The benefits of buying a new home over a used one

Buying a new home is a big decision. As the largest new homebuilder in Charlotte, North Carolina, we know that as well as anybody. One of the first decisions you should consider when selecting a home is whether to buy a new home or a used home. While the decision to buy a new or a used home is largely an issue of personal preference, there are a number of advantages to buying a new home over a used one. To help you understand some of these differences, we’ve put together a list of 5 reasons in favor of buying new.

 

Modern Amenities and Personalization

 

New homes are better designed for the needs of the modern family than older homes. Buying new also allows you to have some input into the design and materials used in the home. Our True Style Process allows you to customize certain aspects of your home before it’s built, allowing you to impart your own personal style and preferences. For example, new homebuyers are able to select from a range of options like paint colors, crown molding, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and more.

 

Energy Efficiency

 

New homes are built with energy efficiency in mind. Not only is an energy efficient home better for the environment, it can also save money on your utility bills. In fact, a True Home is more than 40 percent more efficient than the average existing home. Additionally, high performance toilets and faucets drastically reduce water consumption.  

  

Warranties

One of the biggest advantages to buying a new home over a used one is the warranty that comes with a new home. Not only do you get manufacturers’ warranties on all your new appliances, you also get a builder’s warranty that covers the structure of your home. True Homes offers a 10-year structural warranty that protects you against costly problems that may arise down the road with a used home. 

 

      Lifestyle 

New homes are often built in entirely new developments designed with a certain kind of buyer in mind. This means that the reasons you decided to move into the community are likely the same as your neighbors. New developments give you a unique chance to help create your own neighborhood lifestyle. New developments also tend to attract younger families, which means your children will have more playmates and your neighbors are more likely to become your close friends.

       Safety

New homes adhere to rigorous safety standards that may have not been in place when an older home was built. In addition to meeting the latest building codes, True Homes also partners with industry leading companies to ensure your home is built to last. State-of-the-art fire detection systems, wiring insulation, and plumbing components also help protect your investment and keep your family safe. To learn more about True Homes or to browse our selection of new homes in Charleston, South Carolina, visit our website at www.truehomesusa.com.

True Green: True Homes are 40% more energy efficient than a used home

True Homes is the premier homebuilder in Charlotte, North Carolina. We have built several communities throughout the region, including our most recent new home community in Charleston, South Carolina. True Homes is committed to building new homes with environmentally friendly materials and high energy efficiency rankings. On average, True Homes are 40 percent more energy efficient than existing homes; that’s a fact. It’s easy for home builders to make claims about the energy efficient of their home, but every home built by True Homes is independently tested and certified by a third party. Independent testing means you can be confident about purchasing decision. After the inspection is complete by a Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) certified building inspector, we provide you with the estimated energy savings, in writing, so you know exactly how much you can expect to save with an energy efficient True Home.

How Are True Homes Evaluated?

The standard scoring chart for home energy efficiency is the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index, which was established by RESNET. The values of the HERS Index range from 0 to 150, and the lower the score, the more energy efficient the home is. The average score is 100, which is based on the energy efficiency of a model home built to the 2006 International Energy Conversation Code. True Homes score, 76, which means they are more energy efficient than most new homes built today, and over 40 percent more energy efficient than existing homes.

  

How Does True Homes Achieve Such a High Level of Energy Efficiency?

The first step to building an energy efficient home is the design. Next, we utilize tight construction techniques, high performance windows, and superior insulation that all work together to allow your home to perform at its peak efficiency. Next, True Home incorporates high efficiency appliances and fixtures throughout the home.

 

Features like high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, low flow toilets and faucet fixtures, and energy efficient lighting all help make your home more energy efficient and lower your cost of ownership. Energy efficient homes are not only better for the environment; they are also a better investment. If you’d like to learn more about our new homes in Charlotte or Charleston, please take a minute to visit our website at www.truehomesusa.com. You can also speak with one of our representatives directly at 704-937-2307.

Moving soon? Make sure you’re prepared with the right supplies

Moving can be a real headache. In addition to having to pack your life into boxes and live in a state of limbo until the move is complete, moving can also be expensive—even if you decide to do it yourself. To help make sure you’re prepared for your next move, True Homes, a leading new home builder based in Charlotte, North Caroline, has put together a list of supplies you’ll need as well as some helpful tips to save you money and ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible.

Recommended Moving Supplies

Moving Boxes. Whether you’re planning to move yourself or hire professionals, you’ll need plenty of moving boxes to pack your belongings into. It’s always better to have more boxes than you think you’ll need as certain items will inevitably take up a lot more space than you planned for. Buying new boxes can get expensive, but you can save a lot of money getting creative here. Supermarkets and liquor stores have more boxes than they know what to do with, and are usually happy to give you a few extras. 

Bubble Wrap/Packing Paper. You’ll want to make sure your items arrive at your new home undamaged, so be sure to wrap everything up in bubble wrap or packing paper. Packaging peanuts are also good at protecting your valuables, but they can be messy to deal with. To save money on these packing supplies, start saving old newspapers before your move. You can also ask friends and family to save their old newspapers for you too. Unless you know someone who moved recently, you’ll probably have to spend some money on bubble wrap to protect your fragile items like glassware and china, but you save a lot of money by repurposing old materials.

Packaging Tape. Packaging tape is essential for keeping your boxes closed, and securing items with multiple pieces. Clear box tape is strong enough to make sure the bottom of your boxes don’t fall out, but isn’t ideal for taping things together. If you need to keep things together during the move, masking tape is your best bet since it won’t leave a sticky mess for you to clean while unpacking. 

Carpet Film. Carpet film is a great way to protect your floors during the move. Different than saran wrap, which can be good for protecting sofas and other upholstered furniture, carpet film is stick on one side. Before your move, plan out which areas of your home will be used as moving corridors, and put some film in place. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure here, and picking up carpet film is a lot easier than having to shampoo your carpet or deal with unsightly scuffmarks on your hard floors.  

Moving Tips

Moving is going to take a lot longer than you think, so it’s a good idea to start preparing for your move at least two months before your scheduled move-out date. 

Get Moving Estimates

If you’re going to hire a professional mover, you can start getting estimates before hand to get a better idea of the cost of moving. Also, booking a mover early will ensure that one is available when you need them. And if you’re going to move yourself, you should also shop around for a moving truck before the move. Locking in rates early will help you better budget for your move.

Pack Early

Whether you’re hiring a professional or are going to move yourself, you should start packing well in advance of your move-out date. Packing early takes a lot of the stress out of moving as you can do it at your leisure, instead of being rushed all at the last minute. For example, you can pack up all your out of season clothes without sacrificing any creature comforts in the mean time. Books, and decorative items are also good candidates to pack early.

Do Some Spring Cleaning

Moving provides you with an excellent chance to get rid of some unwanted clutter. When going through your belongings, decide if it’s something you really want to take with you. You can also have a garage sale before the move to help offset the costs. Craigslist and eBay are also great places to sell your unwanted items. You can also donate all the items that you’re unable to sell.  

While every move is a little different, the above list of supplies and tips are applicable to almost every type of move. Before you move-out, you’ll also need to update your address at the post office and let friends and family your new address. Likewise, be sure to transfer your utility accounts to your new address so you don’t move into a house without electricity or water.

If you’re planning to move into a new home in Charlotte, North Caroline or Charleston, South Carolina, why not consider a True Home? Our newest community in Charleston, South Carolina offers a range of affordable, environmentally friendly new home designs. For more information on building your True dream home, visit www.truehomesusa.com or contact us at 704-937-2307.

Fun for the Family in Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina is a great place to work and live. And with plenty of activities to do year round, Charlotte has enough to fulfill even the most demanding family entertainment needs. Whether you’re already a resident of Charlotte, or are planning to buy a new home in Charlotte, True Homes has put together a list of some of the top family activities that Charlotte has to offer.

Biltmore Estate

Located just outside Charlotte, in Asheville, the Biltmore Estate is the perfect getaway for you and your family. Originally built by George Vanderbilt in the late 1800s, the Biltmore estate remains the largest private estate in the United States. The entire estate consists of over 10 square miles, and offers activities for every type of visitor. While the main house is the primary attraction at the estate, there are also lots of other activities you can do, including: horseback riding, bicycling, fly fishing, get lost in the garden maze, visit the farmyard animals, and more. Best of all, children under 9 years old get to visit the estate free. 

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Located just 13 miles outside of Charlotte, in Concord North Carolina, the Charlotte Motor Speedway is one of the top motorsport complexes in the country. In addition to NASCAR events held year round, the Speedway is also home to the semi-annual Food Lion Auto Fair —one of the nation’s largest car shows. Even if car races aren’t your thing, the Charlotte Motor Speedway attracts thousands visitors every year for Speedway Christmas, which is heralded as “the area’s premier holiday lights extravaganza.”

Dan Nicholas Park

Dan Nichols Park is an amusement park geared for families with younger children. With a number of attractions including a carousel, water plaza, petting zoo, nature center, train station, aquarium, gem mine, mini golf, and paddle boat rentals, Dan Nicholas Park has enough to keep you and your family busy all day. And if you get too tired to make the drive home, you can even stay overnight at the park campgrounds.

Schiele Museum

The Schiele Museum of Natural History is located in Gastonia, NC, about 20 miles outside of Charlotte. The museum features the largest collection of mammal specimens in the Southeast. With five permanent galleries, and a number of special exhibits throughout the year, the Schiele Museum is both a fun and education way to spend the day with your family. 

Reed Gold Mine

Reed Gold Mine is home to the first documented gold discovery in the United States. Today, the site serves as one of North Carolina’s most valuable historical assets. Portions of the mine have been restored, and the center offers guided tours of some of the old gold shafts. You can even try your hand at panning for gold, and hope to strike it rich!

North Carolina Zoo

The NC Zoo has over 500 acres of exhibits that are home to 1,600 animals and 52,000 plants, making it one of the largest natural habitat zoos in the United States. Some of the standout animals at the zoo include Elephants, Rhinoceros, Chimpanzees, and exotic birds from around the world. The zoo experience involves a walk along a five mile shaded pathway, so be prepared for a little bit of exercise. The official website expects tours to last between 4 and 6 hours. The list of family activities listed above doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the variety of entertainment Charlotte has to offer. If you’re looking to purchase a new home in Charlotte, we hope you’ll consider True Homes. True Homes offers a number of environmentally friendly new home communities that are perfect for you and your family. For more information, visit our website at www.truehomesusa.com or call us directly at 704-937-2307.