Reserving your New Home

We know that reserving a new home is a big milestone, and we’re here to guide you through every step. As part of the reservation process, we will require you to be financially qualified by our trusted partner, The Mortgage Advice Bureau. As new build specialists, they ensure you are aware of the nuances of purchasing a new home and can offer you advice and guidance. Once qualified, you are able to use a broker or lender of your choice..

Types of Reservations

At Skipton Properties, we offer two types of reservations:

Standard Reservation – Your home is officially reserved for six weeks, and the legal process begins immediately.
Early Bird Reservation – If your chosen plot is not yet released and you are in a proceedable position, you may be able to secure it early. The legal process won’t start until we convert your reservation to a Standard one.

Your Sales Advisor will talk you through the legal process at your appointment, but we’ve outlined the key details below so you know what to expect.

Understanding the Legal Process

For Standard reservations, we require exchange within six weeks. If you’ve made an Early Bird reservation, we’ll let you know when the legal process needs to start and when your exchange period will begin.

If your home is still under construction, your reservation form will provide an anticipated completion window. These dates are indicative and subject to change, but we will keep you updated throughout the build process.

We provide estimated completion dates based on the following stages:

• Before foundations and ground floor are complete – We provide a calendar quarter for likely completion.
• Once the roof is completed and the home is weatherproof – We provide a month for likely completion.
• When the home is decorated, and all main services are connected – We provide a week for likely completion.

At your reservation appointment, we will go through the contract details as well as a full reservation checklist to help you make an informed decision on your purchase. Our sales advisors will answer any questions you may have.

The Reservation Process

Once you have reserved your home, we will pass your details to our solicitor, who will confirm everything with yours. If you don’t yet have a solicitor, we can provide a list of independent solicitors who are experienced in new-build purchases.

• Standard reservations require a £1,000 reservation fee, which may be partially refundable depending on your stage in the legal process.
• Early Bird reservations require a £150 fee, which is fully refundable if you decide not to proceed within 24 hours of your chosen plot being released for sale. After that, reasonable fees will be deducted.

Choosing a Solicitor & Preparing for Exchange

You are free to choose your own solicitor, but if you’d like additional support, we can provide a list of independent solicitors who are experienced in new-build purchases and have a strong understanding of our developments. Choosing a solicitor with new-build expertise can help ensure a smoother and more efficient process.

If you are applying for a mortgage, this will need to be applied for as soon as possible to ensure delays are not encountered. If you’re using our recommended financial advisor, they will be on hand to guide you through the process. Any delays in applying for your mortgage may result in survey delays, which could impact your ability to meet your exchange deadline.

Please note that if you don’t exchange contracts by the due date, your home may be placed back on the market, and any agreed incentives may be withdrawn.

Final Preparations for Exchange

• Confirm funds with your solicitor and ensure you have factored in the 10% deposit required at legal exchange.
• This deposit must be transferred in advance, so we recommend checking the timing of your chosen transfer method to avoid any last-minute delays.

Your Home Buying Journey – Key Milestones

Your Sales Advisor will stay in touch throughout the process, providing updates on your home’s progress and guiding you through the legal steps. You’ll also be invited to visit the development at key stages:

✔ Selections Appointment – Personalise your home with your chosen finishes.
✔ Pre-Plaster Appointment – See behind the scenes before plastering begins.
✔ Pre-Exchange Appointment – If your home is viewable, we’ll invite you to take a look.
✔ Pre-Completion Appointment – Walk through your home and check everything before move-in day.
✔ Completion – The big day when you collect your keys and step inside your new home!

For safety reasons, we kindly ask that you book an appointment before visiting your home under construction. This ensures your Sales Advisor can answer any questions and provide a safe, guided tour of your home and the development.