Design Buy Build Issue 38 2019 | Page 35

The Government’s Help to Buy scheme is available to use when purchasing a custom build home, giving first-time buyers access to their perfect home from the outset. Rather than using their first home as a way to get on the property ladder, first-time buyers are given the opportunity to create a long-term home that can grow with them. Graven Hill, a self-build and custom new build housing development in Bicester, has embraced the benefits that custom building has to offer. Here, creating a custom build new home begins with picking a site. People can then choose the house and layout, and floorplans are allocated to plots in keeping with their size. In comparison to other new build homes, custom building gives people control over the layout of the property and the all-important finishes, allowing the rest to be left to professionals. Completion time varies from property to property, as houses can be bought at different stages. Generally, the earlier a purchaser gets involved in the process, the more options they have. However, some custom builds can be completed in just a matter of months. Building houses of quality rather than quantity could be the solution to the housing crisis in the long run. 35 The accessibility and individuality of custom builds means that no- one is cut off from owning a home they want to live in for many years. Instead of hopping from house to house, people can grow in a home they’ve designed for themselves. For more information visit www.gravenhill.co.uk