Ryder & Dutton, New Homes

There are many advantages to buying a brand-new home. There is nothing quite like the feeling of moving into a completely new house, untouched by the previous occupiers! Most new developments offer buyers a wide choice of property sizes and styles with a blank canvas.

Some of the advantages of buying a brand-new home include:

One of the key benefits to purchasing a new build home is that it removes the common hurdle of the chain, in buying a new home there is less chance of the deal falling through last minute.

Most developers allow you to personalise your new home before you move in. Subject to build stage purchasers can have input to the style and colour of kitchen units, worktops, and tiling, and in some cases appliances and floorcoverings. Some developers even offer a bespoke service where purchasers can have input to minor changes to the layout and specification if the reservation is made at an early enough stage in the build programme.

Many people who buy a second-hand home spend thousands of pounds and hours of their valuable time getting the home to just how they want it. With a new home, you simply move your furniture in and start living. New homes feature many low-maintenance products like uPVC windows, doors, and fascia so the external features require little, or no redecoration.

One of the greatest benefits to a new build home is that they are built to the latest efficiency standards. A reported 85% of new build homes in England and Wales achieve an Energy Performance Certificate rating of A or B meaning both more manageable bills and environmental protection.

There are also various schemes buyers may benefit from including part exchange, assisted move and chain breakers; all of which are designed to make the process of buying and selling easier for you.

All new homes are designed and built to the highest building standards. How people live has changed significantly over the years and modern homes are designed to meet the demands of modern living and busier lifestyles, by maximising space and natural light. On average a new home provides 17% more useable space when compared with older style properties.

All new build homes come with structural warranties typically up to ten years which you do not get with an older home. New build warranties are in most cases transferable so if you decide to sell after a few years, you can sell your house with the benefit of a warranty.

With a lack of community in recent decades being cited as the reason for many societal issues, new builds often foster a sense of camaraderie as buyers - from first-time buyers to families to downsizers - build a community together.

Buying from a developer means you are likely to have greater autonomy with regards to the logistics behind your move making it less stressful, more straightforward and centred around your needs.

Many developers are members of a Consumer Code, the most common being the Consumer Code for House builders which was introduced in 2010. This is a set of mandatory requirements that all house builders must meet in their marketing, selling and after sales service of new build homes. The Home Warranty providers e.g. NHBC, LABC and Premier Guarantee require all their registered developers to adopt a code as a condition of their registration. This is all good news for buyers; it ensures that they are treated fairly, know what level of service to expect, and that they are given reliable information upon which to make their decisions.

Since its launch in 2022, many of the large developers have now signed up to this new voluntary code, including Barratt Homes [November 2022], Persimmon Homes [March 2024] and Bellway Homes [October 2022]. The NHQC, published by the New Homes Quality Board [NHQB], champions quality new homes & better consumer outcomes. They are a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the quality of new homes and customer service. Their framework sets high standards for developers while also delivering fair outcomes for buyers.