Your moving journey

First and foremost, decide your budget. To do that, we have a mortgage calculator tool. (Quick tip: don’t forget to keep a little pot of money aside in case there are other things you need to pay for along the way.)

To help with the financial side of things, we also offer help to buy schemes, loans and part exchanges. You can find out about our different ways to buy here.

When you reserve your home with us it’ll be removed from sale and from this point on, no one else can it. We will then provide you with a “provisional” legal completion date.

We call it a provisional date because there are things beyond our direct control that can affect the construction process like materials not being available or unexpected delays caused by bad weather.

We’ll do our best to keep to this date, and your sales consultant will be in touch on a regular basis. At this point, we’ll also need you to sign a reservation form to confirm the deal, make a note of any extras, choices, and go through the reservation checklist.

Please make sure any verbal communication is always in writing – just to prevent confusion.

A solicitor or licensed conveyancer will normally be required to handle the legal aspects of the purchase. This involves carrying out local authority and land registry searches, explaining the details of the contract to you, calling down the funds from the lender (if required) and exchanging and legally completing your purchase.

Most firms will:

• Provide you with a detailed estimate of all the costs
• Need a written confirmation that they’re acting on your behalf
• Require full details of your purchase, including any mortgage arrangements, together with the agreed date for the exchange of contracts

Once your solicitor has received all the purchase-related documents, you’ll be asked to sign a legally binding contract. Contracts will then be exchanged, and the legal completion will be in line with the terms of contract. If you feel you need any further guidance or explanations of this process, remember that your solicitor is there to answer any questions.

The key to a successful and stress-free move is to be well prepared. We hope the following checklist will help:

• Book a removals company
• Notify utility companies (e.g. electricity, gas, water, telephone and cable/Sky) that you’re leaving your current home and  require a service at your new address
• Notify important business/domestic and financial/personal services of your change of address
• Send off change of address cards. Your full postal address will be available from our sales consultant
• Pack all valuable personal, domestic, and business documents and items for safekeeping
• Arrange for a television licence, transfer phone calls and redirect your post

The day you’ve been waiting for: moving day! To save any waiting at the property on the day, here are a few things to note:

• Ask your solicitor to find out the approximate time your keys will be available.
• Check with your solicitor that legal completion has taken place.
  Legal completion has to take place the day before you move in (end of play, at the latest). This is essential if you want early access to your new home. Please note there can be delays on a Friday or last day of the month as these are popular days for completions. Banks/solicitors can become very busy, slowing the transfer of funds.
• Bear in mind that the keys to your new home won’t be released until the balance has been paid in full to St. Modwen Homes solicitor’s account.
• Remember that St. Modwen Homes will not allow personal belongings or the installation of your own carpets/flooring prior to legal completion.
• Once we have received the necessary financial instructions from our solicitors, your sales consultant will give you the keys.

You’ll need to check all sanitary ware, windows, fixtures and fittings at the time to report any defects. Please make sure you do this before moving any personal goods or furniture into your home.

Please note, St. Modwen Homes can’t take responsibility for damage that occurs after handover i.e. to worktops, sanitary ware, windows, flooring/carpets etc.

Your sales consultant will also take the meter readings and forward them to the utility suppliers for the development.

At this point, we’ll also arrange a 7-day courtesy visit to be carried out by our site manager and sales consultant.

That’s it. All done. Welcome home!