Things to keep in mind
New houses often sell at a premium to reflect the included extras. After a few years, the price of new property moves into line with the local property market.
Before you buy a new property, make sure you have a solicitor on board to check the property:
- Has proper planning permission and is correctly built on its allocated plot
- Hasn't been built on contaminated or filled land - or if it has, you have valid certificates ensuring the land has been properly treated first. This is crucial for building insurance.
You should also get the builder to give you:
- Proper guarantees, such as NHBC Buildmark or similar certificates
- Test certificates and user guides for any electrical, gas or built-in appliances
- The final certificate from the local authority building inspector
- Confirmation the property's energy efficiency matches the SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) rating provided to the local authority.
If you'd like to know more about what to look for when buying a new home either give us a call or visit the National House Building Council (NHBC) website.