From This is Moving
Which Home Builder?
When buying a new home, the home builder you select could make all the difference between your dream home and one of your nightmares.
First of all - make sure you will get a NHBC certificate - NHBC, (the National House-Building Council), is the standard setting body and leading warranty and insurance provider for new and newly converted homes in the UK. It will provide you with a 10 year guarantee on your property and will only offer this if the property meets is guidelines.
The NHBC offer a service on its website which allows you to double check the builder you are using is registered with them - http://www.nhbc.co.uk/Registeredbuilders/Buildercheck/
Secondly - ask around. If the site is large and perhaps in many phases ask previous residents what their property was like - have they had many problems? If so were they serious or easily solved by the builders? A site where they are still building when you move in often offers you quick repairs since the builders are there every day (although you will have to put up with noise and lots of mud!).
It might be worthwhile taking a walk round the site, a good site will stand out from one where builders are constantly patching things up.
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This is Moving