Off-plan advice for aspiring homeowners

06-Feb-2006

New and detailed advice is now available for first time buyers considering going down the off-plan property route.

For our first time buyers guide to buying a property click here

A number of potential buyers look to off-plan buying as a way of getting on the first rung of the property ladder and a new guide has been released to ensure that they are aware of the pros and cons of the process.

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Produced by New Build Inspections (NBI), the information warns buyers of the tricks used by developers to make properties seem perfect, helping them to avoid entering into any misleading agreements, reports TheMoveChannel.com.

Show homes are often used to sell off-plan properties, according to the guide, with sellers using tricks such as leaving lights on to create the impression of natural light or removing internal doors to maximise space.

"A significant number of owners of properties we inspect are disappointed their home is pale reflection of the show homes that they are shown," explained NBI director Catriona Bright."

"This is not only in terms of the number of snagging defects, but in areas such as the specification, landscaping and even the size."

Other tricks for first time buyers to watch out for include the additional feeling of space created by mirrors and smaller proportioned furniture, while buyers are advised to get detailed plans of the potential property.

Click here to see what properties are on the market in your area – whether you buy alone or with others

For advice on first time buyer mortgages or to find out how much you can borrow and how much it will cost you, from the UK’s leading High Street Brokers, Bradford and Bingley, click here

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