The home-buying process

From the moment you step into a Welcome Centre, our people are ready to listen. You should feel comfortable to come in and chat, and ask as many questions as you like, knowing that we’re truly interested in finding the best home to suit your needs. We know how important it is to make your home-buying journey enjoyable, exciting and tailored to you – just as it should be.

Ready to reserve? When you've chosen your home, we'll send you out an introduction to the First AML platform. This easy-to-use system will help you complete an ID check and upload some required documents ahead of reservation. This process keeps your journey moving, and the sooner you fire through these steps, the closer you'll be to new keys day! There will be a cost per person for the ID check, and you will also pay an initial reservation fee. Then it's time to complete the Bellway Customer Checklist - we'll guide you through some exciting details like floorplans and site layout. It's time to dial up the excitement!

Time for a bit of admin. You should confirm an appointment date with your mortgage advisor within 24 hours of making your reservation. Your advisor should then submit a full application with your preferred lender within seven days of making your reservation. If applicable, your survey fee will also need to be paid at this point.

Stay with us, excitement is around the corner! The next step is to instruct a solicitor to act on your behalf. We recommend doing this within 48 hours of making your reservation so you can avoid any delays and keep things moving smoothly. Don’t have a solicitor in mind? Make sure to choose carefully, using recommendations where possible. Remember to keep in touch with your solicitor throughout the buying process.

Shortly after reserving you will be offered the unique opportunity to meet the site or assistant site manager who is responsible for building your new home. We’ve got decades of knowledge and the right people in the right seats – whether that’s by a desk or on a digger – so this is a great chance to see behind the bricks and mortar and have all your questions answered by one of our experts.

Please note: While every effort will be made to honour this step of your home-buying journey, we cannot guarantee this appointment will take place as a suitable time must be agreed by both parties and can be subject to the build stage of your home when you reserve.

Searches are an essential part of the home-buying process. They are used to ensure that there aren’t any issues you need to be aware of before you take ownership of your new home. Your solicitor will advise you which searches need to take place, and ensure that they are carried out in a timely manner. Any searches should be paid for in the week following reservation to avoid potential delays, and the conveyancing process will then begin.

Once searches have been carried out, your solicitor may raise enquiries about the plot, or property. These will then be answered by our team and a report will be sent to you. You should read this report and confirm to your solicitor that you are happy with the content within 48 hours.

Welcome to the personalisation station. We know that no two homes should feel the same so, dependent on build stage at point of reservation, you can call the team to get your Choices and Additions appointment in the diary. This is a chance to really begin visualising your new home, designed to feel like home from day one.

While the exciting stuff is happening, a survey will be carried out on your new home on behalf of your mortgage provider. This is an expert inspection of your property's condition, giving you full peace of mind before you move.

At this point, your mortgage offer will be issued to you and your solicitor for sign off. If this hasn’t been received within a week of the survey, please contact your mortgage advisor. Our recommendation is to return your signed paperwork within 48 hours of receipt to keep those wheels turning.

It’s time to explore the great indoors! Once your new home approaches the pre-plaster stage your sales advisor will be in touch to offer another chance to meet the talented team putting it all together, this time inside your home. Our people will demonstrate the first fix electrics and plumbing, and you can check out those all-important Additions. You will be provided with a copy of the Bellway Homecare booklet, giving you some light reading to scratch the itch ahead of completion day. For pre-plaster customer visits, protective clothing and equipment will be provided for your health and safety.

That new-home smell is right around the corner! You may have been given a moving-in date on exchange of contracts if the property is finished. If not, once the property is build complete and has passed all our quality checks, we will serve your solicitors with a legal notice to complete. This gives you 14 days to arrange to complete on the property.

When you return your signed contracts, you will also need to pay your deposit. Ensure this is with your solicitor at least 48 hours before the exchange deadline.

There’s no need to hide your excitement, this one’s a biggie! When your home has passed its final quality inspection, you'll be invited for a full tour. You’ll be able to take a closer look at your new home and have a first-hand demonstration of how essential parts of the property work, including any appliances. A copy of the New Homes Quality Board pre-completion checklist is available in the 'Documents' tab on Your Bellway, but if you require a hard copy please speak to your sales advisor. You can complete this checklist yourself or, in line with the New Homes Quality Code, should you wish to you may bring along a qualified inspector to this appointment, who can then carry out an in-depth check on your behalf.

Roll out the new carpet – you made it to move-in day! The minute we’re ready to hand over the keys – as soon as the completion funds have been received by our solicitors – we’ll be on the phone inviting you down to your new neighbourhood. The team will be on-hand for anything you need on move-in day to make it a smooth experience, even if all you need is someone to celebrate with!

Congratulations – it’s time to unpack, relax, and enjoy your beautiful new Bellway home. Our sales advisor and site manager will pop in and visit you three days after you move in, and our site manager will stop by again seven days later. You will then be supported by our friendly customer care team after a fortnight, in most cases, who will take care of any future concerns and answer any questions you might have. The home-buying journey may be over, but the story in your brand-new home is just beginning.