Now’s the time to consider buying a future-proof home

There’s no doubt that buying a house is one of the most expensive purchases in a lifetime. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to make your next move, you’ll already have factored the initial deposit and monthly mortgage payments into your budget. But what about the less obvious, ‘whole of life’ running costs, such as rising energy bills and expensive upgrades? With the average household set to spend a third of their income on energy bills alone, this is one cost that shouldn’t be overlooked. Buyers can get a good idea of how much they’ll be spending on energy by looking at a home’s EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating. Put simply, an EPC is a scale of energy efficiency, with A being the highest and G the lowest. Newer homes tend to have higher EPC ratings, meaning they’re likely to use less energy and so protect homeowners from rising energy bills. In order to achieve these ratings, they’ll often come equipped with the latest energy efficiency measures too – which are often simple to install in a new build, but costly if upgrading an older home with a lower EPC rating. If you’re looking for a futureproof home in the Blackmore Vale area, Abri Homes’ Violet Cross development, set in the idyllic village of Hazelbury Bryan, certainly fits the bill. There’s just a few three bedroom houses remaining, all boasting an EPC B to C rating, so you can rest assured that your home is making the most of the energy it’s using. And besides their open-plan living spaces and private gardens, they also boast energy-efficient smart thermostats, LED lights, and double-glazed windows and doors.

Although the ‘whole life’ running costs are important, buyers will be pleased that the initial cost is affordable, too – not least because house prices in the area are well above the national average. By contrast, homes at Violet Cross are available to purchase through Shared Ownership, with a 35% share of a three bedroom endterrace house available for just £101,500, instead of the full market value of £290,000. At Abri Homes, we believe that everyone should have a warm and affordable place to live; and our Shared Ownership homes offer just that. Whilst there may have been a time where an EPC rating was little more than a letter on a piece of paper, it’s now more important than ever to consider energy-efficiency and make sure your property is ready for what the future brings.

To find out more about our wide range of homes across the south and south west of England visit abrihomes.co.uk

Sherborne, Dorset

Offers in excess of £4.5m

An Elizabethan manor house in a private and secluded position in rural Dorset. Set in 21 acres of land, the property includes also three Estate cottages and a number of outbuildings.

Codford, Wiltshire Stratford sub Castle, Wiltshire

Guide price: £850,000

Guide price: £935,000