.

History? Our home was one of the first built in our little neighborhood - it's strong and sturdy and the envy of all our friends (well not the couple that live in new TH's - because it is not their jam) . One of the families who lived in it in the 60's/70's drives by every other spring or so and we chat. They've shared stories of what the hood was like. We didn't use a realtor, and the sellers agent didn't have to lay it on thick. We knew we had found the one the moment we walked through the door. It's ok to not understand that perspective- but you don't need to belittle it.

[Anonymous]

I'm a reformed new build fan.

DH and I bought a 1940s home, our first, and we were blissfully unaware of just how problematic and expensive home ownership is, but even worse are the problems of an old house.

I fantasize now about a new build and would have a long list of must- haves. Certainly, all new systems and electric and plumbing would be the biggest benefit to buying new.

I do the the problems first hand of living in a tear down/rebuild neighborhood and unless our future new home would be among a mini neighborhoods of new builds, I wouldn't do it. Too many problems with the old timers.

[Anonymous]

Once you've lived in newer construction, you are less willing to live in an old house. But if all you've ever lived in is old constrution, you think it's fine and settle for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once you've lived in newer construction, you are less willing to live in an old house. But if all you've ever lived in is old constrution, you think it's fine and settle for it.

+1 we built in 2013 and it's been so nice. Would have a hard time living in an older home again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New builds may look nice, but they're slapped up in no time at all by cheap (likely illegal) labor that doesn't care about leaky windows, crap ceilings, and so on.

Quality is hard to come by.

?? With my new build I can call the builder anytime to fix even a scratch on the wall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp- well is sounds to me that you are doing good construction. There is definitely good construction out there. Certainly you could open up an old home and find a shit show of old wiring and turn of the century newspapers as insulation.
My point is that it really does come down to taste.
I could have bought a huge, new house a little further out. Commuting isn't an issue for us. I prefer something that's been around and seen some stuff.
If I had had over a million I would have looked to renovate closer in, not find new construction close in.
It's ok to prefer new things, but many people don't like the soullessness of new homes.

Soullessness is an intangible. To some people, a house is soulless if no one has lived there before. This cannot be mitigated until a couple of generations come and go. To others, any house located in a neighborhood they see as undesirable or lacking in substance or too remote, is soulless. It cannot be defined in architectural, or quality-of-construction terms. What's soulless to one person is a welcome blank slate to build memories to another. What's charming and full of character to one person is suffocating to another.

Intangible maybe... But it's pretty universally understood that when a home has soul - it's been around awhile. Yes, some people like blank slates. They aren't the people buying and loving old brick ramblers, colonials, and cape cods. The people walking into their brand spanking new house aren't swept away by the feeling of history. Yes these two sides value exactly what the other side loathes. Its not jealousy, just different tastes.

If your standard of home soul is that this home needs to have been around for a while, then any new home - whether a custom build with an award-winning architect or a cookie-cutter subdivision unit - has no soul. There is no remedy for that but time, and it's unfair to hold that against new homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once you've lived in newer construction, you are less willing to live in an old house. But if all you've ever lived in is old constrution, you think it's fine and settle for it.

+1 we built in 2013 and it's been so nice. Would have a hard time living in an older home again

+2. We loved our 1940s home but we bought new when we outgrew it. Couldn't go back now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp- well is sounds to me that you are doing good construction. There is definitely good construction out there. Certainly you could open up an old home and find a shit show of old wiring and turn of the century newspapers as insulation.
My point is that it really does come down to taste.
I could have bought a huge, new house a little further out. Commuting isn't an issue for us. I prefer something that's been around and seen some stuff.
If I had had over a million I would have looked to renovate closer in, not find new construction close in.
It's ok to prefer new things, but many people don't like the soullessness of new homes.

Soullessness is an intangible. To some people, a house is soulless if no one has lived there before. This cannot be mitigated until a couple of generations come and go. To others, any house located in a neighborhood they see as undesirable or lacking in substance or too remote, is soulless. It cannot be defined in architectural, or quality-of-construction terms. What's soulless to one person is a welcome blank slate to build memories to another. What's charming and full of character to one person is suffocating to another.

Intangible maybe... But it's pretty universally understood that when a home has soul - it's been around awhile. Yes, some people like blank slates. They aren't the people buying and loving old brick ramblers, colonials, and cape cods. The people walking into their brand spanking new house aren't swept away by the feeling of history. Yes these two sides value exactly what the other side loathes. Its not jealousy, just different tastes.

soul, charm, cozy etc... these are all made up terms realtors have used to make you believe that the uneven wall or crookedness of old homes is appealing. You drank the koolaide. What history? Most homes have no history unless you are talking about the 1 or 2 out of 1000s that maybe a world leader or founding father lived in.

Heres' a house for you with history and soul.
http://www.rottenworks.com/index.php/2010/05/25/amityville-horror-house-goes-on-sale-for-1-5m/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once you've lived in newer construction, you are less willing to live in an old house. But if all you've ever lived in is old constrution, you think it's fine and settle for it.

+1

That, and the "I see dead people" factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp- well is sounds to me that you are doing good construction. There is definitely good construction out there. Certainly you could open up an old home and find a shit show of old wiring and turn of the century newspapers as insulation.
My point is that it really does come down to taste.
I could have bought a huge, new house a little further out. Commuting isn't an issue for us. I prefer something that's been around and seen some stuff.
If I had had over a million I would have looked to renovate closer in, not find new construction close in.
It's ok to prefer new things, but many people don't like the soullessness of new homes.

Soullessness is an intangible. To some people, a house is soulless if no one has lived there before. This cannot be mitigated until a couple of generations come and go. To others, any house located in a neighborhood they see as undesirable or lacking in substance or too remote, is soulless. It cannot be defined in architectural, or quality-of-construction terms. What's soulless to one person is a welcome blank slate to build memories to another. What's charming and full of character to one person is suffocating to another.

Intangible maybe... But it's pretty universally understood that when a home has soul - it's been around awhile. Yes, some people like blank slates. They aren't the people buying and loving old brick ramblers, colonials, and cape cods. The people walking into their brand spanking new house aren't swept away by the feeling of history. Yes these two sides value exactly what the other side loathes. Its not jealousy, just different tastes.

If your standard of home soul is that this home needs to have been around for a while, then any new home - whether a custom build with an award-winning architect or a cookie-cutter subdivision unit - has no soul. There is no remedy for that but time, and it's unfair to hold that against new homes.

Ummm... Yes. That is exactly what I will do. Because that is my preference and taste.
It's totally ok to want a new home. Don't feel insecure about that. There are many things to recommend a new home. You new build people need to calm down and be ok that some people would not make the same choice. It doesn't invalidate your preference. I have family that has built the most gorgeous custom home. You would think it's a historic Reno- really breath taking. It's still just missing something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my ONLY problem with new construction is the design. Why are Craftsman the only style and why no more brick colonials? Even when price is less of an object ($1.5MM and up)?

Brick is still around but commands a premium
http://www.kw.com/homes-for-sale/22101/VA/MCLEAN/6713-WEAVER-AVENUE/3yd-MRIS-FX8539556.html

wow those houses are ugly

I love how there's a tiny rambler as the next door neighbor in both pictures.

I didn't notice that until you pointed it out! I like the second one, but would expect it in a neighborhood with similar houses.

We saw this house. Very nicely designed and laid out, much nicer than the average spec build - the builder is an architect. (Though I question the choice of plastic water supply pipes, are all spec builds using them instead of copper now? Ugh.)

All of those ramblers near downtown McLean will eventually be town town.

No on uses copper, PVC now has a tract record of being superior.

Nope. Cheaper, but not better.