Buyer designs dream home by purchasing off-plan

When forward-thinking home-buyer Tracy Ward chose her brand new place at George Wimpey’s Kingsland Grange development in Streetly, not even the foundations had been laid.

But just a few months later she moved in to her beautiful two-bedroom house complete with the fitted kitchen, tiles, carpets, floors and fittings and garden landscaping which she had chosen along the way.

Tracy is one of a growing number of home-buyers choosing to purchase their new property off-plan – and by doing so they can take advantage of securing a home at today’s low prices, while gaining the chance to create the perfect personalised interiors, which are installed as part of the build process.

“When I started my search for a new home, I was looking at apartments because that’s all I thought I would be able to afford,” explains Tracy.

“But when the Sales Centre opened at Kingsland Grange, I went along and saw that actually, I could purchase one of the two-bedroom houses.

“I came away to think about what I had seen, but the development was really busy with customers and it was my mum, Fran, who said, ‘if you don’t make a decision now, you’ll miss out’.

“We had got halfway down the road but she convinced me and I turned back to make the reservation – she was right, because when I went back in to the Sales Centre another three people had come in to look at the housetype that I liked!”

Tracy was just in time to reserve her two-bedroom ‘Douglas’ housetype, and choosing it off-plan and seeing the build-process she good-humouredly describes as ‘watching your baby grow’.

“I’ve seen the foundations put in right through to choosing the bathroom and kitchen finishes and the carpets,” adds the accounts manager for UK Pallets at Fradley Park in Lichfield.

“Selecting everything has been really exciting, although I have to admit I changed my mind from my first choice of kitchen after falling in love with the cream finish in the five-bedroom showhome that opened at the development!

“I feel like my new home is totally fresh and ready to be filled with all the great memories I’ll have while living there.”

In addition to being able to reserve her home at a 2009 price and choose her interiors, Tracy also received 5% towards her deposit from George Wimpey, and had her garden landscaped with a patio and turf before her move.

Customers like Tracy who choose to buy off-plan can still secure homes at Kingsland Grange for 2009 prices, including the three-bedroom ‘Chester’ from only £179,995, a choice of four-bedroom designs from £285,000, and magnificent five-bedroom homes from just £399,995.

Off-plan purchasers can also choose their flooring and carpets, kitchen finishes and appliances, showers, tiling, bathroom suites and lighting, which George Wimpey’s team of craftsmen will install ready for moving day.

Kingsland Grange enjoys an excellent location in Streetly, home to a wide range of shops for everyday needs, a library, community sports facilities, pubs and places to eat, four primary schools and a specialist sports college.

Sutton Park nature reserve – 2,400 acres of woodland, heath and wetlands – is close by and provides ample opportunity for walking, cycling, fishing, sailing and orienteering.

For commuters, Birmingham and Walsall are both within easy reach by car and by public transport.

To find out more about the benefits of buying off-plan at Kingsland Grange, visit the Sales Centre, open Thursday to Monday, 11am to 5pm, or go online to georgewimpey.co.uk.