Buying off-plan

QI have been looking for a new home online and have come across a property that I am really interested in. The development is still under construction, so homes are being sold off-plan. Should I be concerned about buying off-plan?

Victoria Lockwood, Wembley

ALooking for your first home is an exciting time but can also be a bit daunting. Acquiring a home off-plan means that you are investing a considerable amount of money into a property that you haven’t been able to view, which can seem counterintuitive for a lot of people looking to secure the best value for money.

Investing in off-plan doesn’t mean that you won’t know what to expect from your new home. From computer-generated images to detailed plans, there is plenty of information available so that you can understand the specification, layouts, and room sizes of the homes on offer.

Depending on the development and the progress on site, there may also be a show home available to view that will reflect the to worry about painting over old wallpaper, completing major renovations or installing light fixtures; simply turn up on move-in day and enjoy your new home! quality of design and finish that you can expect across all homes once complete. Providing further support for those buying a Network Homes property, our friendly sales team is always on hand to answer any questions that you may have about the homes available.

Finally, new build homes are clean, fresh and provide a blank canvas ready for you to customise and add your personal touch. Adding your own style and flair to a property is one of the most exciting parts of being a homeowner and with a new build it is easy, adaptable and fun!

*Figures based on HBF 2022 “Watt a Save” report.

Off-plan purchases can also have many benefits for buyers looking to purchase a new home. You can have the first choice of the available plots, meaning you are more likely to find a home that meets with your needs. For example, our new development Icon in Edgware is likely to be incredibly popular due to being close to Burnt Oak station and moments away from local shops and access to parks and open spaces in the borough of Barnet.

With one, two and three bedroom shared ownership apartments, buying a share of a home off-plan at Icon means that buyers can avoid missing out on their dream plot.

As with any new build property, buying off-plan (particularly as a first time buyer) means that you can avoid being stuck in a chain. Buying chain-free often means that the process is faster and more straightforward, taking a lot of the stress out of the homebuying experience.

We do hope that you will consider purchasing off-plan and would like to wish you the best of luck with your buying process.

Kalumba Musambachime