78 INTERIORS
As housebuilding ambitions grow, what gives new-build buyers confi dence?
By Katie O’Shea, National Contracts Manger, Beko UK & Ireland
W
ith bold government housebuilding targets and Your First Home aimed at helping more fi rst-time buyers into
homeownership, there is a renewed push to help people onto the property ladder. Buying that fi rst home is one of the biggest
fi nancial decisions people make, so what gives buyers confi dence in their choice? What reassures them that they are spending their savings wisely? And who can they turn to for help once they have the keys? Settling into a new home brings unfamiliar
controls and routines, so technology that takes some work off buyers’ hands has an obvious appeal. According to Beko’s upcoming Housebuilder Index, which surveyed more than 500 recent and prospective new-build buyers, almost half of buyers say automated energy management would save them time in everyday life, while a similar proportion say smart appliances need to be simple to use before they feel confi dent using them. As homes incorporate more connected
technology, buyers want it to deliver practical benefi ts. For housebuilders, that creates an opportunity to focus on specifi cation that saves time, reduces eff ort and makes everyday living easier. Technologies such as HomeWhiz are one
example of how manufacturers are responding to these expectations helping homeowners monitor energy and water usage, receive notifi cations about potential issues before they become faults and access software updates, helping them get more from their appliances over time. For specifi cation teams, it is worth asking suppliers how connected features can save homeowners eff ort, what guidance is built in and how the appliance will be supported as its software develops. Knowing help is available can reassure
buyers about the home they have chosen, with almost two in fi ve saying good aftercare and support gives them confi dence in new-build quality. Familiar names matter too, with more than a third saying the same of appliances and fi ttings from brands they know and trust. For specifi cation teams, this gives service provision and brand familiarity a place alongside performance, effi ciency and price when choosing products and partners. At Beko, that commitment to aftercare is
supported by a network of more than 1,100 engineers covering 99% of the UK, helping provide homeowners with access to support if it’s needed. Agreeing how advice and repair requests will be handled during procurement helps customer care teams give buyers a clear route to assistance. For buyers settling into their fi rst home,
useful technology and strong aftercare can make unfamiliar routines easier to manage, supporting confi dence in the choice they have made.
0800 098 1659
www.beko.co.uk WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
