The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
New beginnings
Why take on someone else’s problems when you can start afresh in a new-build home of your own, asks Jack McKeown
The new-build market is buoyant, says Jack McKeown who gives us the ins and outs of the property ladder.
What we want is a house where everything is in good condition, nothing falls apart and things just work
Some people love getting stuck in to a project. For them, buying a property with a leaky roof, dodgy electrics and tired kitchen and bathroom offers the prospect of many months happily tearing things out and making dozens of trips to DIY stores and the tip.
The vast majority of us are tired enough by the time we get home from a day at work. What we want is a house where everything is in good condition, nothing falls apart and things just work. And that’s the joy of new-builds. With a new home, the property itself and everything inside is – as the name implies – new. No one else has lived there. The carpets won’t smell of pets. It’s never had a smoker inside it. No one has even used the toilet before.
Among the many new-build developments in Courier Country is Mains of Mawcarse – a small hamlet of individually-designed homes, a couple of miles from Kinross.
Boasting views over Loch Leven, the three and four-bedroom properties boast triple-glazed windows and air-source heat pumps to reduce fuel bills. Each house also comes with a wood-burning stove for cosy nights in.
On sale with Bell Ingram, prices range from £375,000 to £559,000.
Over in Fife, a select group of ecohomes has been built in the historic village of Kilconquhar, a few miles from the East Neuk. They’ve been constructed on the former Mains Farm site, adjacent to Kilconquhar Castle Estate and are the first foray into building domestic houses by the estate’s owners.
Buyers enjoy free membership, allowing them to use the amenities, which include a leisure centre with swimming pool, gym, sauna and children’s play room; putting greens and driving range; tennis courts and an equestrian centre, as well as a bistro and formal dining room.
On sale with Pagan Osborne, prices start at £385,000.
Auchterarder houses Stewart Milne’s Hunter’s Meadow development of homes in the heart of the Perthshire countryside.
The collection of three, four and five bedroom properties uses a layout of lanes and tree-lined avenues to give it a traditional village feel. Prices start at £225,000.
Most new-builds come with the NHBC’s 10 year warranty, which gives protection should anything go wrong. Repairs and redecoration costs should be low at least for the first few years although – like any house – regular maintenance is the key to avoiding nasty surprises.
Because they’re constructed to the most recent building control standards new-builds are much better insulated than the vast majority of older homes and cost less to heat.
One of the best things about buying a new home is that, generally, you don’t have to live with someone else’s tastes. Most developers let you choose your own carpets and other floor coverings, along with what colour you’d like the walls to be painted.
Reserve your house early enough and you might also be able to choose the kitchen and bathroom you want as well. Really, getting in early is the key. Those who reserve first get the best properties in the development – the ones with south-facing gardens, the best views, corner sites and so on.
Make sure you do your homework though. Don’t rely solely on a developer’s promotional material. Ask to see previous projects they’ve carried out and don’t be afraid to knock on a few doors and ask people how they enjoy living in their home.