New homes vs old homes 

Why you should always pick a new build

When searching for a new home people often wonder whether they should look for an existing home or choose a new build. There can be pros and cons to each and one type of home might not be what you’re looking for. But before you dismiss the idea of a new build at the outset, here’s why we think new homes are so much better. 

100% brand new

Firstly, a new home is exactly that. It may seem obvious, but everything in the new build you purchase is yours and has never been preowned. This means that it has never been lived in, unlike existing houses. It has a fresh, pristine feel as you walk through the door for the first time, that only comes when you purchase new. With a home that’s already lived in, there are always remnants of the previous homeowners lying about somewhere – potentially to your surprise or expense!

Character 

Let’s talk about character. It’s true what they say that old houses have character, but new homes do too. People might say that new homes are all built the same in the neighbourhood you’re looking at but don’t forget, this is the same on many streets across the country. 

With a brand-new build, however, there are elements you can customise or choose from to create the home you really want. Newett Homes always adds some This beats having to make do with what someone else has built before you. Customising an old build beyond the decor will mean renovation which means a lot of upheaval and additional costs.

Energy efficiency

Technology has developed since many existing homes were built. New homes have the latest technology when it comes to insulation and energy efficiency. An old home, especially one made of stone, is much harder to heat and will likely have less insulation. 

We work with the Environment Agency at the planning stage and building control throughout the build, to guarantee you a high-specification home.

No chain

A great benefit to a new build is that there’s no previous owner, therefore you’re not locked into a chain. Once you’ve reserved the house and sorted the finances, the move-in day happens when the house is complete. 

Many complications can arise when purchasing an existing house that sits within a chain. All it takes is for one thing to go wrong somewhere along the way and the whole chain could fall apart and fall through. 

A new community

Newett Home developments usually consist of a number of houses together that act like a small new neighbourhood. Just like everyone else, you’ll be moving to this new community, meaning you’ll have something in common with all of your neighbours – you’ve all got new houses! You can use this great opportunity to break the ice and make new friends who have all decided to move to your beautiful new neighbourhood. 

Warranty

As they’re brand new, newly built homes come with warranties, some extra peace of mind you won’t find with an older home. Newett Homes provide customers with a 2-year Newett Guarantee and 10-year Structural Warranty. Under this warranty, Premier Guarantee following legal completion, have defined responsibilities regarding a wide range of structural defects, should anything occur during the first 10 years after construction.

Cost

For some people, the overall cost is important to them. There’s a myth that a new home will always cost you more than an existing home, like for like, but this is not true. New homes come with many benefits including energy efficiency and warranties that can actually save you money in the long run compared to an older house. Moreover, old builds, especially those with lots of character such as Victorian or Edwardian houses can be priced around 20% over the average.  

Maintenance & existing issues

Old homes tend to require more maintenance and can be a large drain on your savings. Existing houses can be over 100 years old and aren’t built to the high standards that we have today. In addition, you don’t know exactly what you’re getting with an old home. Remnants from the previous owners such as poor plastering, old electrics etc. may exist and it’s up to you to identify them. With Newett Homes you can rest assured that everything is completed to the highest specification. 

There are often a lot of untrue myths about new homes and people don’t always see the benefits. We hope that this article gives you confidence that a brand new home could be the perfect choice for you. See here for even more information on why to buy new. 

Top 5 Places to Visit in Harrogate

Our development, The Pastures, is based just on the outskirts of Harrogate, a classic Victorian spa town surrounded by a beautiful rural district that offers a wide range of activities to suit every type of person. If you’re new to the area, here are some of the fantastic things you can expect to enjoy, right on your doorstep.

Bettys Tea Room

You’ll spot the queue before you spot the tea room, but this only proves how good Bettys tea room really is! Plus, you can always beat the queues by booking in advance.

Bettys tea room is owned by Taylor’s of Harrogate (you may know them as the people behind Yorkshire Tea) and has been a staple of the town’s community for over 100 years, first opening its doors in 1919. It’s a Harrogate (and Yorkshire!) institution.

Bettys tea room boasts the best afternoon tea, chocolates and baked treats that Yorkshire has to offer. A traditional fusion of British and Swiss cuisine, you can spend an afternoon sipping tea and enjoying the scrumptious sandwiches, baked cakes, scones and pastries on offer.

Approximate distance from The Pastures: 2 miles

Montpellier Quarter

Arguably one of the most attractive places to visit in Harrogate, the Montpellier Quarter offers visitors and residents views of restored 19th-century buildings that are now home to art galleries, antique shops, fashion boutiques, cafes and restaurants. A perfect supplement to the upmarket shopping streets around the town.

Approximate distance from The Pastures: 2 miles

The Stray

The Stray is a long area of beautiful public parkland in the heart of Harrogate; a stunning 200 acres of contiguous open land that links the town’s famous curative springs and wells. Take a walk along The Stray’s tree-lined esplanades or enjoy time with the family in the open green.

As a Harrogate resident, you’ll quickly discover just how much green space Harrogate has to offer. Within the town centre, you’ll also find Prospect Gardens and Valley Gardens, 17 acres of English Heritage Grade II listed parkland and heritage monuments. Hosting even more decorated park land, Harrogate is filled with lovely floral arrangements and opportunities to relax and watch the world go by.

Approximate distance from The Pastures: 3 miles

Ripley Castle

Looking for another remarkable piece of history? Look no further than the village of Ripley. Here lies a Grade I listed, 14th-century castle and grounds for you to explore.

Stroll through the spectacular gardens, take in the smells of the fragrant flowers and views across the lake. Guided tours of the castle are available in the warmer months for you to discover this historical marvel, right on your doorstep. And when you’re done, relax in the on-site cafe with some delicious coffee and cake.

Approximate distance from The Pastures: 3 miles

 

Knaresborough

A fusion of mediaeval and Victorian architecture and just a short drive from Harrogate, Knaresborough offers stunning views alongside a warren of cliffside streets and structures. Visitors are welcomed, most notably, by the railway viaduct that stretches across the valley and the river Nidd.

Enjoy a spring or summer lunch or ice cream by the river, a calming boat ride under the viaduct or explore the depths of Mother Shipton’s Cave with the family. It’s always a fantastic day out in Knaresborough.

Approximate distance from The Pastures: 5 miles

Just the beginning

Hopefully, this is just a small part of the fantastic start to your new home at The Pastures. There are plenty more places to explore in the local area and discovering them for yourself is all part of the fun.

For more information on life at The Pastures, download a brochure today.

Newett Homes – Residential Developer of the Year

We are delighted to announce that Newett Homes has won Residential Developer of the Year at The Yorkshires. Residential Real Estate Awards last week. We were shortlisted alongside Beal Homes and Moda Living. The event on Thursday 13th October was organised by Yorkshire Children’s Charity and a grand total of £151,693 was raised on the night by everyone involved.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our team for their incredible hard work over the last year!

Land acquired for new development at Fenay Bridge

As we continue to grow our portfolio of residential schemes, we’re pleased to have acquired the land for our next development at Fenay Bridge. 

The site will be home to The Heath with space for 68 units. 

A short distance from Huddersfield, the Newett Homes development at Fenay Bridge is once again surrounded by beautiful countryside with amazing views and the typical and convenient amenities you’d expect, right around the corner; schools, shops, GP and transport links. 

Construction begins in 2023. Follow our socials for all the updates.

How to live more sustainably at home

We all have a part to play in preserving our planet and protecting the environment. At Newett Homes, we build new houses fit for modern living, meaning they’re more efficient, use less energy and create fewer emissions. We’re already fitting some of our homes with air source heat pumps which are a much more efficient alternative to central heating.

Once you’ve moved into your new Newett Home, with the above benefits, you yourself can begin to implement even more sustainable practices at home.

Collect rainwater

Whilst we wouldn’t recommend drinking the rainwater, collecting it can reduce the amount of tap water you use for other purposes, such as watering plants in the garden, a bird bath or for cleaning. As an added bonus, it’s free to use!

Growing your own fruit and vegetables

Another use for that rainwater you’re now collecting. By dedicating a small space in your home or garden, you can begin to grow your own foods. Outdoors, you can grow anything from tomatoes, strawberries or even begin an apple tree. Indoors is also suitable for small plants such as chilli peppers or herbs.

Use up your leftovers

Don’t throw food away. Save up your unused and leftover food (if safe to do so) and get creative in the kitchen. If you’re a family, it’s a great way to get the children involved. You could even create a recipe book, adding a new entry each time you use the leftovers.

This not only saves food from going to waste, but it saves you money and means visiting the supermarket less often, thereby reducing the potential for carbon emissions.

Dry your clothes outside

Most people, where possible, do this already. However, nowadays, it’s extremely tempting to throw those difficult pieces of clothing straight into the dryer. If you want to be more sustainable, try avoid using the dryer if possible, even in winter.

When winter comes around you can still dry your clothes, just inside. There is a range of clothes hangers you can buy for a fraction of the cost and with fewer emissions. If you must use the dryer, ​​ensure the filter is cleaned regularly for efficiency and lower energy consumption.

Create a compost heap

Useful for gardening and growing those vegetables, a good compost heap is another sustainable way to live. By putting food waste such as fruit and vegetables into the compost heap, they’ll eventually decompose and provide your soil with nutrients. This will keep your garden healthy and avoid unnecessary landfill collections.

Upcycle furniture

Instead of buying new, you can acquire furniture second-hand and upcycle it the way you want. You can find furniture ideal for upcycling either at charity shops, from friends or even online from people who are looking to give it away.

This can be a fun and challenging experience that adds character to your home and gives you a sense of achievement. Not only that, but you’re helping to reduce waste and reducing emissions.

Don an extra layer of clothing

With great insulation, you’ll be surprised how warm your house can be in the colder months of the year. However, if you do feel the cold, always look for an extra layer of clothing first before turning the heating on. Again, this saves money, energy and the environment.

Myths about new homes busted

There are a number of misconceptions about new build homes that people seem to believe without truly researching for themselves. Allow us to save you a bit of time as we dispel some common myths about new build homes.

Myth 1 – New build homes are more expensive

This can be hard to quantify especially when there are a number of factors that can affect pricing. It depends on location, size, interior and more, not to mention the housing market is ever-changing.

However, this myth that all new build homes are more expensive is a large misconception. Upfront costs can sometimes appear more expensive than buying a pre-owned home (like for like) however, you’re very likely to incur additional costs after the sale. Whether that’s a roof repair, boiler replacement, knocking down walls or simply changing the interior to your desired specification – it all adds up. Rather than make changes later, you can get a Newett Home built exactly how you want it.
Remember that with a pre-owned home, you don’t know the full history of the house and what problems could be lurking within the walls.

At Newett Homes, we complete our homes to a very high standard and specification. Whilst our competitors charge extra for the same level of specification, we believe that it should be included in your new property without costing you more – others may charge as much as £15,000 extra.

In addition to our high-quality build, all Newett Homes come with a 2-year guarantee and a 10-year structural warranty. If anything happened to a pre-owned home, this would have to be covered by you or your insurance.

Myth 2 – New homes are bad for the environment

Some people believe that the materials needed to build new homes are harmful to the environment, but nowadays, this is not always the case if done correctly.
Newett Homes is committed to building homes that are in line with current environmental standards, working with the Environment Agency at the planning stage. Older homes were not built with the environment in mind and therefore sometimes do not meet these new standards. They also contain outdated appliances, old (and potentially retrofitted) insulation and can be harder to heat up during the winter. All of this requires extra energy and as a result, has a larger impact on the environment.
With a house designed to be greener, you can not only save energy but save money too. For example, we’re installing air source heat pumps in some of our homes which lower running costs, require less maintenance, reduce carbon emissions and last longer.

Myth 3 – Modern homes lack personality

It’s true, to an extent, that older homes have their own unique character. But this is because of the era they were built in and because they’re a rarity.

This doesn’t mean that a new home can’t have character too. After all, they can be built to your specifications, so why settle for something you partially like when you can have something you love 100%?

When it comes to design, Newett Homes combines traditional detailing with contemporary design and innovative architecture with skilled craftsmanship to give your house character for the modern era. This is achieved through stunning brick detailing, high-quality artstone plinths, headers and cills, wide bargeboards, decorative ridgework, ornate finials and more.

Myth 4 – New homes are built in the middle of nowhere

A common misconception about new build home developments is that they’re built in the middle of nowhere on the cheapest land possible. We can’t speak for other developers, but for Newett Homes this is certainly not the case.

We hand-pick all of our sought-after locations with due consideration for the amenities and transport links in the area. We always aim to give our customers the best of all worlds – access to the countryside, village life, towns and cities. Simply take a look at some of our recently completed developments and you’ll see. We’re passionate about creating a community within our developments and integrating them into the rest of the area.

We hope we’ve managed to dispel any concerns or misconceptions you have about new build properties and perhaps even consider a new build home as a viable option for you.

Our sales team are always on hand to answer any questions you might have about our new build homes across Yorkshire. Call us on 01937 543 599 or visit our contact page to get in touch.