Five essential things to look for when buying a new home

Don't get caught out: the five things every new home buyer must check

Buying a new build should be exciting, not stressful.

But too many buyers get swept away by show homes and sales patter, only to regret it later.

After years of building quality homes, the team at Horgan Homes knows exactly what separates the wheat from the chaff.

1. Energy efficiency that actually works

Don't just look at the EPC rating on paper - dig into the details.

What heating system does it actually have? At St Helen's Place in Mareham Le Fen, every home comes with air source heat pumps and PV panels as standard.

That's not marketing fluff - that's real technology that will keep your bills manageable for decades.

Ask about specific systems, not just broad promises about "energy efficiency."

2. Build quality you can see and touch

Show homes are styled to perfection, but what about the actual build quality?

Look at the fixtures and fittings that come as standard - are they names you recognise?

Horgan Homes includes Samsung integrated appliances and luxury Minoli tiling because quality matters.

Check door handles, tap finishes, window quality.

If they're cutting corners on what you can see, what are they doing where you can't?

3. Warranties that actually protect you

A good warranty isn't just about length - it's about who stands behind it and how comprehensive it is.

Make sure you understand exactly what's covered and for how long.

When Horgan Homes was named best small housebuilder in the UK at the 2023 WhatHouse? Awards, it wasn't just for show homes - it was for delivering quality that buyers can rely on long after they've moved in.

4. Smart design for real life

Walk through and ask yourself: does this actually work for how people live?

Can you picture your daily routine flowing naturally?

Sophie Horgan, managing director of Horgan Homes, puts it perfectly: "A home should feel intuitive - you shouldn't have to think about where to put your coat or how the light falls in the kitchen."

The bungalows at St Helen's Place are designed around this principle - real homes for real life.

5. The builder's local reputation

Don't just check online reviews - ask around locally.

A builder's reputation in their home area tells you everything.

Horgan Homes uses local Lincolnshire workforce and has built their reputation home by home, family by family.

That local accountability matters when you need support after you've moved in.

Visit St Helen's Place at Mareham Le Fen to see how these principles work in practice - where attention to detail meets modern living standards - https://www.horganhomes.co.uk/sthelens-place