FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

'Your comprehensive guide to purchasing a new home with Springfield Properties'

Purchasing a Springfield Home

• Selecting a development, house type and plot.
• Your choices and specifications.
• What is a pre-handover meeting?
• What is involved at the final handover stage?

Making a Purchase

• How much deposit/reservation fee will I have to pay?
• Is my deposit/reservation fee refundable?
• Can I reserve a property before it is released for sale?
• Is there an additional reservation list available in case of cancellations?
• Do I need to make an appointment to visit a member of the sales team?
• When do I officially own my new home?
• Do we need to make an appointment to visit a show home?
• Can I visit my new home during its construction?

Other factors to consider

• How do I find a solicitor?
• Is there an easy way to contact all the organizations which need to know my change of address?
• Where can I get advice on a mortgage?
• What are 'Common Areas' within my development?
• What is Stamp Duty?
• What is a valuation survey?

PURCHASING A SPRINGFIELD HOME

• Selecting a development, house type and plot - Springfield builds new homes across Moray and the North East of Scotland. To view our current developments you can visit the development section of our website.
  
  To view our various house types then please feel free to visit our house design section which will show you illustrations, floor plan layouts and accommodation measurements for each of our unique house designs.
  
  Once you have made a decision on which development and house type you would like, the next stage is to decide which specific plot you would like. A comprehensive and detailed site plan can be found in our developments section on our website.
  Alternatively, you can call our Elgin office and request a sales pack to be posted to you which will contain all of the above mentioned information.
  
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• Your choices and specifications - Springfields vision is 'your home…your choice…' therefore we aim to finish your home to your individual choice and specification. Standard specifications in your new home include:
  

• TV & BT points to all public rooms and bedrooms.
• Cornice to all rooms.
• All timber frame panels constructed of 45x95 timber @ 400mm centres.
• Tiling to kitchen, bathrooms and utility.
• White finishing's and panel doors throughout.
  
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• What aspects of my new home do I get to choose? - We want you to feel at home in your chosen house right from the start, and so, while the basic design of the house is ours, styling decisions are yours. All sanitary ware and the style and layout of your kitchen are choices for you to make. Practical aspects, such as location of sockets and radiators, are up to you. At each step of the styling process, our experienced and dedicated staff and kitchen and bathroom specialists are on hand to guide you through the possibilities.
  
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• What is a pre handover meeting? - The pre-handover is carried out 7 days prior to the client’s handover/settlement date. The sales team will contact you to arrange a suitable time for this to take place. You will have the opportunity to have a look around the property to identify any snagging issues. We adhere to NHBC guidelines when deciding what snagging items are acceptable and will endeavour to rectify as many defects from the list as possible. We will go through the Handover pack with you which has details of the gas and electricity supplier, useful telephone numbers list, NHBC guidebook & NHBC Health & Safety Card.
  
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• What is involved at the final handover stage? - Once again, the sales team will contact you to arrange a suitable time for the handover. At the handover we ask you to go through your pre-handover list and check that all of the items identified have been actioned to your satisfaction. Once confirmation has been received from our Accounts department that the funds for the property have been received, we also require payment for any additional costs, this is usually paid by cheque on the day to a member of the sales team. Gas and electricity meter readings are then taken and the keys handed over to you for your new home.
  
  The client is then introduced to our After Sales Manager who will go into detail about the guarantees and warranty periods provided and advise you on how to ‘run in’ your new home.
  
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MAKING A PURCHASE

• How much deposit/reservation fee will I have to pay? -  In order to reserve a house, a reservation fee of £250 is required to take the property off the market.  We then ask that your solicitor concludes missives within 14 days from the date of reservation.  On conclusion of missives a deposit of £2,000 is required.  This reservation fee and deposit will be deducted from the price of your property at settlement.
  
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• Is my deposit/reservation fee refundable? - The reservation fee and deposit are both non refundable at any stage of the process.
  
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• Can I reserve a property before it is released for sale? - No. You cannot reserve a property before it is released for sale. Please keep in contact with our sales department for release dates and check our website for new developments.
  
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• Is there an additional reservation list available in case of cancellations? - Cancellations occur in rare circumstances, however if you wish to be kept informed of any cancellations then please contact our sales team on 01343 552550.
  
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• Do I need to make an appointment to visit a member of the sales team? - Please call our Elgin office if you have any questions regarding our developments. However, if you wish to meet with our sales team then please call to arrange an appointment.
  
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• Do we need to make an appointment to visit the show home? - No. No appointment is necessary to view our show home. The Letterfourie show home in Buckie is open Wednesday – Sunday 12pm to 5pm. For any further information please call our office.
  
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• When do I officially own my new home? - You will officially own your new property when legal settlement occurs and your mortgage funds have been transferred and you will then meet with the sales team for your handover where you will receive the keys to your new home.
  
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• Can I visit my new home while construction is still taking place? - No unfortunately not. No visits to your home are permitted during construction due to health and safety restrictions.
  
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OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER

• How do I find a solicitor? - Most of our clients are usually recommended a solicitor by either family or friends, or you could refer to the list of local solicitors below. It is important to ensure your chosen conveyancing solicitor, is approved by the Law Society. You can either check this at your Town Hall or Citizen's Advice Bureau, or visit www.solicitors-online.com.
  
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• Is there an easy way to contact all the organizations which need to know my change of address? - There’s a great free tool created in association with The Royal Mail which makes it easy to make all those contacts - www.iammoving.com
  
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• Where can I get advice on a mortgage? - Mortgage advice can be sought from independent mortgage advisors, banks or building societies. Many can even offer initial mortgage advice over the phone.
  
  Regardless of your lender, your chosen financial representative is bound by law to give the best advice for your needs. They must operate within the terms of the Financial Services Act (FSA) whether independent or tied. Further information and advice can be found at www.fsa.gov.uk. All financial representatives are bound by law to give the best advice for your needs. They must operate within the terms of the Financial Services Act (FSA) whether independent or tied. Further information and advice can be found at www.fsa.gov.uk.
  
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• What are 'Common Areas' within my development? - These are areas within a development which can include play parks and landscaped areas. Springfield has an appointed Managing Agent called Screenautumn that deals with the upkeep of these areas.
  
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• What is Stamp Duty - This is a government tax based on the purchase price of the property and is calculated as follows:
  
  Up to £125,000 – Nil
  Over £125,000 to £250,000 1% or Nil for first time buyers
  Over £250,000 to £500,000 3%
  Over £500,000 4%
  
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• What is a Valuation Survey - A valuation survey is required by all mortgage lenders.  A surveyor will carry out a valuation survey to assess whether the proposed loan is less than the value of the house. In order to carry out the valuation the surveyor will require information on the price of the property and the amount that the client is looking to borrow from the lender.
  
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