Process of Buying a New Build House

Buying a house is an exciting life event that takes careful consideration and many steps before you’ve got the keys to your dream property. New build properties are constructed with feature modern designs, the latest technology, and energy-efficient features, making them an attractive choice for many homebuyers. However, the process of buying a new build house can differ from purchasing a resale property. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to buying a new build house in the UK so that you can be prepared.

1. Find the Right Property

Before diving into buying a house, you’ll want to set your own expectations around price, location and any must-haves you’re looking for at your new home. This could be transportation links, supermarket proximity, or nearby schools.

The best way to get a feel for the design, layout, and quality of construction is to visit show homes and model properties. When you look around our new builds at County Town Homes, our friendly team is are happy to answer any of your queries. Get in touch to find out how to see our homes in person, and read our helpful guide on how to decide where to live.

2. Reserve Your New Home

If you’ve found the house you want to make a home, you’ll need to reserve it. At this point, you’ll want to review the reservation agreement and ensure that all the terms and conditions are understood. Once your offer is accepted, you’ll need to pay a reservation fee to secure your spot. After you’ve reserved your new home, you’ll be provided with an anticipated build completion date.

At County Town Homes, we offer our buyers the option to customise their homes with a wide range of kitchen styles and upgrades for you to choose from. With a new build house, you could have full control over creating your dream home interior, subject to the build stage at the time of purchase.

3. Secure a Mortgage

Most homeowners will need to secure a mortgage as part of the process when buying a house. By speaking to a mortgage advisor, you can compare possible options and determine the amount that you’re able to borrow and the associated rates. It is important at this point to ask when, or if, the mortgage offer will expire so that you can ensure the offer will still be available when your new build home is completed. You’ll then need to finalise your mortgage and choose a solicitor to meet legal requirements.

When looking at new build homes, you may have the ability to buy an off plan property, which means it hasn’t been built yet. In this instance, you’ll need to take into consideration the timings for mortgage agreements, as the offer may only be valid for a certain number of months.

Discover our helpful mortgage advice below: 

• First-time buyer mortgage guide
• Mortgage rates: what you need to know
• A guide to 100% mortgages 
• What does a mortgage advisor do?

4. Settle Legal Requirements

The legal process of buying a house includes conveyancing, which is the legal process of transferring property ownership. You’ll need a solicitor, or conveyancer, to handle the legal aspects of the purchase. Because of this, you’ll have to take into account solicitors’solicitors fees for buying a house. Your solicitor will take care of explaining the contract to you and overall, make the legal process simple. 

As part of their job, your solicitor will ask you to pay a search fee “on account” (which means at the beginning of the process). which This is invaluable and as it details what is going on in the local area, which could affect your purchase and is a requirement if you are buying with a mortgage.

Find more information on the conveyancing process and search fees below: 

• The conveyancing process explained
• Conveyancing fees guide
• What are searches when buying a house?  

5. Pay Your Deposit

Once the legal work is completed and your mortgage is approved, you’ll exchange contracts with the developer. This is a significant step, as it’s when the purchase becomes legally binding. You’ll pay a deposit, usually around 10% to 30% of the property price, at this stage. Your conveyancing solicitor will also transfer this deposit to the developer’s solicitor. The time between reserving your home and exchanging contracts is at most 42 days. If you’re still in the process of saving to buy a home, discover our tips on how to save for a house deposit. 

6. Complete Your New Home Purchase

The developer will provide you with a completion date, which is when you’ll receive the keys to your new home. Before completion, you’ll typically have the opportunity to conduct a final inspection to ensure everything is in order. The property should be in the condition agreed upon, and any snagging issues booked in to should be addressed before or not long after you’ve moved in. At County Town Homes, Wwe want you to be fully happy with your home, so be sure to let us know if there’s something that has been missed.

7. Move into your new home

All that’s left to do now that the purchase is complete is to move into your new home and get settled in. Discover our Moving House Checklist, a helpful tool to ensure you have everything you need when moving into your new home. All new build homes purchased through County Town Homes come with a 10-year new homes warranty, so you can be assured that if there are any structural issues, these will be dealt with. Read about the other benefits of new build homes, including energy efficiency, high safety standards and no onward chain in the buying process. 

Buying a new build house with County Town Homes 

Buying a new build home is designed to be as quick and straightforward as possible. Discover our range of new houses for sale in Staffordshire at our thriving Wrottesley village development, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at all.

Read more of our helpful blogs to learn more about the general home buying process and how long it takes.