One of the first decisions to be made when buying a new home is whether to buy a new or used property. New homes are becoming increasingly popular – building throughout Scotland has increased 16% since March 2013 – but it’s a big decision for buyers to make.
Make your mark
A brand new home is a blank canvas and it can be easy for those looking for their first home to get settled quickly and start creating their dream home. This means using that inspirational Pinterest board to decorate exactly as desired or by working with the home builder to carefully pick fittings and materials.
New home features
New homes are carefully designed to make the best use of every possible inch of space and often have features or added rooms that older houses don’t like utility rooms or integrated garages with connecting doors which provide extra storage. Spacious gardens, like those at Stewart Milne Homes’ Silver Birches development in Alford, are perfect for growing families and a selection of the apartments at The Plaza at Riverside Quarter benefit from well positioned balconies with scenic views over the River Don.
New home, new community
One of the most attractive features of a new home, especially for young families, is the new community that grows and thrives as the development does. Open community spaces and children’s play parks provide plenty of opportunity for homeowners to meet and interact with other families that live in their development, creating a true sense of friendship and community spirit in the area.
Energy efficiency
Built from new, innovative materials and designed to meet very high levels of energy efficiency, one of the benefits of new homes is the saving that can be made on energy spend. 35% of energy use is influenced by the energy saving measures built into the fabric of the home and homeowners can save up to £613 per year just from these standard features. Over five years the cost saving is even larger – ranging from between £2,000 and £4,000 – sheltering buyers from rising energy costs and providing a financial reassurance that older homes can’t always do.
Kitchens/bathrooms
Everyone wants a modern kitchen and bathroom but installing these in an older home can be cost prohibitive. A new kitchen can cost on average £8,000 and a bathroom around £4,500 – and that’s without a new boiler or a lick of paint. A Stewart Milne home comes with top of the range SMEG white goods in the kitchen and the bathrooms are beautifully designed using Porcelanosa tiling and fittings. Buyers even have the ability to select their own preferences from a wide range of choices to help make it their dream home.
Guarantees
Stewart Milne Homes’ Home Builder’s Federation 5 star status for customer service gives buyers the reassurance they need when making the all-important decision on what type of home to buy. New homes are built to very high quality standards and adhere to high building regulations which are constantly inspected and monitored by the National House Building Council. Stewart Milne Homes also provides buyers with a 10 year warranty which covers all aspects of the home. The 5 star customer service team prides itself on dealing with queries as quickly as possible so buyers can rely on them at all stages of the move in process and rest assured that they have a safe and secure environment to relax and enjoy their new home in.
Help to Buy
While the UK property market is getting stronger, it’s still tough to get a good mortgage rate. The Government’s Help to Buy scheme allows buyers to put down a 5% deposit and is currently available on properties due for completion from April 2015. Stewart Milne Homes has a variety of developments across Aberdeenshire, most within close proximity to Aberdeen city centre.
For more information on Stewart Milne Homes’ developments visit www.stewartmilnehomes.com