No place like a new build home

A & J Stephen has a reputation for excellence when it comes to homes. Marketing manager Tom Buchanan explains the new build appeal

When it comes to house-hunting, most people have a vision – it could be a contemporary new build or an established home requiring an upgrade.

Both have their pros and cons, depending on your budget and the time you are prepared to spend on achieving the desired end result. Money Matters Finance underpins all property transactions and there is much more financial assistance out there in respect of new builds than for second homes.

For example, we are actively building homes which fall under the Help to Buy (Scotland) initiative – this means you could buy a new build with as little as a 5% deposit, which is often the main stumbling block for first-time buyers.

The scheme also accommodates second movers. Of course, there are other options such as Part Exchange and Assisted Move which really can make the difference between being able to move when you want to or not. Energy Efficiency A new property built to the latest building regulations can cost half as much to heat as a Victorian house of the same size, according to the NHBC Foundation.

This is because new builds benefit from higher standards of insulation, enhanced draught-proofing and improved “airtightness” that help to lower household annual energy bills and improve levels of comfort. Safety Net New builds also offer peace of mind, with a number of reassurances to avoid unpleasant (and expensive) surprises. Not only is the price fixed but buyers can enjoy the back-up of the NHBC 10-year warranty, underpinned by the Consumer