At first glance, an architecturally unique home can seem wonderful to live in. Unusual homes offer lots of charm and character, and they may appeal to your sense of adventure. Living in a quirky house isn’t all fun and games, though. There are also some significant disadvantages to consider. Evaluating the pros and cons will help you decide whether it’s the right choice for you.
Pro: Less Competition When Buying
Most buyers in the market want standard, traditional homes. If you’re looking for an architecturally unique home, you’re one of a select few. Fortunately, this means you’re competing with fewer buyers, so you may have more negotiating power. While regular houses may start bidding wars in hot markets, you might be able to offer below listing price for a quirky or unusual home.
Con: Less Competition When Selling
Low competition is a great advantage when buying a unique home, but it will also put you at a disadvantage when it’s eventually time to sell the property. Your home may appeal to a few buyers who have a similar eye as you for unique architecture. However, your target audience will be much smaller, so you may not receive many competitive offers. Expect for your home to stay on the market for longer than average, and prepare to make some concessions while negotiating.
Pro: Potential for Rental Income
Selling a unique house can be challenging, but renting it out may be a lucrative venture. Consider converting the house into a short-term rental as an alternative to selling it when you’re ready to move. While most people don’t want to live full-time in an unusual home, they love the experience of staying in a quirky Airbnb. Managing a short-term rental is a time-consuming operation, so it’s not a decision to take lightly. However, if you have any interest in turning the house into an investment property, this could be a highly successful option.
Con: Appraisal Issues
Appraisals for unique homes can be slow, expensive, and inaccurate. Appraisers use sale prices of comparable properties in the area to assess the value of a home. If no houses nearby compare to yours, appraising your property will be difficult. This could create challenges when buying, refinancing, and selling the home. Expect that the initial appraisal will take longer than usual and that you may be charged extra for it.
Pro: Charm and Intrigue
When buying a primary residence, what’s most important is that you love living in the space. While there are other factors to consider to ensure you’re making a sound financial choice, your ultimate priority should be your own happiness and enjoyment. If you love the look and feel of a unique home, that’s reason enough to consider buying one. Architecturally unusual houses can be very charming, and some people simply gravitate toward them. Having an interesting home can be a fun adventure, and embracing strange architecture may give you a sense of pride and boost your quality of life.
Con: Energy Inefficiency
Energy inefficiency is a practical and financial concern for strange houses. Although not all quirky homes are inefficient, older homes and homes with strange layouts are typically harder to keep warm or cool. Poor insulation and drafty windows or doors can run up your energy bills. Additionally, warm or cool air may not reach all rooms or corners of the house if there are narrow hallways, odd angles, or other abnormalities. An energy audit could help you identify ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home, but you may be limited in the changes you can make.
Pro: Opportunities for Customization
For creative minds, one of the greatest benefits of buying a unique house is the opportunity for customization. In a traditional home, each room has a clearly assigned role, and there are usually only a few options for arranging the furniture. In quirky homes, your options are limitless. Some people may feel overwhelmed by the choices, but if you’re ready to embrace your creative side, you can have a lot of fun figuring out the layout of your new home.
Con: Difficulty Furnishing and Decorating
Because architecturally unique homes often don’t have an intuitive layout, furnishing them can be very difficult. If you’re ready to embrace the quirkiness and treat the challenge like a puzzle, this might be fine for you. However, those who are looking for a simple or straightforward experience may struggle. You may not be able to arrange every room exactly how you want, and you may have a hard time figuring out your style for decor.
Pro: Fun Gathering Place
If you enjoy hosting your friends or family, you may love living in a unique home. Just like people enjoy short-term stays in unusual Airbnbs, they love going to parties and gatherings in quirky houses. You won’t even have to decorate since the house itself is intriguing enough to be a conversation-starter. You could even incorporate the quirkiness of your house into your party by creating a scavenger hunt. If the house is historic, throwing a theme party set in the time period it was built could be fun, too.
Con: Challenges With Neighbors
Problems with neighbors are a possibility no matter where you live, but you may have a bigger target on your back if you move into an unusual home. Some of your neighbors may love and embrace your house, but others may view it as an eyesore. You may have a hard time befriending your neighbors, and at worst, they could try to get your city involved to force you to change your home in some way. People who buy unique homes also report feeling less anonymous. If privacy is very important to you, you might feel uncomfortable living in a home that’s so easily recognizable.
Should You Buy a Home With a Unique Architectural Style?
Buying a home is always a personal decision. Only you and your household can decide which property is right for you. If you’ve always loved the idea of living in a quirky house, you should explore your options. Keep in mind, though, that living in a unique home will bring about some unique challenges. Everything from financing to decor to befriending neighbors may be more complicated than usual. As long as you’re prepared to tackle these issues head-on, go ahead and start the search for your dream house.
Working with a trusted real estate agent is more important than ever if you’re pursuing an architecturally unique home. Your agent may have expert insights into the benefits and drawbacks of a particular house that you otherwise wouldn’t have considered. They’ll also be your guide through the financing process, which may look different than normal if the house is truly unusual. If you haven’t already, connect with a local real estate agent today to discuss your wants and needs for a home.
