Buying a home is one of the most expensive purchases you’ll

ever make, and yet those planning to buy only spend an

average of 25 minutes and 30 seconds viewing a home before

making a final decision. This is less time than an episode of

Coronation Street, and only seven and a half minutes more

than you spend when deciding to buy a pair of jeans.(1)

With the average UK home costing £250,000,(2) this means

buyers spend £9,804 per minute deciding to purchase

a home(3) – that some will own for their entire life.

With over a quarter (27%) of people not spending more time

at a property due to pressure from estate agents, Barratt

Homes has some top tips on what to ask, and things look

out for when viewing a property – so buyers are ready when

it’s time to make that all important home-buying decision.

How to view and what to do when looking for

your new home

*Figures produced by the Zero Carbon Hub, a non-profit company with responsibility for delivering homes to zero carbon standards by 2016(1) The research was carried out by One Poll on behalf of Barratt Homes, in August 2014 among

2,000 adults; additional research carried out by SIRC on behalf of Barratt Homes, August 2014, among 2,000 UK adults

(2) The ONS 2013 average house price is £250,000(3) The decision cost of a new home was calculated as follows - average cost of a property

(£250,000) divided by time spent viewing a property (average of 25 minutes and 30 seconds) = £9803

(4) Survey conducted by ComRes on behalf of Barratt Homes, 2012(5) Costs based upon the comparison of a new build four-bed detached house built to 2010

regulations vs. Victorian property (upgraded with modern-day improvements). An upgraded Victorian home means one which has the following improvements over original build specification: 200mm loft insulation, double glazing to half of all windows, a 72% efficient (non-condensing) gas boiler and insulated hot water cylinder. Source: Zero Carbon Hub and NHBC Foundation 2012.

For further information please contact Emma Pritchard at 3 Monkeys on 020 7009 3100 and barratthomes@3-monkeys.co.uk

Make sure you visit the property multiple timesMake sure you visit your potential new home more than

once, and more importantly see it at different times of the

day, to get an all-round feel for your potential new home and

the surrounding area. Multiple viewings will also give you an

insight into how the local community, roads and surroundings

work. With almost a third of people (30%) saying they found

it difficult deciding on a property to buy,(4) you need to make

sure you are 100% happy and have as much information

about your future home as possible, both inside and out.

Consider a new buildIf you haven’t thought about new build properties in the past,

do consider them. There are many benefits to buying new,

including a warranty on fittings and fixtures, which eliminates the

risk of unexpected and expensive maintenance issues which can

come with some second-hand homes. You can visit a new build

development as many times as you like and if you reserve early,

you can personalise your new home with optional design extras.

Ask about money saving features within the homeWhen looking to purchase a new home, make sure you

enquire about the potential money saving features that come

with it. For example, Barratt Homes properties are 45-55%

more energy efficient than the same sized older home,(5)

and you could save up to a staggering £1,312 per year on

energy bills – potential savings such as this are worth knowing

about, especially when you’re trying to budget ahead.

Want to choose your own features? It’s worth an ask Don’t forget to ask whether you can choose your own finishes

and personal touches. Many homebuilders – such as Barratt

Homes – allow you to tailor your new home, making it feel like

yours from the outset. If this is an option, remember that the

earlier you buy the more choice you have in terms of personalised,

tailored features. These features include creating open plan,

multi-functional rooms to suit all lifestyles and creating hidden

spaces for added storage. And don’t forget to take a tape

measure with you, along with measurements of your existing

furniture so you can make sure it all fits in your new property.

Take a checklist When viewing a property it’s easy to get carried away, so make

sure you stay objective and take a checklist with you. Taking a list

to a viewing can help you spot deal-breakers, ask all the important

questions and be clear about your priorities when deciding.

Barratt HomesBarratt Developments build award winning homes, designed to last with an exclusive five-year guarantee on all fittings and fixtures. Brand new warm homes, where your family can grow, for only a 5% deposit with the Help To Buy Scheme.Barratt Developments PLC has sold 14,838 homes in the year to June 2014, making it the biggest housebuilder by volume in Britain. Barratt Developments was awarded a maximum five star rating for the fifth consecutive year in the 2014 Home Builders Federation Customer Satisfaction Survey. Site managers working for Barratt Group won 90 awards for quality workmanship in the 2014 NHBC Pride in the Job Awards. Barratt has won more Pride in the Job awards than any other housebuilder for the last ten years. Barratt is the only housebuilder to provide a five year warranty on the fixtures and fittings in its new build homes at the time of purchase.The Government’s target of zero carbon emissions from all new homes by 2016 is creating a revolution in building methods and Barratt Homes, a founder member of the UK Green Building Council, is pioneering the use of new construction techniques, materials and technologies. Barratt Homes are also between 45% and 55% more energy efficient than the same sized older home even after it has had modern day improvements, which means Barratt Homes can save owners a staggering £1,312 per year on your energy bills.*

NOTES TO EDITORS

Get practicalHave you visited the house multiple

times, and at different times of day?

What’s included in the price of the home?

For example, if it’s a second-hand home,

how old are the appliances, and are they

included in the price of the home?

Does your furniture fit?

How energy efficient is the home,

and what EPC (Energy Performance

Certificate) rating does it have?

Is there a warranty on the fittings

and fixtures? How long is it?

How to future-proof your home

Will this home fit your future plans?

Marriage, kids, retirement?

Does the property fit your lifestyle? For

example: is it close to parks, transport,

schools, your friends/family, work etc?

Chat to any neighbours and ask them

what they like about living there.

Do you feel secure and comfortable?

Can you see yourself having Christmas

here? Can you visualise where the

Christmas tree would go?