While many older properties possess a certain charm, character and sense of history, buying brand-new has some clear advantages. With more and more people looking for energy-efficient, low-maintenance homes that are specifically designed for modern living, new builds are becoming increasingly popular. As a result, 2022 saw the highest number of new home registrations since 2007 1.
But how do you go about finding a brand-new home that delivers the high quality you want? Our guide is here to help you.
What are the signs of a high-quality, new-build home?
For most of us, buying a home is the single biggest purchase we’ll make in our entire life. It’s important to get it right, which is why it’s essential to know how to judge the quality of any home you’re considering. Here are some key things you can do:
Research the homebuilder
There are many homebuilders across the UK. So it’s important to check that yours is fully committed to quality. For example, David Wilson Homes delivers excellence by:
- Using the best materials possible
- Employing the latest construction techniques
- Focusing on sustainability and energy-efficiency
Another good way to satisfy yourself about the quality and craftsmanship of any prospective homebuilder is to visit a development and view a show home.
Check any warranties
The best homebuilders give you peace of mind by protecting you and your brand-new home with warranties recognised by leading building industry organisations. All David Wilson homes come with an NHBC warranty and insurance policy, known as Buildmark, which includes a 2 year builder warranty period, followed by an 8 year insurance cover.
Make sure you can inspect work
Before completing any purchase you should be able to inspect the work. If anything isn’t quite up to your expectations, like a bit of unfinished plasterwork around a socket, you can get it rectified.
Stay in touch
Buying a brand-new home should be a collaborative process. For instance, David Wilson Homes have a dedicated team of experts on hand to guide you through. We can help you with everything from finding an estate agent to showing you a variety of offers designed to help you move.
Are there other indicators of new-build quality?
The simple answer is yes. The government’s focus on the quality of new homes has become increasingly intense with the creation of the New Homes Quality Board. Dedicated to improving building industry standards, it oversees the New Homes Ombudsman Service to ensure that all developers meet the demands of the New Homes Quality Code.
Of course, one of the best ways to gauge the quality of a homebuilder is to see how their customers rate them.
Over 90% of customers consistently say they would recommend David Wilson Homes. As a result, we’ve been awarded 5 Stars by the Home Builders Federation for 14 consecutive years. No other major national homebuilder can match that level of achievement*.
What are the benefits of a brand-new home?
Nothing quite matches the feeling of walking into a spacious, brand-new home filled with natural light. And as time passes, the advantages of choosing a new-build property become even clearer.
Less maintenance
From the moment you move into an older property you’ll probably start making a list of things that need fixing. That’s not the case with a brand-new home. You can simply unpack your belongings and start living.
Warranties
Your new-build home will come with warranties to cover building snags. With David Wilson you’re covered by an NHBC warranty and insurance policy, known as Buildmark, which includes a 2 year builder warranty period, followed by an 8 year insurance cover.
Energy-efficiency
New-build homes have to comply with the latest buildings regulations, which means they’re far more energy-efficient than older properties. A David Wilson home could be up to 63% cheaper to run and save you up to £2,200 every year on your energy bills**.
It’s also worth noting that it could cost you up to £70,000 to upgrade an older property to meet modern standards^.
No renovation needed
With excellent finishes throughout, there’ll be no need to freshen up tired looking paintwork or replace peeling wallpaper.
It’s also worth remembering that buying new tends to be a far simpler and less stressful process, because there’s often no lengthy chain of buyers and sellers to worry about.
Can you see yourself living in a brand-new, energy-efficient home? See what David Wilson Homes have to offer and start your homebuying journey.
1 House building up in 2022 despite challenges in final quarter, National House Building Council.
*We are the only major national housebuilder to be awarded this key industry award every year since 2010. “We” refers to the Barratt Developments PLC group brands including Barratt London, Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes. Based on HBF star rating scheme from 2010 to 2023 derived from the NHBC national new homes survey at eight weeks (https://www.hbf.co.uk/policy/policy-and-wider-work-program/customer-satisfaction-survey/latest-results/), over 90% of Barratt Developments PLC group customer would recommend our brands to a friend.
** Indicative figures, based on HBF "Watt a Save" report published July 2023.
^ Indicative figures, based on HBF "Get on with living" report published February 2023.
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