Why Move On To A New Build Home?

As a homeowner looking to move to a new property, the choice available may be daunting but falls into two parts – re-sale and new build. There may be a wider choice of homes that have had one or more previous owners, so why consider one that may not even be completed when you take a first visit?

For many of us, moving home can be quite an emotive experience. There might be an element of necessity – a change of job, or more space needed for the family – but there could be a whole list of other reasons: wanting a more spacious place to live; quieter (or more vibrant) surroundings; being closer to family and friends; perhaps returning to a place where you grew up.

So if there’s such a lot of choice in the re-sale market, why consider opting for a new build home, especially if they are at the top-end of your budget?

There’s something very appealing about the ‘blank canvas’ of a new home. There’s no need to undo the decoration of a previous owner before stamping your own style to your living spaces. No need to re-paper, re-paint or re-carpet. Buy early enough in the construction process and you might even be able to pick exactly the kitchen, tiling and flooring you want and it will all be done for you before moving in.

The hike of energy prices over the last couple of years has underlined the benefits of living somewhere built to the latest standards with things like high-quality insulation and power-efficient kitchen appliances. There are numerous other features to look out for that not only keep your household bills in check, but show how housebuilding these days has its eyes on the bigger issues of energy use and sustainability. Features like air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, solar panels and EV charging points for electric vehicles can make your new home considerably cheaper to run than your current place.

Lower maintenance could be one of the biggest reasons for seeking a new home. Older places inevitably need repairing and some of these can be expensive as well as inconvenient. Perhaps you don’t need the large garden anymore. Maybe age plays a part – time to relax from things regularly going wrong in the home.

The design of a new home may also have advantages. Older properties – though by no means all of them – can be easy on the eye and exude character, but there can be some shortcomings too. Tiny windows may mean the rooms are dark compared to the more generous glazing of new properties; the nooks and crannies of some period properties don’t make them very space efficient; narrow hallways, small doorways and steep stairs can be a real hindrance for moving things around the house – and your own mobility may be a consideration too.

While new build homes do come at a premium, there can be some great financial benefits in looking for the best deal. Maybe there’s an offer where the housebuilder will contribute to your deposit or monthly mortgage payments, or the popular Deposit Unlock scheme? There’s no harm in trying to negotiate about things like upgrades – quartz kitchen worktops, fitted wardrobes to more bedrooms, an extra allocated parking space – and if you don’t have much furniture to bring with you, perhaps there’s a furniture pack the housebuilder offers that might be ideal?

The property chain and purchase system can be fraught with risks of the whole process falling through – potentially costly as well as disappointing. Part Exchange could be the best way to avoid this – agree a price for your existing home and the housebuilder will be a guaranteed cash buyer – and it can all be timed to match the day you move in. Some developers offer an alternative, where they will act for you in dealing with the estate agent for the sale of your home, and cover the fees, saving hassle and money on something you’d have to do yourself buying a re-sale property.

WhatHouse? has just launched its Location Ratings index to provide house-hunters with detailed, up-to-date scores on many different aspects of the places they want to live.

Working with data experts CLSQ, we assess the latest information from highly respected sources to give every current new homes development we list a rating under five core topics and you can read about them in more detail here:

• Health & Wellbeing
• Transport
• Tech Connectivity
• Finance
• Education & Amenities

Together, our Location Ratings provide a comprehensive score, marked out of 5, on things that are key to your decision to choose the right brand new home for you.

Find out more here.