Please note, this post is sponsored but all opinions/news about my family life is genuine!
It’s been a long process but we are now finally nearer to the completion date on our new home. We first put our house on the market back in September last year, and whilst that’s only 7 months from selling to exchange and then completion, it’s felt like a very long time. We had some unfortunate hurdles along the way, firstly selling our home in November, only for the buyer to pull out after Christmas. Nice. Thankfully our house re-sold just 4 days later and so thankfully we didn’t lose too much time.
Our move was prompted by a desire to have more space – and to be able to afford it – and so we chose to look for a new home outside of London. I’m very grateful for the fact that my family are very involved in our son’s life and so when we were thinking of adopting again, it made sense to move back to where my family are and where I grew up.
We currently live in a 2 bed semi-detached Victorian property, which is beautiful with high ceilings and fireplaces. We love the character and so I thought that we would probably look for a similar property character wise once we started looking for a new home. However, we have ended up buying a new build property! The more we looked, the more we realised that this style of property would suit us best at this season of our lives. Here are my reasons why and why you also might want to consider a new build for your next home.
Maintenance
A new build is essentially as maintenance free as you can possibly get. The wiring is new, the pipework is new, the utilities have only just been connected, and you won’t have to worry about your boiler or double glazing for at least a decade. Another excellent aspect of a new build is the home warranty you will be given for the work. Any pointing that comes loose, anything structural that you are concerned about, or any appliances that should be guaranteed will be covered should anything go awry. While this rarely occurs, it gives peace of mind knowing that there is a warranty to fall back on. Our home was built in 2013 and so we are not the first family to live there, however everything is still in warranty for a few more years and with a second adoption, we wanted a home that we didn’t need to worry about too much for a while.
Energy Efficiency
With exceptional insulation, roofing, and new windows, our more modern home will be as energy efficient as it can be. No more whistling wind round the edge of the door! This means that our utility bills should remain lower as not as much heat will escape during the winter. We know first hand how older homes, especially those with single glazing, can struggle to keep warm in the colder months.
Aesthetics
I must admit that at first I thought that I wouldn’t like the architectural style of a new build property. They can look plain, boxy and featureless. In order to keep building costs down and purchase prices low, new build properties lack the ornate coving, ceiling roses, and stained glass features that Victorian and Georgian homes do. However, I’m kinda looking forward to the challenge of adding uniqueness and personality to our new home. I’ve seen some people add character through vintage radiators or log burners. Our new home has a log burner but no chimney, which I find a bit odd so we are considering having a faux chimney place built around it. I’ll be documenting the whole renovation process here on the blog and also on Insta Stories so make sure you’re following along! My Instagram handle is @celebratecreation
I must admit that at first I thought that I wouldn’t like the architectural style of a new build property. They can look plain and featureless. I love the tiles in our bathroom and kitchen and was concerned that a look like this wouldn’t translate well to a new build property. However, I’m really looking forward to the challenge of adding uniqueness and personality to our new home. I’ve seen some people add character through vintage radiators or log burners. Our new home has a log burner but no chimney, which I find a bit odd so we are considering having a faux chimney place built around it. I’ll be documenting the whole renovation process here on the blog and also on Insta Stories so make sure you’re following along! My Instagram handle is @celebratecreation
New builds aren’t always the most exciting properties on the market, but they are sometimes the easier/most sensible option for a whole host of demographics. It’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of your next house purchase. For us, adoption is amazing but the process of being approved and being introduced to your new son/daughter can be exhausting at times and so we decided to take an easy win with the house, rather than looking for a project.
C.x
Claire Parkin Interior Design 