What are you actually getting with your home?
Interesting news that the price of an ‘average’ home continues to rise. But what exactly is an ‘average’ home? In truth, it’s a little like the classic ‘average’ family – mum, dad and 2.2 children – By definition, it doesn’t exist in reality.
Most house hunters will start the search for their new home with an idea of what they are looking for, and that is usually expressed by the number of bedrooms. But of course, searching for, say, a three-bedroom home is a bit like looking for a four-seater car: there are so many variables. What exactly are you going to get for your money?
This is something which has been occupying our minds at the moment, as we plan the specifications for a new development in Norfolk which we will be announcing shortly. It never ceases to amaze me how many people don’t take a close look at these specifications before comparing different properties.
You might assume that a four-bedroom home will be bigger than a three-bedroom home, but that is not always the case. Britain has some of the smallest homes in Europe, so always consider the square footage of the home, and the size of the garden, too – a four- or five-bedroom home is most likely to be occupied by a large family, and children need space outside to play.
Some house builders try to cram as many homes onto a given piece of land as possible; this might reduce the price a little, but what is it going to be like actually living there? That is why we make our plots bigger, to make our new homes more ‘liveable’.
But it’s not just about size. What about the finish, the specification, and what is included? Yes, you might get kitchen appliances included, but do they match the needs of the house type? Are they energy-efficient, A-rated – keeping on top of energy bills is a vital part of modern family living.
It is about understanding how people actually live their lives in their homes in the modern world. This is why we think in terms of creating homes rather than simply building houses; there is a difference.
When you buy a home you are spending a huge amount of money, so you should definitely be aware of what you are getting for your cash. That means asking searching questions of the house builder, not least whether features in the show house will be included in the finished homes. You may be surprised by the answer to that on in many cases. For us, it’s a question we look forward to being asked!