
Many people are drawn to uniqueness. Chances are you've seen a home that stands out from typical designs. Whether it's a cozy hobbit hole or a wonder of surrealist luxury home, what strikes one person's fancy may not appeal to another.
While cookie-cutter houses may repel you, there's a reason they're so popular. They check a lot of boxes for a lot of people and can act as a blank slate for personalization. Their common floor plans highlight features people want.
A major factor holding people back from owning unique real estate is the idea of living in it. It’s something that sounds better in theory than in practice. It takes commitment.
It’s not like you can live in a replica hobbit home but have a particle board bookshelf or a stainless-steel kitchen, you know?
Think you’re up for the challenge of owning a unique home? Here's what to consider before calling your real estate agent.
Repair Costs
An overlooked challenge of owning a unique home is maintenance. Is your dream house a large-scale version of the Nautilus from the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride at Disney World? Does it have portholes instead of windows?
If one of those suckers breaks, you can’t just run to Home Depot to get a replacement window. You may have to special order it. While you're waiting for the replacement, you'll need to have a new piece of plexiglass cut to block off the window.
Not only will you have to wait for special-order parts, the cost of the custom-made pieces will be more expensive than a standard part. In other words, it’ll be harder to replace and more expensive in general.
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Renovation Costs
Along with repairs, renovation costs go up with a unique property. For example, if your dining room has built-in benches with ornate woodwork, you may have trouble finding and paying for a skilled carpenter to restore or alter the work.
You may also run into issues if the home is in a protected district. If you buy a historic home, you may have to go through a permitting process. Sometimes changes to the exterior and interior of the home require approval. Talk to neighbors and your real estate agent to see if the area has a historic society.
This is good to know if you have the DIY spirit, too. Some associations require owners to work with contractors with specific licensing. The red tape may not be worth the hassle.
Unhappy Neighbors
It doesn't matter if you're in New York City or Cheboygan, Michigan – most unusual homes stick out like sore thumbs, and that can put neighbors on edge.
Lifestyle Changes
You should also consider your lifestyle and potential life changes. The idea of living in an old church may sound cool and mysterious when you’re young and single. But as life changes, maybe you meet someone and decide you want to have a family. Your priorities change. You want a little more living space and a little less stained glass.
Get approved to buy a home.
Rocket Mortgage® lets you get to house hunting sooner.
Selling Your Home
This leads us to one of the most important things to consider – selling your home. Unless your family wants to keep your home after you die, someone will have to sell your dream seashell house.
Difficulty Finding A Lender
As mentioned before, it may be difficult finding a lender for your unique new home. The mortgage process is streamlined for standard homes. But since you're unique, the process may be unique for you too.
Finding The Right Inspector
The right inspector is valuable whether you're buying a run-of-the-mill fixer-upper or a distinctive work of art. Unique homes require an inspector with more skills and an eye for unique problems. Hire someone who’s experienced with inspecting unique properties.
Securing Insurance
Insurers want to know what they're getting into. Unique homes pose their own problems for insurance. Insuring a houseboat is different from insuring a bungalow. Ask the home seller if they're willing to talk about their insurance.
Getting An Appraisal
The last piece of the puzzle for buying your unique home is getting it appraised. Like insurance and inspection, an accurate appraisal could be challenging. Since appraisers often compare a home to others like it, a custom home could be harder to value.
Get approved to buy a home.
Rocket Mortgage® lets you get to house hunting sooner.
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Andrew Dehan
Andrew Dehan is a professional writer who writes about real estate and homeownership. He is also a published poet, musician and nature-lover. He lives in metro Detroit with his wife, daughter and dogs.