8 ways to find the best new home builders

Making the right decision when buying a house can make the difference between having a home you love and a home that turns out to be a nightmare. Here's how to choose the best new home builders.

Angela Kerr Director, Editor

Which one’s best; Barratts or Bovis? Taylor Wimpey or Redrow? Not all new home developers are the same; they vary in price, quality of workmanship, level of design, and after sales service. Here’s what to consider when looking for the best new home builders.

1. Check customer satisfaction ratings

A useful tool to help you find the best new home builders is the House Builders Federation’s annual National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey of people who have recently bought new build properties and which awards new build developers a rating of 1 to 5 stars. As well as looking at this year’s ratings, look at previous years too. If the rating has been falling over time, there may be cause for concern, while a record of 5 stars five years running demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction.

However, the scheme is optional and will not cover those firms which are not HBF members..

2. What about any best new home builders awards?

Builders also get site managers awards, which are often seen as the best test of how well their building sites are run. The best known are the NHBC Pride in the Job awards which claim to recognise site managers that achieve the highest standards in house building. Site managers are automatically entered into the competition if they are working on a site registered for NHBC warranty, which is likely to be the majority of sites in the UK.

3. Check reviews online

When looking for the best new home builders in the UK, always check reviews online. See what people are saying on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook and check reviews on TrustPilot. See how the new build developers respond to any complaints too.

HomeViews.com is another source of reviews. It is a dedicated reviews site for the property industry, offering detailed insights on house builders, developers, housing associations and management companies, as well as on specific developments. You can find ratings for particular house builders or housing developments covering a number of topics – including Management, Design, Location, Value and Facilities. You can also read reviews by residents and discover what they wish they’d known before moving in. The interactive map on the HomeViews homepage makes finding your area easy, and reviews on the site are carefully verified to make sure they are accurate and genuine.

When checking reviews, see what people say about after-sales service. New build homes usually have snagging issues after moving in so you’re highly likely to have dealings with the developer’s team post completion. So you should consider this carefully when looking for the best new home builders.

Homebuyers often feel ignored by their homebuilders after they move in and find it a constant struggle to get issues resolved. It is a big source of complaints and something we hear of regularly, see what questions new build owners wish they asked. While other new homeowners, find their new build developers have been incredibly helpful and sort snags out quickly. If you own a new build home and are struggling to get issues sorted, read our guide New build problems: How to fix them.

Buying a new build home? Get an independent snagging survey today and get your issues fixed by your new home builder

4. Don’t rely on the marketing material

All house builders have slickly produced marketing material, from brochures to videos, aimed at selling their homes. They will provide some useful information, but it is almost impossible to get a complete view of the quality of the end product. So don’t let the marketing material alone sway your opinion when you’re looking for the best new home builders.

5. Look for yourself

If the development you are considering has been partially completed, knock on the doors of your potential neighbours and ask how they feel about the quality of their home, how the builders treated them and how they found the process of buying. You might pick up some top tips for negotiating and things to watch for in your contract.

If you are buying off-plan or buying in the early phase of a new development, it is just as important to visit other sites that the home builder has under construction and quiz the neighbours. It may feel awkward but is likely to be the most informative part of choosing the right new home builder and finding the best quality new build home. For more tips, read Buying a new build home: essential guide and buying off-plan.

5. What is the new build resale value?

When you move on, the resale value of your new build home can make the difference between losing money on your home and making money. The best quality new build homes tend to resell at better prices than poorly built ones. So look at sold house prices when new and on resale on the developer’s other sites. However, do be aware that it’s fairly usual for new build house prices to dip in value in the first couple of years.

6. How does the builder treat green and shared spaces?

When looking for the best new home builders in the UK, you’ll want to consider any ongoing costs you’ll have to pay to maintain communal areas. Ask the new build developer how each of the communal spaces (hallways, gardens and parks) are owned and managed. You will then want your conveyancing solicitor to investigate these points further. Read more in our guide New build estate management fees explained.

See what your conveyancing solicitor should be looking out for when you buy a new build

7. What guarantee scheme does your developer offer?

Check which new build warranty the developer offers. A building or structural warranty is essentially an insurance policy for newly built homes. It’s almost impossible to sell a home in the UK without one as all mortgage lenders require a 10 year structural warranty. While it’s taken out by the developer, it’s there to protect the buyer (and your mortgage lender). The type of warranty typically covers you for defects that arise due to faults in the design, workmanship or materials that remain undiscovered at the time of practical completion on your new build.

NHBC is the most common in the UK but there are others. Read our guide New Build Warranties – What they do and don’t cover.

8. Do they offer any deals?

When you’re weighing up the best new home builders, you’ll want to factor in how good a deal they’ll offer. While negotiating down the price is key, next see if you can get any other incentives like getting your stamp duty paid. Find out more on this in our guide Can you make an offer on a new build house?

Also, some developers are trying to make buying a new home more affordable via the Deposit Unlock and the Own New Rate Reducer schemes. These can all help cut the cost of buying a new build home, but it is obviously more important to ensure you have a home you are happy to live in.

Which are the best house builders in the UK?

The top 10 house builders in the UK for build quality are The Hill Group, CALA Homes, Bloor Homes, Fairview New Homes, Story Homes, Berkeley Homes, Telford Homes, Countryside, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes, according to HomeViews Resident Choice Awards 2024.

Who are the worst housebuilders in the UK?

When you’re doing your research to find the best new home builders you’ll also likely come across people claiming their house was built by the worst housebuilders in the UK. Look into the detail of what people’s complaints are and look for any patterns in complaints about the housebuilder.