- Visit apartments in person.
- Pay attention to details which reveal a lot about the quality standards of the builder.
- Take a walk through the neighbourhood and observe the people to get an impression how the community looks like.
- Check if the builder is registered with the National House Building Council (NHBC).
- Get insurance because the NHBC or other type of warranty covers only specific problems with the construction.
- Check previous homes built by the same construction company and contact previous clients.
A Guide to New Build Apartments in Tyne and Wear
The global economic crisis did not spare the construction industry in the county of Tyne and Wear either, however, the offer of new build apartments is relatively good. The prices of new flats vary greatly ranging from about £70,000 to as much as £500,000. Buying a new build apartment offers several advantages over the used one but you are highly recommended to be very careful because unfortunately, not all builders have the same quality standards.
When you find an apartment that meets your requirements and financial structure perfectly, you should check a few things to avoid a potential disappointment because buying a new flat is not a negligible investment. The most important of all is to take time and visit the apartment in person as well as to pay attention to details which reveal a lot about the quality standards of the builder. Keep in mind, however, that it is very difficult to spot potential problems in a new build apartment. If there are any, they usually became obvious only after a few years. Nevertheless, it is crucial to see the apartment in person and ask as many questions about it as possible.
In addition to paying attention to the details within the apartment itself, you should also carefully look at the building as a whole and of course, check the neighbourhood. Take a walk through the neighbourhood and observe the people to get an impression how the community looks like. Also, ask the builder if any apartments in the building are already sold and who bought them (families, older couples, etc.).
Generally, there should not be any serious problems with a new build apartment because the builders need to comply with the building regulations to be able to start with construction in the first place, while all construction sites are also being visited and inspected by the local building authorities to ensure that the building meets all quality and safety standards. Despite that, you are highly recommended to take time for research on the builder yourself.
First of all, check if the builder is registered with the National House Building Council (NHBC) because all registered builders are being checked by an approved inspector to make sure that the building is in accordance with both the building regulations and the NHBC standards. In addition, an apartment that was built by a NHBC registered builder comes with a warranty which means that you will have no costs with the repair of potential construction problems. But even if the apartment has the NHBC warranty, you are recommended to get insurance as well because the warranty covers only specific problems with the construction. If the builder of the apartment is not registered with the NHBC, be sure to check whether the warranty is provided by another reputable company.
In the end, focus on reputation of the builder. Check previous homes built by the same construction company and try to find previous customers because they can give you the most objective information about the builder’s quality standards.