There are many good things about a brand new home, but among the best are the options they provide for home-working.
Many of us are now working from home (WFH) all the time or at least some of the time, making a home office or other working space more important than ever.
Homebuilders have been responding to the changing needs of homebuyers by offering a range of innovative and quirky WFH opportunities.
And there are schemes available to help first-time buyers purchase new-build homes.
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If you’re plotting your next move, here’s why a new-build might be perfect for you.
Garden pods
Opting for a high-rise development with communal gardens doesn’t mean you can’t fulfil your dream of a working-from-home office pod with a bit of greenery to look out upon.
Build-to-rent developer Quintain Living has installed working from home sheds outside for residents at Canada Gardens in Wembley Park.
Better still, residents of the neighbouring The Robinson building can work from one of three custom-built campervans installed on the roof.
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Communal working hubs
Living in a one or two-bedroom flat in an apartment block doesn’t have to be a disadvantage when it comes to working from home.
In fact, many developers are now building fantastic co-working spaces into developments.
Bellway London has already introduced work hubs at some of its apartment developments.
At Maybrey Works, Sydenham and Beckton Parkside, Beckton, residents will have work facilities with meeting and conference rooms, as well as private booths for phonecalls.
Connectivity
As more of us work or study from home at the same time, having a strong internet connection is crucial.
Many homehunters are searching for a secure WiFi connection as well as their dream country location.
Opting for a new-build means your new home will be built with modern working (and connectivity) in mind. It might even be future-proofed for the arrival of faster WiFi speeds.
David Wilson Homes has pledged to offer fibre internet connection and 18 different internet service providers at its future developments.
Davidsons Homes provides two superfast broadband options at all developments as well as optional CAT 5 and CAT 6 cabling to be installed to data points in the home.
Bellway, which includes co-working spaces in its apartment buildings, is supplying communal workspaces with hyperoptic broadband.
Customisation
Buying a new-build home off-plan (before it has been built) comes with the added benefit of a range of customisable options.
Customisation can give buyers choice over fixtures, fittings and, sometimes even layouts.
You can make sure the plug sockets you need for home-working are in the right location, such as on the breakfast bar if you plan to work from your kitchen.
In some cases, you can actually influence the position or size of certain rooms. You might opt for one large bedroom and a small study, rather than two double-bedrooms.
A note of caution: it’s usually only possible to customise new-builds if you get in early when a development comes up for sale.
Versatility
Having a space that can change function as you need it can often be the difference between a home that feels cluttered and one that feels efficient and effective.
There might be space, for example, to put a desk in the bedroom. But how does that make you feel when bedtime rolls around and the pile of unfinished work is in your sightline?
David Wilson Homes has come up with a wardrobe package for its new-builds as a result of this, offering a space-saving wardrobe which can be turned into a fold-out desk.
Energy efficiency
Count how many times you boil the kettle or flush the loo in one day.
Working from home can significantly increase the amount of energy your home uses through electricity and heating. This will increase the cost of your bills.
However, new-build homes can be built to high eco-friendly standards which will not only save residents on the cost of their energy usage, but will help protect the planet, too.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) figures show 83% of new-builds have an energy efficiency rating of ‘A’ or ‘B’ on the Energy Performance Certificate scale. By contrast, only 3% of existing homes were awarded either ‘A’ or ‘B.’
New-builds can benefit from energy-efficient features such as condensing boilers, double (or triple) glazing, increased insulation and solar panels.
Plus, the latest energy-efficient appliances and heating helps to keep energy bills low.
Sound-proofing
Having to regularly listen to your partner or child talk to their colleagues or peers on Zoom is enough to make anyone want to move house.
Another great thing about new-build homes is modern buildings have to adhere to Part E (Resistance to Sound) of the Building Regulations.
This deals both with protection from noise from neighbours in adjoining buildings and, crucially, sound transmission within the home itself.
In a nutshell, that means new-build homes should be soundproofed to 45 decibels internally. And that's more than enough to block out the sound of people talking, watching TV or playing music.