Building Vs. Renovating

Ahh, the Sunshine Coast. There’s a reason why we call it home, and why so many young families are moving here, too. It’s close but not too-close to urban centres, offering a way to get back to nature and small town life without being too remote. Plus, it’s got that safe and laid-back West Coast vibe we all crave.

And of course, there’s the more affordable housing market!

Many of our clients are young families who are looking to move out of the big city. They have big dreams for their new home, and they’re often unsure how to make those dreams a reality: should they buy land to build a new home, or should they build an older home they plan to renovate?

Here’s our advice.

Building A New Home On The Sunshine Coast

We love building new, custom homes on the Sunshine Coast, especially passive homes. We’re committed to delivering a positive experience through each stage of the construction process, and we know this is a great choice for many of our clients.

Building Pros

When you build your own home, you can get exactly what you want, where you want it. You know what you’re in for, with less room for surprises! Assuming you can get good land (don’t worry – there are many great land plots to buy on the Sunshine Coast) and you work with a good builder, there’s no reason you can’t achieve your dream home.

Custom homes ultimately give you more control over the end result, and more control of how you get there.

Building Cons

Of course, all that customization comes with a cost – in this case, the literal cost of your custom home.

Building a new home from scratch is often a longer and more expensive process than renovating. That said, because everything will be built new with new materials, you can expect to require less repair and maintenance going forward.

That, plus the fact that you can build a net zero home, means that building a new home can actually be a very sound investment in the long run.

Find more home building cost savings techniques here.

Renovating A New Home On The Sunshine Coast

Say you don’t want to budget the time or money for a completely new home build, but you still want lots of customization in your new home. You may also want to live in a home that is environmentally conscious – even if you can’t find one on the market. That’s were a renovation comes in.

Renovation Pros

Renovating is often a cheaper way to get a home that’s really close to your dream (even if it’s not identical). You might find an older home that has lots of charm and character you want to keep, so that it just needs a little love to make it just right (or more energy efficient). And if you don’t have the money to pay for a full renovation, you can pick and choose which projects to focus on, like choosing the bathroom for now and renovating the kitchen in the future. Find our guide to renovating your home here.

Another great thing about renovating your home to make it more energy efficient is that you may qualify for BC renovation grants.

Renovations can typically be done quicker than complete builds. This is especially true if you’re just updating the interior, in which case weather won’t be a factor. You may even be able to live in your home while it’s being renovated.

Renovation Cons

Yes, you can likely renovate your home just the way you’d like it. But it’s also possible that you might have to let go of a few must-haves. You also don’t know what you might find behind the walls or in crawlspaces (i.e. rot, rodent infestation, wiring issues, etc.) which can alter the budget and timeline.

Ultimately, there’s lots to consider when decided between building or renovating. One thing we can all agree on? The Sunshine Coast is a beautiful place to live! And as an eco-friendly West Coast contractor known for our craftsmanship and reliability, we’ve love to help you make your dream a reality. Reach out to learn more.