The Buying Process

Visit us

Most of our developments are open Thursday to Monday, 10am to 5pm. You’re welcome to drop in, but booking an appointment means we can give you dedicated time with one of our sales advisors.

When you visit, we can talk you through:

• Homes available now and coming soon
• What’s included at the development
• Floor plans and specifications
• Prices and ways to buy

Financial Situation

Before you reserve a home, it’s important to understand what you can comfortably afford.

We recommend speaking to an Independent Financial Advisor who understands new build purchases. They can help you work out your budget, explain your options clearly, and help you get an Agreement in Principle if you need a mortgage.

If you already own a home, you may need to have yours sold subject to contract before moving forward. Depending on your situation, our buying schemes may help make the process easier.

Don’t lose it – reserve your new home

Appoint your solicitor

You’ll need a solicitor or conveyancer to handle the legal side of your purchase.

Choosing someone with experience in new build homes can really help, as they’ll be familiar with the process and timescales involved. Your sales advisor can suggest independent solicitors who know the process well, although you’re free to choose your own.

If you’re applying for a mortgage, your lender will also begin their checks and valuation during this stage.

Make it yours

Depending on the stage of construction, you may be able to personalise parts of your new home before you move in.

This could include choosing finishes, colours or selected upgrades. Your sales advisor will explain what’s available for your plot and confirm any costs involved.

It’s a nice chance to make your home feel more like yours before move-in day arrives.

Exchange

Once your mortgage offer is in place and your solicitor has completed the legal work, you’ll be ready to exchange contracts.

At this point, your purchase becomes legally binding and your deposit is paid. You’ll also be given an expected completion date, so you can start planning ahead with more confidence.

Your sales advisor will keep you updated as your home moves closer to completion.

Before you move in, there are usually a couple of important appointments to help you get ready.

Meet the Builder

During the build, you may be invited to meet the Site Manager and see your home at an important stage of construction. This gives you the chance to understand more about how your home is built and ask any questions you may have.

You may also be able to take measurements for furniture, curtains or flooring.

Home demonstration

Around two weeks before completion, we’ll arrange a home demonstration. This is where we show you how everything works in your new home, from heating and appliances to key features and maintenance.

It’s also a chance to check through your chosen extras and ask any final questions before moving day.

Moving in

Once everything is in place, your solicitor will complete the purchase and your new home will officially be yours.

Your sales advisor will contact you when completion has happened, and we’ll arrange for you to collect your keys. You’ll also receive important handover information, including warranty details and guidance on after-care.

Your new home will come with a 10-year NHBC Buildmark policy, with the first two years covered directly by Tilia Homes.

Initial Courtesy Visit

Once you've settled into your new home, your Site Manager will visit you within the first seven days to make sure everything is going smoothly and answer any questions you may have.

Together, you'll walk around your home and identify anything that needs attention. Any items you raise will be recorded and arrangements made to resolve them as quickly as possible.

Because every Tilia home is individually built, it's perfectly normal for a few minor issues to become apparent once you've moved in. If anything does need attention, we'll work with you to put it right and keep you informed every step of the way.

Your First 12 Weeks

During the first 12 weeks after completion, your Site Team will continue to support you with any issues that arise as you settle into your new home.

Wherever possible, we'll aim to complete any reported items within 20 calendar days. Occasionally, this may take a little longer if specialist materials or replacement parts need to be ordered, but we'll keep you updated throughout.

Our Customer Services team will also oversee your case, ensuring any reported items are tracked and that you receive ongoing support and communication during this period.

Your 12-Week Customer Acceptance Visit

Around 12 weeks after you've moved in, your Site Manager will arrange a final visit to your home.

This is an opportunity to review any work that has been carried out, confirm you're happy with the completed items and check that there are no outstanding concerns.

Following this visit, responsibility for your home transfers from our Construction Team to our dedicated Customer Services Team, who will continue to support you throughout the remainder of your warranty period.

Here for you

Our commitment to you doesn't end once you've moved in. After your 12-week Customer Acceptance Visit, our Customer Services team will be your main point of contact for any questions or issues covered by your two-year warranty.

We'd also love to hear about your experience. During your first year, you'll be invited to complete the National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Surveys, and we'd be grateful if you could also share your feedback on Trustpilot or Google. If you share your new home journey on social media, don't forget to tag us, we love seeing customers enjoying life in their new Tilia home.

Your feedback is invaluable, helping us continue to improve every home we build and the service we provide to future homeowners.