THE BUYING AND MOVING PROCESS
Finding the right home for you
It doesn’t matter if you are just shopping around or still don’t know exactly what you are looking for in a new home - this is the perfect time to talk to us about the different types of new homes we build across our Yorkshire developments.
At Erris Homes, we take pride in providing quality new homes for all types of modern families. We know that buying a home is an important decision, and our experienced sales team strive to go above and beyond to ensure your home buying experience is as smooth and effortless as possible, from the day you step into our marketing suite to the day you first pop the kettle on in your new home.
Prior to reserving your home, our experienced Sales team will provide you with in-depth information about the development, the various specifications and layouts in our homes and the warranties available, including our ten-year structural promise.
Reserving your new home
Great! You’ve found a new home that’s perfect for you. To ensure nobody else can make an offer on it, you need to reserve it. Once we receive the go-ahead from you, we’ll make sure it’s taken off the market and kick-start the sales process.
Our reservation agreement will establish the key terms of your home purchase, including the reservation period, purchase price and other important information. We will provide you with the details of your main points of contact who will be happy to assist with any queries you may have about your new home both during your reservation period and once you have settled into your new home. Our experienced sales team are fully trained to offer expert guidance and advice throughout the buying process to ensure you are at ease the whole time.
You will have the opportunity to meet with our friendly site manager who will assist you in viewing your new home during construction and answer any queries you may have.
Reserving off-plan
Buying a new home off-plan means that you reserve before construction has been completed (and sometimes before the house has started construction). This method allows you to personalise your home from the moment you reserve. From kitchen choices and tile designs to layout changes and electrical upgrades, you’re involved in the building process from the very start of your journey. We involve you in the design process of everything from larger features, such as flooring and worktops, to the little things such as door handles and faucets that are just as important. Depending on the build stage, you can also customise your kitchen units, tiles, and include a whole range of extra features such as USB plug sockets, wine coolers, and quartz worktops.
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. Erris Homes often offer incentives for Early-Bird reservations, so you could take advantage and make some big savings.
Although you may have to wait longer to move into your new home when reserving off-plan, it will give you more time to save for a larger deposit or budget for removal costs and other expenses. This period is ideal for first-time buyers who want to lock down the best offers on a new home early on and might not have the initial funds to move straight away.
Applying for a mortgage
In most cases, new home buyers will need a mortgage to purchase a new home. To make this process as easy as possible, Erris Homes have a nominated Independent Advisor (IFA) who will assess your options and help you decide which mortgage is best for you.
We recommend contacting your IFA before reserving your new home as they can then calculate the affordable mortgage payments you may need to make. Most mortgage lenders used to ask for a minimum 10% deposit on a new home, but some lenders such as Halifax are offering 5% deposits on new-build homes. Others have fantastic Green Mortgage offers for homes with an EPC rating of B or above, so it’s worth asking your mortgage advisor about this if you are purchasing a new-build home.
Your mortgage lender will ask to value your new home before they lend you any money – this is called a valuation.
Although some lenders will offer free valuations, many others will charge and you can expect to pay between £150 - £200 based on your home’s value. When purchasing a new-build Erris Home, you do not need to hire a surveyor as the home will have already undergone rigorous checks and comes with a 10-year structural warranty.
Once you have found the right mortgage with your IFA, seek approval in principle on the mortgage being agreed. This way, once you have reserved a new home, you can formally make the mortgage application.
Appointing a solicitor or a legal representative
You will need a solicitor to carry out the legal process of buying a new home (and of selling your current home if you are already a homeowner). Your solicitor will assist in the legalities of buying your new home including everything from Stamp Duty and Land Registry to conveyancing and everything in between. Costs will vary depending on whether or not you have an existing home to sell, but you should expect fees to be between £500 - £1500 plus VAT. Some mortgage lenders also charge a fee for transferring your mortgage money to your solicitor – the usual cost for this is around £40 - £50.
Having the right solicitor is crucial in making the house-buying process as quick and easy as possible. Should you not wish to use your own legal representative, Erris Homes are more than happy to nominate a trusted solicitor on your behalf. They will assist in the legalities of buying your new home including everything from Stamp Duty and Land Registry to conveyancing and everything in between. The quicker you give the correct purchase information to your solicitor, the easier the legal process will be.
Stamp Duty
Stamp Duty is a cost commonly associated with a property purchase. If you are a first-time buyer and your new Erris Home is under £425,000, you won’t need to pay stamp duty at all. If you are already a homeowner, you can expect to pay stamp duty at 5% when buying a new home over the cost of £250,000. If you are an investor, 3% Stamp Duty is payable on properties up to £250,000 and 8% is payable on those priced £250,001 up to £925,000.
Use this handy Stamp Duty calculator see how much you can expect to pay.
Removal and insurance costs
Your mortgage lender will ensure insurance is one of your key priorities when buying a new home, but this doesn’t mean you have to buy insurance from them. Shop around for a deal that works for you and your family. We would also recommend content insurance to cover the cost of repairing and replacing treasured household items, and you’ll be able to bag a bargain when combining this with building insurance too.
Unless you’re recruiting friends and family to help you move into your new Erris Home, removal costs can usually be anywhere from £300 - £2000 for professional removers.
Exchanging contracts
Once your solicitor is fully satisfied with the legalities of the new home sale, you’ll be required to sign a Contract of Sale (alternatively, your solicitor can sign this on your behalf). At this stage, you’ll be required to pay the agreed deposit. Our solicitor will exchange legal contracts with yours to complete the sale.
Getting ready for the big day
Your designated sales advisor will invite you to a new home demonstration, where they will show you around your new home and discuss everything you need to know before the big day. At this stage, the full amount of the purchase will have been transferred to our solicitors, and your solicitors will have received the title deeds and any other important paperwork from us. Once everything is legally completed, your new home is officially yours!
Moving in day
The big day has finally arrived! Settle into your dream home without a care in the world, safe in the knowledge that your new Erris home is protected with a 10-year warranty, and that our fantastic customer care team are always on-hand even after you have moved in.
Making your move a reality
On the day of completion our friendly sales advisor will warmly welcome you into your new home.
We will conduct a demonstration of your new home’s many features and will issue you with documentation outlining how to maintain your new home, what to expect and who to contact in case of emergency.
HELPING YOU SETTLE INTO YOUR NEW ERRIS HOME
Here at Erris Homes we know that purchasing your property is only the beginning of your new home journey with us. We endeavour to provide a pleasant and hassle-free after-sales experience.
That’s why we offer a dedicated and committed customer care team featuring highly trained staff who are equipped to answer any questions or queries you may have regarding your new home. Once you have moved into your new home, our after-sales team will keep in contact to answer any questions you may have and ensure you are settling into your new home.
On completion of your move, we will provide you with a homeowner handbook containing all the information you need about reporting any issues and the process we follow to address these issues. Our after-sale team will keep in contact to ensure you are settling in well and answer any questions you may have.
Should you have an issue with your new home, our customer care team will aim to offer a resolution to any nonemergency query within 48 hours. Should you need on-site support from our customer care team, dedicated appointments are available between 8am and 5pm on weekdays. Please contact us if you require an appointment outside of these hours.
We endeavour to be as considerate as possible whilst completing works on your development. Please contact the site manager should you have any questions or concerns whilst work is still being undertaken near your home.