Swallow Close Self-Build Case Study

How did you first hear of CB Homes?

We live in Kingsley and we are great walkers. We walked past the site very early on in the development and saw the signage.

What was your main reason for wanting to buy a new build?

It was during the pandemic and we did not want the hassle of a refurb or to do any building work, extensions or modifications; plus we wanted everything new and with a new build we could influence the design as well.

What first attracted you to this CB Homes house?

We liked the fact that it was a small development rather than a large estate. We really liked the architecture and the large windows giving so much light.

“It’s ideal, very peaceful and a safe haven”.

What do you like most about the design of your house?

It is just so unique. The use of glass especially on the outside of the building and the hall brings in so much light, along with the feeling of lots of space. Equally, when you get inside, we just think every room is individual; the layout and the consideration to where everything goes flows very well.

Did you have any specific design requirements; if so, how were these met?

We didn’t have any specific design requirements other than when we actually started the build process. We had some conversations with CB Homes who were happy to facilitate us. For example, the boiler was originally going to be situated in the bathroom but we wanted to have it in the utility. It is very difficult buying off plan so we were given the opportunity to walk around one of the other plots which gave us a better visualisation of the layout.

What was the buying process like for you?

The buying process was very straightforward.

How did you find the build process with CB Homes?

On the whole it was very straightforward. We found CB Homes to be very engaging. Trying to understand the stages of the build was difficult as there was no visibility of that but it helped to speak to CB Homes if we had any issues, questions or concerns. Nathan was very engaging and always came back very quickly and got involved. If we did have any frustrations, it was that the build was during Covid so we experienced some delays with labour and materials.

How involved did you get in the build process?

I personally got quite involved but my husband probably less so. He mostly dealt with the Stage Payments. We liked the fact we could talk to Nathan and take his ideas, especially with the bathrooms and the feature wall with the mosaics in the cloakroom. We were less involved with other details, like paint colours, as we trusted Nathan’s judgement and we were not let down.

What were your high and low points of buying a new build?

We had looked at about 22 properties from Southport to the Wirral and we were getting a little deflated so the high point was when we came across the development and the house was available and we could afford it! It is an expensive house, but you get a lot of house for your money. Compared to places like Birkdale and Chester, it was very competitively priced.

The low point was that the moving in experience was not as we expected it to be. This was mainly due to the fact the site was still a construction site as CB Homes had one last site to finish. There are also still some slight snagging issues left to be actioned which means workmen are coming and going so this has meant we have not been able to settle in as we would have liked.

What are the best features of your home?

It is very hard to choose as we love all of it. My husband’s favourite room is the lounge with the spectacular views.

What was the best buy on your self-build project?

The kitchen, for the quality and workmanship.

What was your biggest extravagance?

We would have to say the hole in the wall fire.

What are your home running costs like?

As we are on a new private road it has been difficult to organise supply in our names due to service providers not yet registering the new development. We have now sorted out the electric but the gas is still in the process. We anticipate it will be high due to the current energy crisis but only time will tell. However, it does seem to be a very warm house. We went away in March for a few weeks and turned everything off and when we came back, we were expecting the house to be really cold but it was actually very warm.

What are your ‘Top Tips’ for new home owners?

Make sure you have enough cashflow to spend on modifications. The driveway was big enough for two cars but there was not a very good turning angle so we wanted to widen it to accommodate that. I would also recommend having money to buy things… you always make the excuse to make do but you don’t because you want new things. Also, to think about the landscaping. We were not sure how it was going to be left so you may need to think about extras, for example we wanted the patio kerbing.

Please sum up your CB home

It’s ideal, very peaceful and a safe haven.

Would you buy another home from CB Homes, and if so, why?

Yes we would, primarily because of the quality of the build and the uniqueness of the design.