Remodel vs Rebuild: Which is Best For You?

Should you remodel your home or tear it down and start over?

This has been a question that many homeowners wonder as they think through how to best update their home. There are many factors to consider when thinking of remodeling or rebuilding, including cost, age and condition of the home, historicity or sentimentality, size, and living situation.

Is it more or less money to remodel versus rebuild?

The answer is what everyone loves to hear- it depends.

Rebuilding your home can cost more upfront, and come with larger permit costs and longer wait times due to changing the exterior of the home.

However, your remodel could potentially cost just as much, depending on the size of the project, if you are remodeling in phases, if you add an addition, and especially if you end up wanting to change anything structurally. Typically, doing an entire project at once will cost less than breaking it up into phases, but not everyone has the capital to do everything at once. This is usually the largest consideration factor.

Another extremely important factor when considering remodeling or rebuilding is the age and condition of the home.

If your home is very old, then tearing it down and rebuilding it will make it not only more energy efficient, but also give you peace of mind knowing that nothing is going to fall apart or burst due to old age. On the other hand, if you have a hundred year old home that has history to it, and architectural details that you just wouldn’t be able to replicate, remodeling might be the choice for you!

By choosing to remodel, you could keep the historical aspects of your home that would otherwise be lost by choosing to rebuild.

Next, you should consider size when thinking of rebuilding or remodeling.

Have you outgrown your home?

If the answer is yes, then rebuilding might be a good option for you! Depending on the home, creating a room addition or adding on to an already-built property can sometimes look awkward (and also be pricey).

Sometimes, it is best to just re-work the entire layout so that the home is cohesive. Be sure to research your property’s zoning requirements before deciding to add-on to your home.

The last consideration when thinking of rebuilding or remodeling is your living situation.

If you choose to rebuild your house, you will need to have secondary accommodations, and this may require you to pay twice as much as you would normally pay for housing.

However, remodeling in phases can be livable for some people, and going this route will ease the cost of living while you create your dream home.

Whether you are rebuilding or remodeling, Smith Brothers Construction has the expertise to provide you with the answers you need to make a decision regarding your home project.

With over 40 years in the industry, we are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to budgeting, timelines, design, and working with quality products. As a design-build company, our process is streamlined and our design and architectural partners are trusted so that you know you are getting the best possible service with the best communication.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions regarding the home-building (or rebuilding) process. 858-350-1445