Buying a new build timeline: your practical guide to the buying process

With term times to plan around, solicitors to engage and other homeowners in a potentially complex chain, the logistics of buying a new home can feel intimidating. More than money or finding the right property, it’s the process itself that brings uncertainty and sometimes prevents people from making their move.

A new build home removes a great deal of chain complexity, but the end-to-end process isn’t always clear. To help you feel confident, we’ve turned our decades of property know-how into a simple, practical roadmap from deciding to move to making your new house a home. 

Whether you’re buying your first home or selling and buying a new build at the same time, our step-by-step guide is designed to help you know what to expect.

Step 1: Start with your finances and available schemes

Estimated timeline: 1-2 weeks

The first step in the process is getting a firm understanding of your budget, funding sources and the type of property you want, from location to specific features. In this stage, you’ll start researching new build developments and get a mortgage Agreement in Principle.

According to research from Santander, 65% of homeowners say they couldn’t have gone through the homebuying process without a mortgage broker and it’s in this stage that your broker will help you understand what you can get and find ways to get a good deal.

At the same time, you’ll be shortlisting potential developments. Beyond ready-to-move locations, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on property developers’ news and updates. For example, we keep people updated on our upcoming developments, so they can think ahead and potentially consider a purchase off plan. This can be an effective way to get ahead of demand from other buyers and secure the perfect home.

What is the First Homes scheme?

This stage is also when you’ll check whether you’re eligible for schemes and incentives that can help you save money. The government First Homes scheme helps first-time buyers in England purchase new build homes for at least 30% less than their usual market price.

At our Maresfield Heights development in East Sussex, we’ve built two homes under this scheme. You can find out more and register your interest here.

Step 2: Find and reserve your new build home

Estimated timeline: 1-4 weeks

Finalising your choice of new home is a hugely personal process and timelines here are at their most flexible. Beyond being limited to the expiration date of your mortgage agreement in principle, take your time to compare different properties until you find the perfect fit.

Once you’ve developed a shortlist of properties and developers, it’s a good time to think about how you’ll sell your current home and whether there are any incentives or schemes to simplify the process. At Brookworth, we offer a part exchange programme to simplify the selling process on specific plots. 

Once you’ve found your dream home, you’ll pay a reservation fee to secure it for a fixed period. This is usually 28 days.

Part exchange new build explained

Part exchange on a new build property is similar to the process you’d expect from buying and selling a car. The developer will purchase your existing property and handle its sale, while you focus on getting ready for your move and navigating the rest of the buying a new build timeline.

We currently offer part exchange on two plots at Maresfield Heights in East Sussex.

Step 3: Instruct solicitors and finalise funding

Estimated timeline: 1 week

While some homebuyers instruct solicitors as early as possible in the process, most opt to engage them as soon as they pay a reservation fee. If you’ve worked with a mortgage broker, they can often recommend a solicitor with relevant experience.

This stage is also where you’ll lock in your funding, applying for your mortgage if necessary. To keep the process moving, it’s vital to engage a solicitor and submit your full mortgage application promptly, then respond quickly to any further requests for information.

Step 4: The journey to exchanging contracts

Estimated timeline: 2-4 weeks

With your solicitor on the job and your lender assessing your mortgage application, step 4 is often the challenging: waiting patiently while not being able to do much to speed things up yourself.

While you’re daydreaming about your move, your solicitor will conduct key checks into your developer, the property, any warranties and the specifics of your contract. You’ll also send them your deposit in preparation for exchanging contracts. 

Meanwhile, the lender will review affordability and finalise your mortgage amount and terms.

Once these checks are completed, you’ll sign the contract and your solicitor will send your exchange deposit to the seller. This is typically 10% of the purchase price, even if your total mortgage deposit is larger. This exchange is when you become legally committed to the full purchase.

Step 5: Plan your move and get ready for completion

Estimated timeline: 1-2 weeks (or longer if buying off plan)

Completion is the day when all the money is transferred (from you or your mortgage provider) and you can pick up the keys to your new home. In the case of a complex chain, this process can be very unpredictable.

One of the big advantages of choosing a new build home is that completion can be remarkably fast. If you’re buying a property that’s completed and ready to move into, this could be as fast as a fortnight. Of course, if you’re buying off plan, there’s the small matter of actually building your home before completion can happen. That makes it especially important to check any mortgage offer won’t expire too early or that the sale of your current home fits expected construction timelines.

If you’re using part exchange, your developer will strive to keep transactions aligned in this stage, progressing their purchase of your existing home to match up with when you’re expected to complete.

As you reach the end of this stage, your developer will usually invite you to inspect your home and ask any questions about its features. You’ll also start to arrange your move. 

Step 6: Move into your new home

Whether it’s been a few weeks or a longer construction period, the big day is finally here: it’s completion day and your new home is truly yours.

At Brookworth, we pride ourselves on a seamless experience. We provide your keys after a long process of inspection and quality assurance, so you can be confident your home is perfect from the moment you arrive. We’ll also provide all the relevant documents, including any warranties and guarantees.

Start the process today with Brookworth Homes 

Beyond exceptional quality, people choose Brookworth Homes because a new build removes many of the uncertainties and variables of buying from an existing homeowner. That’s a key part of the Brookworth Difference: delivering the level of service and simplicity that discerning homebuyers value.

At Maresfield Heights, we’ve taken that customer-centric approach even further with homes purpose built to allow more people to enjoy what makes our developments so special. From two properties on the First Homes scheme to flexible part exchange options, it’s our way of making a simple, predictable buying process even easier.

Find out more about Maresfield Heights or get in touch with our experienced sales teams to discuss your options.