Buying a new build - is the conveyancing process different?

Looking to buy a new house can be an exciting yet stressful time. There is a lot to consider before buying a house, and knowing what the process of conveyancing involves can help to ease a lot of your worries - especially when the property you are interested in is a new build. 

If you are looking to purchase a property, new or old, our team are always on hand to help you from start to finish of the process. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you. 

What is a new build?

New build is the term which applies to new, ground-up constructions rather than the refurbishment, renovation or extension of existing structures. New build homes have several advantages over older properties, including not having to carry out repairs and being more energy efficient. Some come with the option to ‘tailor’ the home by offering choices relating to the kitchen, bathroom, flooring and fixtures, and fittings.

Disadvantages include unsatisfactory construction, electrical or plumbing work, delays in the property's completion, and issues getting faults corrected. There is also the possibility that you will live on a building site until the entire development is complete, but most newly built homes come with a warranty, which provides the homeowner with ten years' insurance against structural issues.

Buying off-plan

Buying ‘off-plan’ means you are buying a home that has not yet been built. You will see a developer’s brochure detailing similar properties and floor plans, and you will be able to choose and reserve the plot of land where the home will be built. If you decide to buy off-plan, bear in mind that the home may not fulfil your expectations once it has been built. If you don’t believe the home reflects what you were shown in the brochure, you may be able to complain to the Trading Standards Office.

Warranties

Some mortgage providers will not lend money if the property does not have a warranty, although this is by no means every provider. A warranty is issued by an insurance company and provides a guarantee that the home reaches safe standards of construction. It also covers the situation where a developer goes out of business by either paying to complete the property or refunding the deposit.

Warranties last for ten years and only cover structural issues. The developer is responsible for correcting any faults that occur during the first two years, following which you will have to make a claim from the warranty provider.

Snagging

Although a property passes a warranty inspection, there could still be other issues or ‘snags’ within its construction. Often, minor defects aren’t sufficient to prevent a property otherwise passing a warranty inspection, however these can still be troublesome.

The ten most common snagging complaints, according to New Build Inspections, include:

• patchy plasterwork requiring redecoration,
• incomplete tiling grouting,
• skirting boards and architraving, requiring filling and redecoration,
• external brick work missing weep vents and needing brick acid wash,
• not fully pointed block work,
• incomplete lost insulation (or not laid properly),
• incorrectly fitted extractor fans,
• unlagged pipes,
• broken roof tiles,
• cracked or defective glazing.

Snagging inspection and report

Snagging inspections should be undertaken before completion of the sale, so this gives the developer time to correct any issues before you move in. If the report identifies serious problems, then you might delay the legal completion of the property until they have been corrected.

You can obtain a snagging report to detect any flaws in the home which the developer needs to correct. A snagging report costs upwards of £250, although if this is beyond your budget, you can undertake your own inspection.

It is not too late to get a snagging report done after you have moved in. You can notify the developer of any issues up to the first two years of the warranty. It may be wise to inspect your home every six months for the first two years of the warranty.

Contact our Conveyancing Solicitors in Glasgow and Paisley, Scotland

The process can be long and confusing, but our experts can help guide you to make it as straightforward as possible. Seeking legal advice is crucial when purchasing property and it is always better to contact any solicitor sooner rather than later. 

Contact our team today on {{CONTACT_NUMBER}} or complete our online enquiry form to find out more about how we can help you.