Gleeson unveils try before you buy homes

Or would you even buy a new dress or suit without a fitting? Probably not, but when it comes to the biggest purchase people make in their lifetime some research shows that, on average, house buyers spend only seventeen minutes in deciding to buy their new home.

So it's no wonder that many buyers experience problems once they move in and regret they didn't spend longer to get a real feel for the place.

Award winning developer Gleeson Homes has a solution that lets movers try before they buy. The house builder has released a number of apartments and houses for rent at one of its Manchester developments.

If after renting for six months you decide to buy, Gleeson will refund the rent paid, effectively meaning you have lived rent free and given your new home a real trial run in the process.

Emma Herd is Gleeson's Lettings Manager: "It is hard to believe that we spend longer choosing curtains than the home we are putting them in! With our try before you buy offer you can really get a feel for both the property, which no-one else will have lived in, and the area you are living in.

"Should you choose to buy you won't have the hassle of moving all your belongings again. Another bonus, of course, is that we will pay you back the rent you have paid up to the point of purchase, which will be either six or twelve months, depending on the plot."

Gleeson currently has the scheme on trial at its City East development in Beswick, east Manchester. There are spacious 2-bedroom apartments and 4-bedroom, three-storey family houses available for rent that start from £575 per month for apartments and £850 per month for the houses. To purchase, the apartments start from £124,995 with 4-bed houses starting at £189,995.

The development is part of the New East Manchester project that is seeing huge investment in new housing, shopping and community facilities.

Emma added: "This part of east Manchester is proving to be a very popular location where people are choosing to live, especially with the long term investment potential of the regeneration programme. With restrictions on mortgages this is an ideal way of helping movers save up some deposit. There is no obligation to buy after your rental term so if you are thinking of moving what have you got to lose?"

A further benefit is that Gleeson will allow tenants who go on to purchase furnished properties to keep their furniture packs and Gleeson's customer services team is on hand to ensure everything is maintained correctly.

For more information on City East and the apartments and houses available for sale, log onto Gleeson.com.