Buy new and save over £1200 on energy bills
As the country prepares itself for the latest round of energy price increases and another bitterly cold winter, it’s clear that very few homeowners will escape the impact of fuel price rises over the coming months. New homes have long claimed benefits over old in terms of energy efficiency, but now national housebuilder Taylor Wimpey claims that buying a new home could actually help purchasers reduce their costs in the long run and make savvy savings in 2013.
According to research carried out by the housebuilder, buying new could save you over £1200 a year in energy bills. Taylor Wimpey used an independent, qualified assessor to compare the energy efficiency and estimated cost of fuel bills for two properties - a traditional three bedroom detached house built in the early 1900s, and a brand new three bedroom Taylor Wimpey home at its Great Western Park development in Didcot. The results showed a stark difference, with energy costs totalling an estimated £1732 a year in the older property compared to just £510 in the new home. CO2 emissions from the older property were also nearly four times higher than those of the new build home.
Darren McCormack, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey Oxfordshire comments: “A home is probably the most expensive investment you’ll ever make, and it’s important to make the right decision. Choosing a new home over a second hand property could save you thousands on DIY, maintenance and improvements, not to mention ongoing savings in areas such as fuel bills. By moving to a brand new Taylor Wimpey home, homeowners can benefit from a range of energy saving features as standard, such as double glazed windows and patio doors throughout, wall insulation and energy efficient heating. We know these features make our modern homes significantly more energy efficient than older properties, leading to dramatically reduced fuel bills.
“Add to this the advantages of having no unpredictable property chains plus the different financial incentives and assistance packages we can offer at the time of purchase, the savings and benefits really do start to add up.”
New homes are designed to accommodate modern lifestyles and offer features such as en-suite bathrooms, fitted wardrobes, plenty of built-in storage, modern appliances and flexible three storey living space not often found in older homes.
Darren added: “A new property offers buyers a blank canvas which means you don’t have to go through the cost and effort of putting right other people’s decoration and DIY disasters. And it’s not just home improvement costs to consider, ongoing structural maintenance of older properties can be a costly and time-consuming business and many owners are forced to bring in the professionals for major jobs, including repairs to roofs, plumbing and wiring. All new Taylor Wimpey properties come with an NHBC certificate so you can relax knowing that the structure of your home is guaranteed for 10 years.”
Taylor Wimpey’s Great Western Park development currently offers a selection of two, three and four bedroom properties with prices starting from just £184,000.
Located in the vibrant town of Didcot, there is a good selection of shops, restaurants and pubs in close proximity to the development. Also, the popular Orchard Shopping Centre and Cineworld are less than two miles away. Ideal for families, there are a variety of nurseries, primary schools and Didcot Girls School within two miles from the development as well as Oxford University just 10 miles away.
The development is in a perfect location for commuters with the A34, M4 and M40 all within easy reach as are key commercial centres such as Oxford, Newbury, Swindon and Reading. While Didcot Parkway railway station has regular services to London Paddington, with a journey time of around 40minutes.
For further information about the properties available at Great Western Park, visit the sales and marketing suite open Monday from 1pm to 5pm and Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, or visit taylorwimpey.co.uk/oxfordshire.
