Buying a New Build

Essential advice for new build home buyers

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Thinking of buying a new build home?

We’ve collected some of the best advice around, from industry experts plus thousands of owners who have learned the hard way and shared their experiences with us.

10 things new build owners wish they’d known before buying

1. “I wish I’d done more research on the developer and the property manager”

If you’re buying from new, the developer will help with immediate problems, but longer-term, it’s the property managers who will address any issues you raise. The quality of your property manager can have a major impact on your quality of life in your home.

2. “I wish I’d known more about the parking arrangements”

Parking is regularly mentioned as a problem by owners, particularly for those with more than one car or who have regular visitors. Excessive street parking can make life difficult in smaller roads where neighbours do not have enough off-street parking space.

3. “I wish I’d known more about the quality of the garden”

Many buyers mentioned problems with drainage and gardens. They said they wish they had known more about what to expect in terms of topsoil provision and the potential for flooding.

4. “I wish I’d known more about snagging surveys”

Snagging surveys were a common topic that owners wish they’d known about before moving in. Many residents who didn’t have one regretted it afterwards. Snagging was the most-mentioned topic for property buyers outside London who answered this question.

 

5. “I wish I’d viewed the property at different times of the day”

Visit more than once before choosing your home. Visit at times of day to check noise levels, daylight/ night-time lighting, roads, potential flooding, mobile signal strength, etc. Walk to local shops, bus stop, train station and other amenities, and check security on and around the development.

6. “I wish I’d checked the terms and conditions more carefully”

Check your T&Cs carefully, especially any regarding service charges, maintenance fees and management fees. Service charges – and particularly future rate increases – were something many owners said they wish they had known more about before buying.

7. “I wish I’d communicated more proactively with the developer”

Check options for extra features or customising the property and chase up any issues quickly. If something is important to you, make sure you have it in writing!

8. “I wish I’d known more about development plans in the area”

Many owners said they wish they’d more carefully checked development plans in the area – especially regarding green spaces, social housing and busy roads. Find out how much work will continue on and around your development once you’ve moved in.

9. “I wish I’d been more careful in choosing a specific home”

Owners said they’d underestimated the importance of choosing a specific home within a development in terms of its location and orientation. They wish they’d more carefully considered what level it was on, which side of the building, nearby roads, bin stores, entranceways, etc.

10. “I wish I’d known about resident groups before moving in”

Resident groups can be extremely helpful and may be on WhatsApp, Facebook, on a resident app, or in-person. You can use these to talk with other residents who’ve moved in before you and find out what to expect. Of course, HomeViews reviews also let you read what the neighbours are saying!

Find these insights and more in our FREE New Build Buyer’s Guide:

Buying a new build: 10 steps


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The flat is perfect. The concierge staff are wonderful, everything in great working order. Personally we wouldn’t have gone for the matt black finishing in the bathroom on the shower heads because they scratch very easily, despite looking absolutely gorgeous when we moved in – the only minuscule fault in an absolutely spot on apartment. 10/10.

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