Imagine buying a home and immediately moving in, no waiting for paint to dry or for the builders to finish up final touches. For people buying ready-to-move-in inventory homes, this is a wonderful benefit.

But some homebuyers desire the customization that comes with designing their perfect home and overseeing the construction. These folks are fine with the wait because the final product is often as close to a dream home as possible.

Neither of these options is necessarily better than the other. It truly depends on what’s important to you and your family. If you’re looking to move and aren’t sure which option is right for you, take a look at some of these benefits of each. It may help you with the decision.

Benefits of Building Your Dream Home

Complete Control

Building your own home gives you full control over every detail, big and small. Everything from the building layout to the countertops and cabinets is up to you. Design an enormous kitchen with a walk-in pantry or a master bedroom complete with a shower and hot tub. Whatever you want, you can have.

Location, Location, Location

When buying an inventory home, you don’t have much say over the location. After all, the building’s already there. You can’t just move it. When you build your own home, you can choose where to build. Find the perfect neighborhood or build on a larger plot of land. It’s up to you.

Do You Have a Handy Friend?

Okay, this benefit may not be for everyone. But handy friends can come in, well, handy when building your own home. You can save money by calling in favors from friends and family who have construction, electrician, or plumbing experience.

Ready-To-Go Inventory Home Benefits

Move-In Ready

This one may seem obvious, but you can’t overstate how great it is to find a beautiful home and move in right away. As soon as you close the sale, you can start packing up boxes and shipping them over.

Lower Cost

One significant benefit of purchasing an inventory home is the cost savings. Since you’re not paying for contractors, materials, or labor, you’re already saving money. An inventory home is already built, so you don’t have to worry about construction going over budget. That’s a big win.

Way Less Stress

When shopping for inventory homes, your biggest worry is finding the right place for your budget and style. When building a house, you’re likely worried about everything. With so many building projects going on at once, the whole thing can be incredibly stressful.

You Can Still Customize

Remember too that an inventory home isn’t necessarily going to be a generic, cookie-cutter house. Many inventory home buyers can add personalized touches, like hardware, appliances, wall color, and fixtures. The benefit of a ready-to-go inventory home is that you don’t have to worry about all the details that come with building a house.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list of every benefit of both, it should give you an idea of what to expect. If you’re looking to completely customize the perfect home for you and your family, great! Opt to build that custom home. Think of how rewarding it’ll be to settle in by the fireplace at night or brew coffee in your sunny kitchen in the morning, in the home built just for you.

Maybe you’re looking to move right away and want to put your savings towards other expenses (a new furniture set or landscaping, perhaps?). Or maybe you’re not looking for the added stress of overseeing a 4-6 month construction project. Either way, go for a ready-to-move-in inventory home. You’ll be ready to move as soon as you close the sale without any of the added hassle.

Whatever you choose, there’s really no wrong answer. You’ll love your new home no matter what.

We all know that moving is stressful. Between coordinating moving trucks to organizing belongings and tracking details (did you submit a change of address form?), it’s easy to get lost in the chaos. As adults, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel: soon, we’ll be settled into a new home, in a new neighborhood, full of exciting opportunities. It’s harder for kids to see the big picture.

Changing homes can be traumatic for kids. For big moves – whether across the state or the country – they’re switching schools, breaking a routine, and maybe even experiencing new weather. It’s important to talk to them well in advance and prepare them for the move. But how can you get them excited about it? Here are some tips for getting your kids revved up about the big move.

Get Them Involved in Household Decisions

Does your new kitchen need a fresh coat of paint? Are you ditching your old couch in favor of shiny new furniture? Let your kids be part of the decision-making! You may be surprised at how much fun they’ll have helping you pick out furniture, fabrics, and colors. And it gives them a sense of control over their new surroundings.

Give Kids An Important Moving Job

Kids love feeling helpful. So on the day of the move, assign them an important job or let them be your assistant. Let them pack up their toys, carry small boxes into the house, and keep things organized. Younger children may need some extra supervision, but that’s another way to get older kids involved. Create family teams and finish jobs together.

Want to go the extra mile? Print up a to-do list or organization chart for them. With each completed task, they can check it off the list and see their accomplishments pile up.

Unpack Their Bedrooms First

You’re probably familiar with the sudden dread of being in a new space surrounded by full boxes. It can be daunting to anyone, especially after an exhausting day of moving. Don’t burden your kids with this on top of everything else. Be sure to unpack their rooms first and set up their favorite things – books, toys, or favorite pictures. Get them feeling comfortable in their new room right away, and they’ll feel at home in no time.

Take Breaks for Family Time

Tensions run high on moving day. Siblings fight, parents’ patience goes out the door, and frustration runs rampant. This is the point when moving days can turn disastrous.

Be sure to take breaks between packing, moving, and organizing for some family time. Take a 5-minute group stretch break or grab an ice cream cone together. Anything that helps relieve the tension, get everyone to relax, and have fun. When you’re ready, get back to the tasks at hand.

Take a Walk Around the New Neighborhood

Once the moving trucks have pulled away, and the last boxes are hopefully in the right room, why not take some time to explore your new neighborhood? Take a family walk around your block. Be on the lookout for parks or community centers close-by, and maybe even stroll past your children’s new school if it’s within walking distance.

By taking the time to introduce your kids to their new neighborhood, they’ll be more comfortable with the change. Maybe you’ll even discover you’re close to a nature center, an arcade, or a cool museum!

Moving doesn’t have to be stressful or traumatic. Prepare your family ahead of time, keep them on task and focused during the move, and settle them in right away after. Not only will the entire process go smoother, but you’ll also have a happier family ready for what lies ahead.