Detail-Oriented
Your guide to Design-Build
Is It Better to Renovate, Buy or Build?
by Marc Brahaney, August 15th 2025
As a homeowner—or future homeowner—you’re likely to face one of the most significant decisions of your life: Should you renovate your current home, buy another existing home, or build from the ground up? Each path has its pros and cons, and at Lasley Brahaney, we’ve helped clients succeed with all three. The “right” answer depends on your goals, your lifestyle, and your budget—and we’re here to help break it down.
These homeowners had a classic home with charm in a great location, but the primary suite was extremely small. Our design-build team worked with them to re-organize existing space into a fully customized closet/dressing room and a gorgeous primary bath.
Renovating: Breathing New Life into What You Already Own
Best for: Homeowners who love their location, have a solid existing structure, or want to preserve character.
If your home has “good bones” and you’re rooted in the neighborhood, updating your current space can deliver the functionality and aesthetics you need—without starting over. Our design-build process ensures that renovations are customized to your needs, aesthetically pleasing and practical.
An addition or renovation keeps you in the neighborhood you love and is often more cost-effective than building new. An addition or upgrade can add significant resale value and allows you to preserve sentimental or architectural value.
On the other hand, the renovation approach may be limited by structural constraints and/or lack of space for expansion. Once we open walls and begin demolition, we sometimes find hidden issues (e.g., plumbing, wiring) which can add unanticipated costs. Finally, working on your existing home may require a temporary relocation during construction.
Ideal scenario: You have a classic home with charm but outdated features, and you’re ready to customize it to fit your lifestyle.
Buying an Existing Home to Renovate
Best for: Homeowners who love their neighborhood but are limited by space or structural issues from making the changes they desire.
If you’re rooted in the neighborhood, but you’ve been told by a professional that updating your current space is not worth the investment, or just not possible, look around. There just might be a home on the market that requires less renovation to be your perfect match.
We often meet homeowners who have a list of desired renovations so extensive that we don’t recommend they do the work. We suggest they look for a home that is better suited to their needs or suited to the changes they desire. That could mean starting from the ground up - if lots are available - but in well-established towns like Princeton, it may be more feasible to find an existing home with a larger lot or better renovation opportunities instead.
As with option #1, renovation of an existing home keeps you in the neighborhood you love and is often more cost-effective than building new. We are available and frequently do meet with homeowners shopping around. We help evaluate existing homes for potential renovation.
Ideal scenario: There is a home available in the neighborhood you love that has land for expansion or a better foundation for the customization you desire.
Buying a New Home: The Turnkey Convenience
Best for: Those who want a quicker move-in timeline or don't want to manage a construction process.
Buying a new home, whether recently built or newly constructed in a development, can offer convenience and immediate functionality. If you find a home that meets 80-90% of your wish list, it might be worth the compromise. The costs are predictable, with less disruption and faster move-in. If it’s a home that has recently been built, it’s likely more energy-efficient and code-compliant than the home you’re leaving.
What you’re passing up is the ability to fully customize the home. Choosing the new home in the location you love may mean compromising on layout or going for a location that’s not your top choice for layout and premium finishes you want.
Building New: The Fully Custom Experience
Best for: Homeowners who have a clear vision and want complete control over design, layout, and materials.
There’s nothing quite like living in a home designed specifically for you. From the initial concept to the final walk-through, our design-build approach ensures that your new home reflects your personality, supports your lifestyle, and meets today’s efficiency standards.
Bear in mind that to build, you will need land that is either empty or has a house that can be torn down. Acquiring the land itself and tearing down a house will add additional costs to your overall budget. Does the town limit tear-downs in any way? It’s worth looking into or consulting a professional who knows. After the question of land is finalized, prepare to have longer timelines and more complex permitting than for renovations. In addition, you may face higher upfront costs as well.
Ideal scenario: You’ve found the perfect plot—or want to tear down an existing home—and you’re ready to invest in a space that’s uniquely yours.
No matter which path you choose, our design-build team is here to guide you. Let’s talk about your next move.
