A local housebuilder’s top tips for finding the perfect property match this Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day (14 February), Barratt Developments South Wales is sharing its top tips to help customers fall in love with their dream property — like Helen Davies, who recently completed the purchase of a Radleigh at Chapel Fields in Loughor.
Helen said: “I love, love, love my new Barratt home! The sales team were so lovely to deal with throughout the process, providing regular updates and courtesy calls and being genuinely excited for me on completion day.
“The rest of the site team have also been super helpful, friendly and knowledgeable since I moved in — and have been very quick to resolve the very small snags in the house. I’m now looking forward to turning my new house into a home!”
Richard Lawson, Sales Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Wales added: “Finding the perfect property can seem a daunting process at first — particularly for those entering the property ladder for the first time — but it’s also one of the most exciting chapters in people’s lives.
“As a homebuilder, nothing brings us more joy than seeing our customers’ satisfaction upon receiving the keys to their dream home, so with 43 years’ experience, here are our top tips for finding the perfect property.”
- Seek mortgage advice early on.
Before getting started, it makes sense to identify exactly how much and what you could afford. Not only will this make your property search more realistic, but it will instantly narrow down your options — hopefully making the decision-making process even more straightforward.
Arranging a mortgage can sometimes feel complicated with lots of new terminology to comprehend, but a good mortgage adviser will keep things simple and help find the best deal for you. Some homebuilders and estate agents even offer mortgage advice as part of their services, ensuring seamless communication between your adviser and sales representative.
Curious about your affordability before seeking professional advice? Make use of free online tools such as this mortgage calculator from Barratt Homes: https://www.landc.co.uk/partners/barratthomes-online/
- Explore schemes and concessions that could be available to you.
From Help to Buy to deposit contribution schemes — homebuyers offer a variety of options to help get you moving.
Wales’ Government-backed Help to Buy scheme could allow eligible first-time buyers of new-build homes to purchase their dream home with just a 5% deposit. Meanwhile, Barratt Developments offers an Armed Forces Deposit Contribution — specifically for Britain’s military servicemen and women to help get them on the property ladder.
For further information about Barratt Homes’ schemes and offers, visit: https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/offers/
- View, view, view!
Video and interactive 360-degree tours are a great way to decide whether you’d like to proceed to view a property in person, with around 85%* of people in South Wales, on average, saying they would use digital tools including online sites, virtual tours, digital tours and interactive brochures to help them look for a home. But as Covid restrictions ease once again, nothing quite beats seeing the property in real-life.
Not only do in-person viewings allow you to get a feel for the property and its surroundings, it’s also the perfect opportunity to have all your questions answered by an adviser. A viewing can be just as important for ruling out what you don’t want in a property, just as much as it can highlight what you do want in your dream home.
Booking an appointment with Barratt Homes is quick and easy and can be done at the click of a button, here: https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/the-buying-process/online-home-viewing-experience/
- Check out the local area.
A property’s location and surrounding amenities can be just as important as the property itself, with lots of key considerations and questions to ask yourself before signing on the dotted line.
For example, transport and commuter links — could you travel to and from work within a reasonable time from your proposed location? According to a recent survey, people in South Wales would be prepared to spend, on average, approximately 71 minutes* commuting each way for their job.
For families with young children or couples who are planning to start a family, local schools and nurseries could be a key consideration — how do they rank versus other schools in the area? Do they offer the language preferences you require?
Parks and green spaces are becoming increasingly important for mental health and wellbeing, with 68.2%* of people in South Wales, on average, ranking these as the most important amenities to be close to when purchasing a home, according to a recent survey.
Google Maps and online research will soon become your best friends — especially for researching additional amenities like bars, shops and restaurants. Enter your desired South Wales location to find out more on the Barratt Homes website: https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/the-buying-process/online-home-viewing-experience/.
- Be patient.
On average, it can take anything from six weeks to eight months** (or more!) to find the dream home — so don’t be disheartened if you don’t find ‘the one’ straight away. Purchasing a home is a long-term investment, so it’s important to get things right and not to rush into things.
The recent property market boom in Wales could even mean having to buy your home ‘off plan’ (purchasing the property before it has completed construction). However, this can come with a whole range of new benefits, including: cheaper house prices, being able to add your own personal touches during construction, moving straight in, and when purchasing with Barratt Developments, you would receive a NHBC Buildmark Warranty which gives you a 10 year structural warranty and a 2 year fixtures and fittings warranty as standard.
For further help and advice for buying your dream home, please visit: https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/ or https://www.dwh.co.uk/ today.
* South Wales refers to Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan collectively. Data taken from an online survey conducted by Barratt Developments among 2,012 UK respondents — some of whom were homeowners (inc. first time buyers), downsizers, employed and/or commuted to work.
** https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/buying-a-home-timeline/