Best way to build a new house on your current lot?

[KrispyNickyB]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only debating on doing this? My Legacy house has absolutely no character. It's off to the corner and very box like. I was more focused on getting a roof over their heads than aesthetics.

My question is for a legacy game/dynasty if those playing a dynasty have done this. Would you recommend moving them off the lot into the bin then demolish and build? On the flip side is the better alternative moving them into the corner of the lot out of my way and going from there.

One thing I don't want to do is lose Gil Lai's remains and the family cemetery in the back of the lot. I just love the quirkiness of it being there. Other than that there isn't much in the house that I can't re-purchase at a later date.

I've never been much of a Sims-builder. My few attempts in Sims 2 wound up being monstrous boxes. I'm wanting to move away from that and build something with character and looks beautiful too.

[Anushka]

I did this several times, and for dynasty players there is no alternative cause there is no access to Edit town for that reason.
I would also chose this if there is a garden with moneytrees, cause it is a long process of finding and growing lots of moneytrees, and if there is already stocked pond (even if new pond can be restocked too). You can always send your Sims to comunity lot and none will be in the way. Fill their personal and family inventories with everything you want to save, like portraits, photos, collectables, LTRs etc and then demolish and built. Once you pick the hammer tool, it is very quick to demolish whole lot. 

[Hosfac]

My question is for a legacy game/dynasty if those playing a dynasty have done this. Would you recommend moving them off the lot into the bin then demolish and build? On the flip side is the better alternative moving them into the corner of the lot out of my way and going from there.

Well, if you're playing a legacy or dynasty, this isn't permitted if you're planning on sticking to the rules.  Evicting a family alters their household funds, even if you move them back into the same lot.  In these cases, the only other alternative is to demolish it by hand.  And if you're clicking and dragging the hammer tool, it doesn't really take that long.  It's the rebuilding part that's the time killer...which you would need to do anyways.

I've never been much of a Sims-builder. My few attempts in Sims 2 wound up being monstrous boxes. I'm wanting to move away from that and build something with character and looks beautiful too.

Then I'd suggest that you watch the The Official Building/Remodeling Showboat Thread, if you aren't already.  There are some really impressive builders on this site, and you can learn some very interesting building techniques.  I've learned a lot from that thread...things I would have never figured out on my own.  Plus, you can post images of a work in progress, and the more experienced builders will give you tips on how it can be improved.

[KrispyNickyB]

That is very true. That is why I'm not trying a dynasty. I keep forgetting things.

[geekgirl101]

There really is no easier way to rebuild a home if you want to keep certain things like plants and not having to pay an arm and a leg for new windows and doors that were the same as what you had earlier.  What I do if I want to rebuild from scratch without evicting my sims is send my sims out of the house, place everything I want to keep in their family inventory, delete all textures (you get more money back by deleting the textures first instead of deleting them with the walls, delete anything hanging on walls or ceilings that I don't want to reuse, then delete the house.  Any garden plants that can't be placed in the family inventory are just moved to a safe spot while I begin rebuilding their new dream home.

Personally though to make it real easy I'd rather remove any garden walls blocking the way to the garden, stick any items I want kept in their family inventory, move the family out of the lot and sell all furniture, go into edit town mode and drop a pre-made house on an empty lot, and move them in there.  Then when the plants back at their old place have sprouted their fruit I go there and harvest them and replant them on their new home.