Why buy a new build?

Are you currently house-hunting and unsure whether to buy new or otherwise? Here is a handy guide to the pros and cons of buying brand new from a developer like ourselves…

 

Buying an older home which has already been lived in by other families will undoubted mean there will be maintenance to do or décor changes to suit your tastes. Buying a brand new comes with the reassurance that everything in the home is brand new and hopefully won’t need replacing for a number of years for example your windows and doors, bathroom, plumbing and heating, guttering and paintwork. Ask yourself if you’d rather pay a premium for this or if you are happy to do the work yourself to an older home.

 

With buying new you should benefit from lower energy bills due to double glazing, modern energy efficient materials and appliances as well modern insulation. When buying an older home you should check if the building has cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, double glazing and ground floor insulation.

 

Insurances… when buying new for the first two years after you legally complete the purchase your home should be under warranty with the house builder. This means they are legally required to put right any damages or faults, but it does not cover the likes of general wear and tear. After this period you should be covered for a period of up to 10 years from completion date by the 10 year NHBC warranty, this is in place to protect you against anything that the house builder failed to do such as comply with building regulations or build to NHBC requirements. If buying an older home you will need to assess the home, conduct a survey and take out your own buildings insurance.

 

When buying a brand new home which no one has lived in, it is your own blank canvas to decorate to suit your own taste. This is something our customers say time and time again that this is why they bought new! House builders, like ourselves have show homes which can really help you to get an idea of fashionable interior schemes, the latest materials and what works in the space. If you are buying before the house is finished you may also get to choose your own finishes such as paint colour, tiles, carpets and flooring. If buying a pre-owned home you may need to do all sorts of preparation work before you decorate such as removing old wallpaper, plastering or filling holes. You will need to consider budget, time frames and if you will do work yourself or if you will need to book in time for the professionals to come in.

 

When choosing a new build home the buying process can often be quicker and less stressful as there is no upward chain. The house builder may also have their own incentives such as discounts for completing by a certain time, offers on flooring or furniture packages or incentives such as part exchange schemes. Always ask the sales advisor and check the company website for offers, incentives or special buying events such as previews and launches.

 

One of the biggest incentives helping people to get on the property ladder is the government backed Help to Buy scheme, which is only available on new build homes. The scheme helps people to buy with low deposits and can help buyers get lower mortgage rates as an equity loan will make up their deposit. Since there scheme launched more than 120,000 properties have been purchased with it, with 81% of these being first time buyers.

 

If you are deciding to buy new we have a few tips for you…

 

Do your research! Shop around and compare house builders. Look at what incentives and offers are available. Take a careful look at the finishes, specification, attention to detail and materials used by the builder and ask about their aftercare service. Can any friends or relatives offer you first hand recommendations or ask the house builder if you can talk to any existing residents and buyers about their experiences?

 

Check what’s included in your purchase such as paving, turf and flooring. Will this be an extra cost and if so are there any offers on? Can you use your own supplier, and if so will their work need to be done after completion when you have moved in?

 

If you are buying off-plan or before your new home is finished ensure you get a copy of the building schedule. Ask if any delays are foreseen and what would happen if things get delayed as your mortgage offer may be time limited.

 

We hope you've found this useful. If you have any more questions about buying new please pop us an email to sales@chestnuthomes.co.uk - we'd be happy to help!

Back To News