A typical street scene on a Bellway Wales development


Five top tips for winter


home-hunters


Plan where you want to go Location is key, whether movers are city dwellers, focussed on bright lights and bustle, or are looking for a peaceful, rural setting, away from the crowd. Single and set to stay that way? Professional with a love of entertaining? Family-orientated seeking the place for the children to grow? Or wanting to cash in and downsize? It’s all in the location and while people might find their dream property, a poor location will undermine the whole process. It’s possible to alter what’s on the interior, but the location is permanently fixed, so if people don’t know the area, it’s well worth paying it a visit, exploring and getting a feel for the place.


Old or new? Some buyers feel that a period or older home with original character is a must, but the downside is that many older properties require upgrading, plus on-going maintenance at substantial cost – factors simply not involved in buying a new-build property. In fact, there are significant benefits buying brand new. Developers continually look to new design to provide personalisation and quirky features that appeal to individuals, while current building regulations ensure cost-effective heating and insulation on new properties, keeping fuel usage – and bills – to a minimum. They also offer schemes such as Part Exchange, which can take all the hassle out of moving.


Check out estate agents, local property pages


and the internet for new developments High street estate agents and the property pages of the local newspaper showcase the latest residential developments, so it’s a good idea for home- hunters to make a list and register an interest if it’s a scheme they like the


10


Winter is the time when people want to cosy up, hunker down and witness the cold rainy climate delivering its worst from the inside of a preferably double-glazed sitting room window. But for those who are looking for a new home, there could be no better time to begin their quest. Housebuilders such as Bellway Wales are working overtime to meet demand for new homes across South Wales and Gloucestershire and many developments are currently coming to fruition. Home- hunters who start planning now could be looking at a move in the spring, hopefully as the weather improves... Billie Oaten, Sales Director for Bellway Wales, said: “Winter is a great time to make big decisions for the forthcoming year and when it comes to moving home it really does pay to plan ahead – so we’ve come up with some essential tips to help everything go smoothly.”


look of. They will then receive updates on the building progress and be among the first to receive news of showhome launches.


Know what you’re buying If it’s not built it may be hard to visualise, so those opting for a new-build at planning stage should make sure they can visualise exactly what’s being delivered. Visit the showhome or new homes already completed at similar schemes to gain a fuller picture. Whether buying new or old it’s also important to confirm what’s included in the price. Developers may offer optional extras for finer quality fixtures and fittings, depending on the progress of the build.


Watch out for warranties When buying new it is essential that the developer is part of a warranty scheme, while on an older home people will also need to ensure that any refurbishment work carries a guarantee, should there be a problem. With new-build homes such as Bellway’s, the NHBC’s Buildmark is designed to provide peace of mind on build quality for ten years and ensure the property has been built to agreed standards. It’s also worth checking out the housebuilder’s star rating with the HBF (Home Builders Federation) – a five-star rating, which Bellway has, means nine out of ten customers say they would recommend the developer to a friend.


Billie added: “Whatever your circumstances, we have a great choice of new homes available to reserve across South Wales and Gloucestershire – and our friendly sales advisors are on hand to help at every step of the way, so I’d advise anyone considering a move to visit one of our developments to find out more.” Bellway Wales


is building new homes across South Wales Gloucestershire, with more information available at bellway.co.uk. New Homes Wales and the South West and


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