Survey reveals costs residents in Buckinghamshire didn’t expect to pay when moving home
Buying a new home is one of life’s biggest purchases and a new survey from leading housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes has revealed unexpected costs that Buckinghamshire homebuyers didn’t anticipate paying in addition to the cost of their new home.
The survey, conducted by the five star developer*, disclosed that residents in the county deem removal costs as the most unexpected cost, with estate agent fees also being a cost which was unknown prior to the purchase of the home.
Therefore, the housebuilder is preparing Buckinghamshire residents for costs which will need to be paid during the homebuying process, by offering schemes and incentives to keep these costs to a minimum and help buyers on their way to their dream home.
23% of homebuyers in the county said that they didn’t expect to pay costs for the transportation of their possessions from their old home to their new home.
To ensure that moving day is as comfortable as possible, it’s wise to organise a removals company, or hire a van to do it yourself, as early as you can in the process.
According to the Homeowner’s Alliance, most moves (41.57%) happen on a Friday with the least, excluding Sunday, happening on a Monday. Weekends are generally more expensive than weekdays as they’re more in demand so it’s best to speak to a number of local companies and look for a cost-effective price.
Jason Hearn, Sales Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “To ensure you can set aside money for removal costs, buying off plan at one of our developments in Buckinghamshire is a great way to get organised and guarantee plenty of time before the moving in date arrives.
“Buying a property before it’s been completed, sometimes even before construction has begun, is a great investment as you can agree a price beforehand and it’s possible the property will be worth significantly more than what you paid for it by the time you move in – meaning you could make a profit on your home in the future.
“As the day of moving into your new home may be a little way off from the time of reserving, this gives you ample opportunity to set aside the money for the removals and ensure things run effortlessly.”
19% of homebuyers in Buckinghamshire placed estate agent fees as a cost which they didn’t expect to pay.
It’s important to remember that monitoring sales as they proceed, liaising with all interested parties including mortgage brokers and solicitors and helping buyers decide what kind of property they want to buy comes at a cost.
Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ developments in the county have schemes, such as Movemaker, to aid buyers in bypassing estate agent fees to keep anxiety around costs low and the joy of being a homeowner high.
Jason added: “Acting as a one-stop shop for homebuyers, the Movemaker scheme works when individuals reserve their home. They receive a complimentary estate agency service with a free no obligation valuation on the existing home.
“We as a homebuilder complete the Movemaker once a selling price has been agreed by the customer, and then will pay the estate agents to sell the existing property.
“It’s a fantastic way to keep costs down and take a back seat in letting us sell the home to ensure a smooth move.”
Barratt Homes is currently building properties at the following developments in Buckinghamshire: Brooklands, Eagles’ Rest, Woburn Downs and Fairfields in Milton Keynes.
David Wilson Homes is also currently building properties in Buckinghamshire at Fairfields, Eagles’ Rest and Woburn Downs, as well as at Lavendon Fields in Lavendon and Brooklands Park in Milton Keynes.
For further information about any nearby developments, please call the Barratt Homes sales team on 033 3355 8481 or the David Wilson Homes sales team on 033 3355 8486. Alternatively, you can visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk.
*An online survey was conducted among 2,098 respondents from the UK, some of whom were homeowners (inc. first time buyers), downsizers, employed and/or commuted to work.
