Whether you’re buying or selling a house, it’s important to familiarize yourself with two structure-based materials: engineered wood frame and concrete block structure (CBS). For new builds, wood frame tends to be less expensive than CBS. Wood-framed houses can also often be built in less time. However, if you’re planning on reselling your wood frame house, there is one major drawback that could impact the number of offers you get: wood-frame homes may be more vulnerable to damage than concrete.
Potential Vulnerabilities to Wood Frame Homes vs. Concrete Block
Many homeowners have had a great experience living in wood frame homes, while others have disastrous stories of why they wished they never bought it.
The lifespan of a wood frame home depends on several factors, including homeowner maintenance and environment. For example, a homeowner in Illinois may do just fine with a wood-frame home, whereas a homeowner in Florida may have issues after a higher category hurricane. In general, wood frame homes may be more susceptible to damage from things like:
- Termites
- Fire
- Storms
- Mold
- Wood deterioration
As a result, home insurance may also be more expensive for a wood frame homes vs. concrete block.
Benefits of Wood Frame Homes vs. Concrete Block
Wood frame homes do have benefits that are also appealing to homebuyers. For example, they are typically more energy efficient than concrete block. Wood is the only renewable building material, which makes it a good choice for eco-conscious builders.
Wood also offers higher levels of thermal resistivity than other building materials and provides great insulation. Higher levels of thermal resistance help during cold winter months.
Additionally, wood frame houses often look aesthetically pleasing both inside and out, with really clean lines.
Resale Value of Wood Frame Homes vs. Concrete Block
A number of factors determine the resale value of your home, including location, age, condition, size, features, upgrades, the local market, the economy, and building materials.
Anecdotally speaking, we often see wood frame homes listed for less on the market and selling for less than their CBS counterparts. Often times, it’s a matter of preference. However, some of the vulnerabilities of wood frame homes sometimes outweigh the positives in the minds of buyers.
Alternatives to Listing Your Wood Frame Home on the Market
If you have a wood frame house that’s been on the market for a few months, you might be feeling frustrated. Fortunately, there’s a faster and easier way to sell your wood frame house. Meridian Trust is a professional home investment company. We buy properties “as is” for cash in Florida, Georgia and Texas. No inspections, closing costs, or brokerage commissions. You can also receive cash payment as quickly as five days from receiving a signed contract.
To find out how much your wood frame home is worth, give us a call today: (954) 807-9087.