Cranbourne

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linked In

Customer Care

Cranbourne prides itself on providing our customers with homes built to a high specification in sought after rural and urban locations in Oxfordshire and its surrounding areas. Our objective is to make purchasing a home as stress free as possible and aim to provide excellent customer service at all times throughout the home-buying process.

It doesn’t stop there, as Cranbourne have a dedicated team of people who will provide after sales care to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction.

More info: Step by step process, Consumer Code, Useful Contacts.

Cranbourne

Guidance notes for home buyers

Buying a house is possibly the biggest financial decision you will make in your life. It can be a lengthy and complicated business, which whilst exciting is often stressful. Our step by step guide will help you to gain a better understanding of the process to make your home-buying experience as easy and problem-free as possible.

1. Work out how much you can afford
If you are unsure about how much you can afford to spend on a property, one of our Independent Financial Advisors (IFA) will be able to provide you with free advice and recommend a product that is best suited to you. Our Sales Department at Cranbourne will be able to provide you with contact details.

2. Choosing a property from Cranbourne
Our Sales Team will work with you to find a property that suits your lifestyle. Depending on the stage of construction, you may also be asked to choose your options available to you ie, choice of kitchen, tiles etc.

3. Complete the reservation agreement and pay your deposit
Once you are ready to reserve a property, normally between £1,000 and £5,000 is required (in accordance with the Consumer Code, the developer has the right to re-claim for any actual costs incurred, should a client change their mind). You must be in a proceedable position to commence this process as when contracts have been exchanged, you are legally bound to purchase the property. The Reservation agreement will be undertaken by a member of the Sales Team, who will remain your main point of contact thoughout the sale.

4. Appoint a legal advisor
You should appoint an independent professional legal advisor to carry out the legal formalities to look after your interests. If you are unsure about who to use, Cranbourne can recommend reputable solicitors who will be able to undertake the conveyancing on your behalf. You will need to advise your solicitor of the reservation period, which will normally be 28 days.

5. Apply for a mortgage
Never be tempted to overstate your income. You could end up with a mortgage you can’t afford. Once you have identified who your mortgage lender will be, you need to inform the Sales Office at Cranbourne so that the records can be updated accordingly.

6. Exchange contracts
Once you have a formal mortgage offer approved, solicitors will be able to exchange contracts. This will require you to:
- Pay the deposit upon exchange (this will normally be 10% of the purchase price)
- Make an appointment with your Legal Advisor to sign the contract ready to exchange.
- Confirm how the balance of the purchase will be paid on completion.

7. A month before moving into your new home
Before moving into your new home you will need to organise the following:
- Arrange a removal van (remember to get a quote for packing boxes and check they have adequate insurance for breakages/damage).
- If necessary, arrange for furniture to be put into storage, but allow plenty of time to identify what could be discarded in case a skip is required.
- Notify the Post Office that you are moving house (a minimum of 5 working days notice is required). To find out further information on this service please click here

8. The day you move out of your old home
You need to ensure:
- Gas/electric/water meter readings are recorded so that you can inform your service providers.
- Gas/water/electricity is turned off.
- House is securely locked.
- Newspapers and milk have been cancelled
- Keys are left with Estate Agent or handed over to the new owners before leaving.

9. Completion process
Once the full payment has been transferred, and your Legal Advisor has received the transfer deed and originals of any other important documents you will be able to collect the keys from Cranbourne to your new home.

Cranbourne recommend that you visit www.helpiammoving.com where you will find various checklists, which advise you on who to contact and useful things to do before moving home.

Consumer Code for Home Builders

The Consumer Code for Home Builders is a new regulation that was introduced on 1 April 2010 for buyers who wish to reserve to buy a new or newly converted home built by a home builder under the insurance protection of one of the supporting Home Warranty Bodies such as NHBC.

The purpose of the Code is to ensure that Home Buyers:
- are treated fairly;
- know what service levels to expect;
- are given reliable information upon which to make their decisions;
- know how to access speedy, low-cost dispute resolution arrangements if they are dissatisfied.

To download a copy of the Consumer Code for Home Builders and find out further information click here

A list of useful contacts when purchasing a Cranbourne home can be found below:

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Parliament Square
12 Great George Street
London SW1P 3ADTel: 0870 333 1600
Fax: 0207 334 3811
E-mail:
Website: www.rics.org

The Solicitors Regulation Authority
8 Dormer Place
Leamington Spa
CV32 5AETel: 01527 504450
Fax: 01527 510213
Website: www.sra.org.uk

Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC)
16 Glebe Road
Chelmsford
Essex CM1 1QGTel: 01245 349599
Fax: 01245 341300
E-mail:
Website: www.clc-uk.org

The National Housebuilding Council (NHBC)
Buildmark House
Chiltern Avenue
Amersham
Buckinghamshire HP6 5AP
Tel: 01494 434477
Fax: 01494 735 201
E-mail:
Website: www.nhbc.co.uk

The Association of British Insurers (ABI)
51 Gresham Street
London EC2V 7HQ
Tel: 020 7600 3333
Fax: 020 7696 8999
E-mail:
Website: www.abi.org.uk

Council of Mortgage Lenders
3 Savile Row
London W1S 3PB
Tel: 020 7437 0075
Fax: 020 7434 3791
E-mail:
Website: www.cml.org.uk

Leasehold Advisory Service
70-74 City Road
London EC1Y 2BJ
Tel: 0845 345 1993
Fax: 020 7253 2043
E-mail:
Website: www.lease-advice.org

Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
Tel: 01235 520202
Fax: 01235 540395
E: mail:
Website: www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk

Thames Water Utilities
PO Box 286
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN38 2RA
Tel: 0845 9200 888
Website: www.thameswater.co.uk

Southern Electric Board
Customer Services
PO Box 7506
Perth
PH1 3QR
Tel: 0845 7444 555
Website: www.southern-electric.co.uk