New properties

New properties are very popular and offer lots of advantages:

  • They need less upkeep early on
  • Fitted kitchens, bathrooms and flooring are often included in the asking price - and you can usually choose the style and colour of fittings
  • Some builders also offer a range of home exchange schemes and deals on moving costs
  • Building regulations for new properties set high standards of insulation, which means your home should be more energy efficient and less expensive to run.

Most new homes are covered by a National House Building Council (NHBC) Buildmark or equivalent certificate. This provides a 10-year guarantee, but it's not comprehensive, so don't assume it covers everything.