Living in a New Home in a Construction Area

Many people become enamored with the chance to buy a newly constructed home in a new development. The possibility of something brand new, never lived in before is exciting, yet so many people never have the foresight to think what actually living in a construction zone is like.

We purchased a new home in a brand new development, and although we knew there would be construction around and some noise, I never imagined how much this impacts daily life. Even 18 months after we moved in it's the same old day after day.

For example:

• Do you like to sleep a bit later on Saturday or any other morning? Isn't going to happen as workers are here soon after 6 AM and don't depart until 7PM, sometimes after 8 PM. In the winter months, they came at 7 and left by 5 but no longer. 
• Work at home? You're screwed with all the construction noise all week.  Might as well be in a downtown construction zone or under a freeway.
• Have babies or small children who like to sleep during the day. Forget about it.
• Night worker, day sleeper? Screw you thinks the developer.
• Headaches or migraines? You are really screwed with the constant noise.
• Sunday and holiday quiet? Huh? The foreign workers do not seem to celebrate our important holidays such as Memorial Day and work just the same. They must think we love listening to Radio Mexico on high while trying to enjoy the holiday. Ugghh. 
• Workers clog the streets with their personal vehicles and don't care whether you or guests have a place to park or not. If their vehicles or the construction equipment leak oil it just helps make the streets look old.
• Workers apparently cannot read and/or do not care about speed limits and one way streets. Regardless of whether operating personal vehicles or contractors equipment, they speed in all directions and you had better be paying attention because they are not. 
• Like loud foreign radio and music? When the superintendent is not around you will be "entertained" by music you don't care for, even though it's against the rules. 
• Foreign nationality workers seem to all be heard of hearing because they yell everything, no matter if the other person is only a few feet away.  
• Trash cleanup is almost non-existent. You'll need to pick up trash from the workers as they just toss lunch wrappers and trash on the ground to blow around. Too lazy to place it in the dumpster. And the developer is very lax in cleanup of trash.
• Like dust and dirt, sometimes so bad you cannot sit outside? That's construction dust blowing on you and your home. Windows will be so dirty you can hardly see and guess who will have to spend money to clean them? You, because the developer could care less. 
• Smells? Diesels and other vehicles idling outside your windows while the operators are absent or yapping away with other workers. Running equipment placed for the convenience of the workers with no regard to residents. You have to like exhaust blowing into your home daily. 
• Careless construction workers driving like it's the speedway! They have no rules for driving so they speed, drive the wrong way on one way streets, don't obey stop signs and generally have no regard for the rules of the road. God forbid you come to an intersection where they have a stop sign and you do not...better just stop because chances are they will not. 
• Think after the homes around you are completed the noise will stop?  Hell no!  The workers will take the easiest route for their tractors, front loaders, diggers, trucks and whatever else. Sure there are alternate paths to take but they just take whatever they like.  Think anyone gives a rats ass about occupied dwellings? Nope. They treat all of them like they are under construction.
• Speaking of which, once you buy the house, you'll find any issues after about the first month or two end up on a back burner somewhere. As homes are sold, the developer could care less about the residents problems; after all, they are here just to sell homes. 
• Homeowners Association? Don't count on them to help; all they want is your dues. You're paying for maintenance and they defer to the developer who does nothing. Oh yes, they do have a street sweeper, but the construction vehicles are ruining the streets and guess who will be stuck paying for repairs? 
•  Pick up a nail in your tire from construction debris? Too bad, that $400 tire is your problem as you live in a construction area. 
• Mello-Roos taxes? If you buy a new home in California you will likely pay these fees which can cost more than your property taxes. It's for the infrastructure the developers want you to pay for since they are making so much money they cannot be bothered paying it themselves. 30 year bonds on your home that can cost you five to ten thousand dollars a year or more depending on where you live. 

Having a new home can be a delight but know what you are getting into before you buy. Go to the area on weekdays, not just the weekends. See what really takes place before you buy! Look at the long term picture. Never choose retirement in this type place if you want peace and quiet. Never will happen except perhaps at night and maybe on Sunday. Do not believe the sales staff on construction as they have not a clue. Do your own due diligence.

March 2017 Update. Rock breaking and construction continue. Might as well live on a rock quarry or construction project as the developer doesn't give a rats ass about the residents. House vibrates with pounding and does anyone think the developer even gave a thought to the residents? Hell no. They only care about selling homes to the uninformed.

December 2018 Update. Never changes. Same story a year and a half later. 

Thinking you will save money by purchasing a new home when the development starts? That may
be possible but you will be trading all sanity for a low price. And, when you go to sell, better schedule all showings on Sunday or evenings after work hours so people don't see and hear what's going on. Otherwise you will be hard pressed to sell your home.  So much for the joys of a new home.