Move with the times
‘We act as a chain-free cash buyer and even pay estate agent’s fees’
AS THE housing market slows down, adding weeks and often months to the time it takes to sell a house, the long wait can mean losing out on moving to your dream home. Which is why part-exchange schemes for new-build houses are becoming so important to help complete a sale.
Developers are increasingly offering this option to keep their sales on track and, as Josh and Anna Boggi can confirm, it makes the whole process of moving much more straightforward.
“We used the Crest Nicholson part-exchange scheme as it took the pressure off,” says Anna. “We had our hearts set on The Brambles and we knew we didn’t have much time to get our deposit down.
“When Crest Nicholson said they could buy our property from us it made everything smoother. We could reserve the plot we wanted and everything else fell into place.”
Husband Josh, 32, is a former Corporal in 9 Parachute Squadron of the Royal Engineers and lost both his legs and his right arm when he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
He has since gone on take part in Prince Harry’s Invictus Games – an international event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women – landing two gold medals in the 2016 Games in Orlando, USA. Yet finding a suitable home was not straightforward.
During his search for a new home with Anna, who works at the RAF’s Benevolent Fund in London, the couple realised they could not move into the sort of townhousestyle homes prevalent on new-build sites.
Eventually they found a more accessible new-build house at Crest Nicholson’s The Brambles development in Spencers Wood, Berkshire. Although Josh has prosthetic limbs he also needs wheelchair access and it was the large living room and kitchen plus spacious master bedroom, with plenty of room to manoeuvre a wheelchair, that sold their new home to them. That and the part-exchange, which meant Crest Nicholson acted as the couple’s guaranteed cash buyer for Josh’s apartment in Slough, Berkshire, 30 miles away.
Sales and marketing director Christine Tiernan says: “We act as a chain-free cash buyer and even pay estate agent’s fees so purchasers can remain in their own home until their new home is ready.”
The Brambles has a direct bus service to Reading, a 15-minute drive away, with fast trains to London Paddington. Only one home remains for sale on the site, a four-bedroom house for £499,950, available with Help To Buy (0118 451 0930; crestnicholson.com).
Redrow’s Mastermove scheme came in handy for Stuart and Margaret Care when they downsized to Penlands Green, a new-build site in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. Stuart, 68, was keen to avoid any stress, including DIY or house maintenance, and says: “We took advantage of Redrow’s Mastermove scheme, which meant the stress of selling our previous property was taken out of our hands. We were set up with an outstanding agent who made the whole process surprisingly enjoyable.”
Mastermove has no restrictions on the size or value of the property that owners need to sell. Redrow takes care of the valuations and sets customers up with three estate agents – tripling the chances of making a sale – so the owners don’t miss out on a new home.
Penlands Green is surrounded by countryside and pretty Haywards Heath is just a 30-minute train ride from Brighton. Three, four and five-bedroom houses are still for sale from £529,995 (01444 688526; redrow.co.uk).
As Oliver Ingles, managing director at Go Homes (go-homes.co.uk) says: “We have seen a huge rise in part-exchange schemes being used over the past few years as it can really reduce the stress for people buying and selling homes.”
He adds: “We offer this at all of our developments with no estate agent or advertising fees to pay, making it cost-effective and hassle free.”