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Buying Guide

Buying a new home is an exciting time as you prepare to start a new chapter in your own story; rest assured we are here to help you every step of the way.

To support you through your purchasing journey, we have created this Buying Guide containing some of the information you need to know for securing your dream Story home.

Visit our show homes that are anything but standard.

There’s nothing quite like stepping into a Story show home to envisage how you might live in one of our beautiful homes. Explore our range of 2, 3, 4 & 5-bedroom house types and find the nearest show home to you.

Find your home

Ways to buy

Whether you are a first time buyer, moving home, downsizing or investing, there are a range of ways to buy your dream Story home. You can find out more about our schemes below. Please speak to the Sales Executive on your development of interest to find out which schemes are available on specific plots.

Home Move

With our Home Move scheme you can reserve your Story home and we will help to sell your current property.

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Part Exchange

With Part Exchange we could be your guaranteed buyer enabling you to reserve a Story home.

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Mortgage Assist

We’ll cover up to one whole year of your mortgage with our Mortgage Assist scheme.

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Early bird

Reserve your dream Story home that has not yet been officially released for sale with our Early Bird scheme.

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Own New Rate Reducer

Providing homebuyers with lower monthly mortgage payments for the initial period.

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Part Exchange Plus

Secure the best price for your existing property then secure your new dream Story home.

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Come prepared

In order to reserve a Story home, you must be in a proceedable position. This means that you will be one or more of the below:

  • Have your current home under offer with a complete chain
  • Be financially qualified with a decision in principle for the purchase price
  • Have the funds to proceed without selling your current home

Reservation

When you make the exciting decision to proceed with purchasing a Story home, our Sales Executive will prepare a Reservation Agreement for your chosen property. We will also require a £1,000 deposit. Click the button below to find out more about the reservation process.

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Get your house in order

Within 48 hours of reserving your dream plot, you’ll need to instruct a conveyancer to manage the purchase of your new home. You should also arrange your finances and if you require a mortgage, you should contact your mortgage lender or advisor to proceed with your mortgage application. Click the button below for more information on what you need to do after reserving your new home.

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Customer-at-kitchen-island-in-The-Hewson-Story-home

Peace of mind

Our reputation is firmly built on the quality of our exceptional homes and our high standards of customer service. Before you move in, you’ll be given a comprehensive ‘Home Information File’ that explains everything about your new home and what you can expect from our Customer Aftercare team.

Street scene at Highfields in Gateshead
Customers outside a Story home with the French doors open

Warranty

Our homes come with the 10-year NHBC Buildmark policy which includes deposit protection from exchange of contracts. After legal completion you will be covered by a two-year builder warranty directly with us, and then eight years of structural defects insurance cover from the NHBC.

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Consumer Code

The Consumer Code is in place to ensure that the buyer of a new build home is protected through each stage of their home buying journey, from pre-contract to home ownership.

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Let’s make it official

Exchange of Contracts (Conclusion of missives in Scotland)

This is the point where contracts are exchanged by our solicitor and your conveyancer, and our agreement to sell the house to you becomes legally binding. Generally, you have four to six weeks from reservation to exchange contracts for your new home.

The contract will be prepared by our solicitor and passed to your conveyancer who is responsible for advising you of its contents. You will also be required to pay the agreed deposit. Your conveyancer will advise you on the importance of the timing of the exchange of contracts in relation to any property you may be selling.

Specification and choices

Depending on the build stage of the home you have reserved, you can start thinking about adding that personal touch. With our wide range of stylish kitchen cupboards, worktops and Porcelanosa bathroom tiles, as well as an array of upgrades and optional extras, you can really make your new home your own.

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Quality checks and home demo

Up to two weeks before your legal completion date you will be invited to attend a new home demonstration led by your Sales Executive and Site Manager. This will last around one to two hours, and it is very important you make time to attend this. You will be taken through a comprehensive induction process, highlighting important features about your new home and how to maintain it.

We advise that only the purchasers attend the home demonstration and that children, other family members and pets are not present, as there is a lot of information to take in.

Get the keys

The day you’ve been waiting for. Once you’ve legally completed, it’s time to collect the keys to your brand-new Story home. Click the button below to find about legal completion and moving into your new home.

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I can't fault the experience we've had, and continue to have. It doesn't end when you pick up the key, it certainly doesn't.

Customer support

Our expert support doesn’t end when we hand over the keys. The Site Manager will carry out courtesy calls at 7 days and 21 days to see how you’re settling in and resolve any issues or snags. Following this, our Customer Aftercare team provide dedicated and responsive aftercare for two years after buying your Story home, including an out of hours service, in addition to your 10-year build warranty.

  • 7 day courtesy call
  • 21 day courtesy call
  • 2 years of Customer Aftercare support
  • 10-year NHBC Buildmark policy

Read more about our Customer Aftercare service here.

*Please note that some of the terminology used on our website differs when purchasing a new home in Scotland; legal completion date is known as date of entry, exchange of contracts is known as conclusion of missives and legal completion is known as settlement.