Thinking of building in the Kansas City area? News from our local builder-broker with over 40 years of experience. Something to think about!
Building Success 101
Q: Have building materials followed the downward trend of home prices?
A: Unfortunately, no. When the housing downturn first hit in 2008, building materials suppliers were left with a large surplus and production capacities (much like their builders), so they dropped prices to sell off inventory. Since then, they have slowed their production and lowered their inventories to serve a much smaller building demand – allowing them to raise prices for their products. At the same time, they have been hit with greater transportation costs (gas prices), more government regulation, and other costs that also affect pricing.
Where’s the Value? New Homes, Existing Homes, Short Sales or Foreclosures
In the Kansas City market, it may be tempting to buy a “short sale” or recently foreclosed home, especially one that was built during the recent housing boom and is being offered at a bargain-basement price.
But that strategy is full of pitfalls and potholes. It’s well-documented that owners of homes in foreclosure tend to neglect their property, knowing there’s no point in maintaining it. They are likely distraught and distracted at the prospect of being evicted from their home, and understandably might focus on more important things than fixing the gutters or repairing a leak.
The result is often a home in poor condition with extra expenses required to bring it back up to par, much less to your standards. After all, a home is the center of your family’s life, a safe haven, a shelter. Walking into a money pit of repairs and service issues — some of which you may not even know about until after you’ve moved in — threatens that security and quality of life. Is it worth the risk?
By comparison, a newly built home provides you with exactly what you want from the get-go. It reflects your specific needs now and into the future, as well as your style and other aesthetic preferences. It’s fresh, unblemished, and ready for making memories.
A new home offers other advantages over an existing home, and especially a short sales or foreclosure, including:
Better Quality. As a professional builder, we are dedicated to delivering a high level of construction and finish quality in our new homes. Not only do buyers demand that our homes be better-built (and rightly so), but we also have the knowledge, skill, strong trade partnerships, and commitment to continually evaluate and refine our building practices and materials to improve that high level of quality.
Better Plans. We and other quality builders were offering “customization” long before it was necessary to satisfy or attract potential homebuyers. That means we work closely with you to determine your needs and find a floor plan and house style that matches your tastes and lifestyle requirements.
The result is a floor plan that is uniquely yours: functional, comfortable, flexible, and efficient. Trying to find exactly what you want and need in that regard in a foreclosed home or older house is unlikely, and probably would require remodeling.
Better Technology. Today’s homes and their occupants demand a high level of technological capability and convenience. Personal computers and other electronics have become part of our daily lives. Homes now require a “future-proofed” design that won’t become obsolete anytime soon, everything from a docking and sync station for smart phones to a network of cable and communication wire for flat-screen televisions.
Technology is moving so quickly these days that few homes built even five and certainly 10 or more years ago simply can’t compete on that level, leaving you and your family wanting (and needing) more. Current wiring and wireless networking systems are available and increasingly affordable … ready for the foreseeable future.
Better Service. If the recession taught the building industry anything, it’s that customer service needed to be improved. Existing homes, bank foreclosures, and short sales offer zero service after the sale.
Meanwhile, a professional builder offering a new home tailored to your needs — especially a company that survived the downturn — is well equipped and eager to make sure the experience is satisfying from start to well past the finish, giving you peace of mind and the highest quality living environment.
Building Kansas City Lifestyles for Over 40 Years,
John H. Moffitt, Jr.
President
Moffitt Development Co.
Coldwell Banker John Moffitt & Assoc.
5300 College Blvd.
Overland Park, KS 66211
