Old building or new building?

Year of construction; It raises questions about the legislation in force, the techniques used and the duration of use of the building. But just knowing the age; It does not indicate the nature of the project, the quality of implementation, subsequent interventions or current performance.

There may be project and application flaws in the new building, and wear and maintenance deficiencies in the old building. Use a combination of documentation, observation and appropriate technical investigation rather than shorthand judgments of 'new is safe' or 'old is risky'.

Basic principleAge determines what questions you ask; It is not the answers themselves.

In order to obtain a conclusion about structural safety, a building-specific examination is required by authorized technical experts and with an appropriate method.

Turkish Building Earthquake Regulation describes the minimum conditions for the design of new buildings and the evaluation of existing buildings. The fact that a building was built after a certain date does not alone mean that the project, application and current situation are verified.

Gather up-to-date information on permits, building permits, approved projects, renovations and current use. If there is interference with the carrier system, obvious damage or safety concerns, do not settle for general observation; Request appropriate engineering review.

• Construction, license and building permit dates
• Compatibility of approved project and existing use
• Interventions in the load-bearing system or common areas
• Coverage of past repairs, retrofits and technical reports
• If deemed necessary, performance evaluation in accordance with the legislation

Large rooms, wide openings and strong material character can be seen in old buildings; On the other hand, storage, parking, accessibility, wet areas and plumbing layout may not meet today's needs. While elevators, parking lots and up-to-date systems provide advantages in new buildings, net usage area or room rates may be weaker than expected.

Apply the same life scenario to both options. Evaluate furniture placement, light, ventilation, noise, privacy, entry and common area experience on-site; Do not rely solely on general assumptions attributed to building age.

Roof, facade, elevator, plumbing and common area renovations may be approaching in the old building. In a new building, site services, technical systems and post-warranty maintenance may increase regular expenses. Evaluate the dues amount not by itself, but by which service and which reserve it covers.

Energy performance does not depend solely on building age. Façade, insulation, windows, heating-cooling system, usage style and maintenance status are all effective. See available documentation; If possible, compare past invoices and terms of use for actual consumption.

• Major common area works completed and planned
• Management budget, dues scope and extraordinary expenses
• Roof, façade, water, wastewater, electricity and elevator history
• Energy identity certificate and actual consumption if possible
• Necessary interventions in the independent section in the short and medium term

The low purchase price of an older home can be increased by extensive renovations and upcoming building expenses. The higher price of a new home may offer a different cash flow thanks to move-in ready use or more predictable short-term maintenance. In both options, bring the sales price, transaction expense, intervention, dues and reserve side by side.

Do not treat the conversion expectation as a definite gain. See zoning, entitlement, reconciliation, financing and duration uncertainties in separate scenarios. The right structure for you; It is not the newest or the oldest, but the option that fits the need with its verified qualities and manageable uncertainty.