Buying a home can be a stressful and complicated process. Choosing a new build eliminates some of that worry but many people still have questions about the process. We asked Denbury Homes’ Senior Sales Consultant Alison Swain who oversees all sales at St Edmunds Gate, to take us through the process and share some of her experiences.
Why is buying a new build less stressful?
One of the biggest reasons is that once someone chooses a new build, the chain stops there. Of course, there may be a few homes in the chain leading up to the new build purchase but at least there will be no onward purchases to cause complications.
Another big stress reliever are the guarantees and warranties that come buying a new build. There are different schemes available, but Denbury Homes uses the NHBC Buildmark Warranty which gives the buyer 10 years of cover. This includes our own builder warranty which allows buyers to come directly to us to report any problems that arise within the first two years of ownership that might be covered by the warranty. We use a highly effective system to ensure those issues are managed and resolved as quickly as possible.
New builds also take away some of the unknowns that can cause problems when buying an older property – no more worrying about some hidden plumbing, electrical or structural problem. And the fuel bills will probably be lower and more predictable too!
What happens once someone visits a development?
Sometimes buyers have clear idea of which house they want having seen an advert or a post on social media but usually the sales consultant will spend some time chatting about their circumstances, how much space they need and what sort of layout they like. Buyers can tour the show home or any completed homes that are on the market. At St Edmunds Gate we have an interactive screen which allows us to show buyers the available plots, floorplans and the development layout.
Sale consultants will also discuss finances with the buyer, whether they have a property to sell and how they are hoping to fund a house purchase. Buyers are welcome to use their own financial advisors but housebuilders will often make a recommendation if needed. We introduce our buyers to Just Mortgages. They operate independently to us and can help buyers work out what the best option is for their circumstances.
What help is there available to buyers to make the purchase?
There are plenty of buying schemes designed to help buyers secure a home. Developers tend to run different schemes, but Denbury Homes offers a part exchange programme which helps take away the stress of selling a home. We also have Easy Move where we help buyers to list their own property for sale and can even put a property on hold for them whilst they secure their own sale. We also offer Deposit Unlock, Maybe Move and can have other offers that are tailored to support buyers at any stage of their journey.
Once we’ve done all the necessary checks and the buyer has decided on a purchase we move to the formal reservation appointment.
Reservation: At reservation we discuss the whole process with the buyer and give them the information about the warranty and the New Homes Quality Code (NHQC). The is a voluntary code so not every housebuilder is signed up to it. Denbury Homes has chosen to do so as it guarantees the buyer even greater clarity and peace of mind.
Once the home is reserved things can move quite fast, at Denbury we aim to exchange within six weeks, so buyers need to have all the financial information ready to share as well as have appointed a solicitor to handle the conveyancing. We can recommend legal support if needed and this often helps keep the process moving along as we use specialist legal firms who are very familiar with the speed and detail of new build purchases. The sales consultant will do their best to keep everyone informed and the purchase on track including chasing up solicitors if needed.
If buyers are purchasing off plan or whilst the build is in an early stage, buyers can choose any options or upgrades such as kitchen cabinet colours or styles or bathroom tiles and flooring at reservation too.
Exchange: This is when both sellers and buyers and their respective legal representatives are content with the contract. At this point the buyer pays the deposit – usually 10% of the purchase price and the sale is locked in.
Home demonstration: Once the property is almost complete, the buyer is invited to tour the property, learn about the systems such as heating and maintenance of a new build. It’s also a great opportunity to measure up for furniture, curtains or blinds!
Completion and handover: If the home is finished, completion can take place two weeks after exchange. The buyer is given the keys and a comprehensive handover pack and can move into their new home!
What happens after the completion
Different builders have different approaches, but we offer direct access to our dedicated customer care team. This team is based in head office but of course our residents can also pop into the sales office if the consultants are still on site. For more complex questions, our customer care team will open a case and work with the resident to address the issues as soon as possible.
What’s the quickest sale you’ve ever been involved with?
We had one exceptional circumstance where a buyer’s own sale went ahead but their purchase fell through, they were passing one of our developments just after they got the disappointing news and stopped on impulse. They fell in love with a home, and we completed in just four days! Normally we aim for around eight weeks from reservation to completion but that does depend on what stage the build is at when a buyer reserves.
What’s your favourite part of selling homes?
I love that people are moving into St Edmunds Gate, and you can already see a community springing up, but my very favourite moment is the reservation. Even eight years into this job, when a buyer arrives on site and says, “Yes please!” to a house it still gives me a buzz.
Have you bought a new build yourself?
Yes, in fact, I’ve bought one from Denbury Homes and so has my son! Knowing the process from both sides of the sales desk and seeing the construction team who work on these homes every day, I know how much care and attention goes into each home and each sale. When you know what sits behind the plaster, it can only be Denbury for me!
