Keeping new-build home buying harmonious at Christmas

The festive season should be joyful, but with so much going on at once, things can get a bit fraught, especially when you’re also buying or building a new home.

To help keep your Christmas more ‘happy holiday’ than ‘bah humbug’, here are five practical tips to keep in mind based on the most common disputes our adjudicators see:

• Keep in touch: Good communication isn’t just about staying in touch with friends and family. When buyers and builders keep in regular contact, there’s less risk of unexpected delays, changes or other problems. Issues can be resolved quickly, and everyone can sing from the same carol sheet.
• Write things down: While sending Christmas cards may be on the decline, writing notes of conversations about your new home creates a useful audit trail should you need to revisit what was agreed weeks or months later. Whether it’s email or hard copy, if both builders and home buyers share their understanding of a conversation, any confusion can be cleared up quickly instead of causing more problems later on.
• Ensure timely information: Having the right information at the right time is key. There’s a lot to cover with a new build, and although not everything will be needed on day one, buyers do need enough information to make informed buying decisions and be ready to complete on time. Our Consumer Code Scheme with Builder Guidance has lots of useful information for buyers and builders alike so both parties know what to expect, when.
• Avoid assumptions: Do you know your gradients from your square metres? Or know how to interpret technical drawings? We encourage builders to make information available in plain English and to take time to explain things properly. If you’re a buyer, be ready to ask questions and seek more information about anything you don’t fully understand. Unlike some Christmas gifts which arrive with no instructions, builders are required to help buyers understand what they’re buying.
• Don’t let frustrations fester: After-sales and complaints handling are two of the most common causes of disputes. Small issues quickly become major problems if enquiries go unanswered or complaints are ignored. Builders should have processes for dealing with queries and complaints – and it’s better for all concerned if concerns can be settled promptly. If you can’t resolve your differences, our Independent Dispute Resolution Scheme is here to help.

As the saying (sort of) goes, these hints are for life, not just for Christmas. We wish all those celebrating a merry Christmas and a happy New Year – and we hope our blogs and resources will help make your home buying experience more harmonious.