Buying Off-Plan

The early bird gets the worm, and in this case the nicest plot too! If you register your interest in a specific plot or house type before it has been released for sale, you can even submit an Early-Bird Reservation which will offer you first refusal once the plot officially goes on the market.

This is ideal if you have your eye on a specific house type, a certain home with spectacular views or even if you want to be close to a friend or relative who has also reserved a home on the development!

Also known as ‘Development Launch Offers’, these incentives are usually available for people who express their interest in a development and reserve a home off-plan as soon as the development launches.

These offers can vary between developments, but common incentives are 'help to sell' schemes, deposit contributions, mortgage payments, and internal offers such as flooring and upgrades.

Compared to buying a home that has already been built or is currently in construction, buying a home off-plan gives you almost unlimited freedom to truly make your home your own.

From kitchen choices and tile designs to layout changes and electrical upgrades, you’re involved in the building process of your home from the very start of your new home journey.

Although you may have to wait longer to move into your new home when reserving off-plan, this waiting period gives you plenty of time to build your credit score, save for a larger deposit or budget for removal costs, decorating supplies and new furnishings!

This period is ideal for first-time buyers who want to lock down the best offers on a new home early on and who may not have the initial funds to move straight away.

Need more help understanding costs when moving into a new build home? Take a look at our handy cost guide here.

Erris Homes customers Lydia and Jack knew they wanted a new home at Rosemeade shortly after the development launched in February 2019. It was a while before their chosen home was due to come onto the market, but they secured the 3-bedroom plot with an Early-Bird Reservation.

Once the young couple had sold their home using our Smart Move scheme they were ready to fully reserve their chosen plot, and by the autumn of 2020 they had moved into their new home!

"The sales team were with us throughout the process with weekly updates," said Lydia. "This definitely put our minds at ease. Buying a new build is always stressful, especially as we'd reserved from a plot on a map, but we felt supported and reassured throughout!"