Steps to buying your new build
Right - let's do this! There are few things in life more exciting than buying a new home. It’s our job to make the whole process simple and get you moved in as soon as possible. Here are all the steps you’ll need to complete along the way…
From reserving to exchanging contracts
This is the beginning of the timeline of buying a new house. These first few steps put you on the path to owning your new home.
STEP 1: Sell your other property (if applicable)
If you have an existing property, selling it is the first stage in the process. Give your sales advisor the details of your selling agent or estate agent. They will then monitor your sale on a weekly basis to make sure everything runs smoothly.
STEP 2: Reserve your new Persimmon home
This is when the excitement really kicks in. You’ll get a fixed period of time during which you and Persimmon will try and exchange contracts for your purchase.
STEP 3: Instruct a solicitor or conveyancer
You must instruct a solicitor or conveyancer at the point of reservation. Your sales advisor will be happy to recommend a local independent company on request.
STEP 4: Arrange your mortgage (if applicable)
A free and independent Persimmon-recommended mortgage broker can help you with this. For more information, visit our Finance Hub for all our mortgage guides.
STEP 5 - Personalise your new home
A new build is a blank canvas waiting for you to add your own style. It’s a space that you can truly make your own, turning it from a house into your home. We can help to make it yours before you move in with colour schemes, fixtures, fighting and optional upgrades from our Finishing Touches range.
After reservation, your sales advisor will discuss the options with you and set up an appointment to confirm your choices.
STEP 6: Sign the contracts
You can put pen to paper as soon as your legal advisor has received your mortgage offer (if applicable), is happy with all the legal paperwork and has received satisfactory search results. Don't forget, if you're reliant on selling another property, you'll also need your buyers to be ready to proceed.
STEP 7: Pay the deposit
Just before you exchange contracts, your solicitor will ask you to pay your deposit. The contract deposit will be deducted from the amount due on the date you buy your new home.
STEP 8: Exchange contracts through your solicitor
We'll work with your legal advisor to exchange contracts before the reservation expiry. Legally binding, the contracts carefully set out our shared obligations.
If you're unable to exchange contracts there's no need to panic, simply get your solicitor to contact Persimmon's solicitor immediately to explain the reason and discuss the possibility of an extension.
STEP 9: Countdown to completion
When you make your reservation we’ll give you our best estimate for a build completion date (not to be confused with your legal completion date or moving-in date). We’ll always do our best to meet this estimated date and will keep you updated about the build progress, as well as any unavoidable delays.
From exchanging contracts to moving in
You’re almost there! These are the final steps in buying a new build where the legal process will be completed and you’ll be moving in.
STEP 1: Wait for your completion date
Once your new home is ready, Persimmon's solicitor can serve notice on your solicitor. You'll be given 14 calendar days to complete unless you've requested a shorter period in writing and we have agreed to that.
The date on which you legally complete and can move into your new home is called your completion date.
STEP 2: Visit your new home
We'll arrange for you to attend a New Home Demonstration with a fully trained member of our team. This is an opportunity to see your new home and learn how it works. It's essential that you attend this to ensure any issues can be discussed and resolved before you move in.
You'll also have an opportunity to conduct a Pre Completion Inspection at your own cost. This usually takes place 9 days before completion, with your site manager. You can either attend yourself or instruct your own suitable qualified professional to complete the inspection on your behalf.
STEP 3: Get ready to complete
Your solicitor will send you a statement letting you know the balance of any money you need to pay. If you have a mortgage, your mortgage lender may carry out a final inspection and require confirmation from the warranty provider that your new house has been constructed to their standards.
Your solicitor/conveyancer will provide you with your warranty and insurance certificate, schedule and details of cover. Your solicitor will then transfer the balance to Persimmon on the day that you legally complete.
STEP 4: Pick up the keys
Your sales advisor will check the completion monies have been sent to our solicitor before arranging a time for you to collect the keys.
STEP 5: Sign the key release form
You’ll be asked to sign a key release form that confirms the safe receipt of your keys as will also cover your final meter readings. There will also be one last quick check on the quality of your new house.
Congratulations! You can now move into your new Persimmon home.
First Few Days
Getting your keys and moving in might seem like the last stage of buying, but we are here to support you beyond this to ensure you’re completely happy.
Around the fifth day after moving in, our site management team will get in touch to arrange a post-occupation inspection, where they’ll review any issues or answer any questions you may have. We appreciate you’ll be busy settling in, so we can arrange to carry out this meeting between day 7 and day 28 at your convenience.
After the first two months have passed and all your queries have been resolved, our customer care team will take care of you for the rest of your two-year warranty. A personal customer care coordinator will call to introduce themselves and will act as your point of contact for any further issues.
Need more help with solicitors, contracts and completions?
If you’re buying your first house, all of the legal processes and terminology involved in the process will be brand new. At Persimmon, we demystify the process of buying, so if you need help understanding the role of solicitors, signing and exchanging contracts and what happens during completion, we’re here to help.
Persimmon is here to help
We’re committed to ensuring you receive outstanding customer service at every stage of your buying journey, backed by our Persimmon Pledge. Our dedicated customer care team will always be on hand to help, but you can find answers to many common questions about your housebuying journey in our handy guides:
