If you have you ever dreamt of a home where you don’t have to cover up someone else’s paint or wallpaper experiment and which meets the latest building specification then a new build property could well be your dream come true. Especially given the rich choice of new build homes of all sizes in and around Edinburgh and the Central belt as well as in Dundee and beyond.
Other attractions of buying new-build property include a 10-year warranty from the likes of National House Building Council (NHBC) covering structural defects.
You may also be able to benefit from incentives such as part-exchange, or help with legal fees and/or LBTT. If you do fancy buying a new-build property, you should familiarize yourself with the cons as well as the pros:
- Understand the new build timetable – you may only have 28 days between paying a reservation fee and exchanging contracts
- Be flexible over your entry date. If there are construction delays, you may need alternative accommodation until your new home is ready
- Get a snagging survey to check for defects in the completed property and have them remedied
- Bear in mind that new build properties may have less space than period properties.
The most passionate advocates of new build vs period property are never going to agree about which is best, but for most of us, there are excellent benefits for both.
The main thing is to be open to the property – whether new or old – that fits your budget, timing, location and space requirements. With so much development activity taking off around Scotland, a new build home could well tick every box.
