Villa Domus in Eaton, Cheshire – Self-Build Case Study

Self-Build Project, Eaton Cheshire

How did you first hear of CB Homes?

We came across an advert on Rightmove giving details for the Villa Domus Development. We also found CB Homes via Google while we were searching for a new build home.

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

We moved to this area because of a new job and the commute from Nottingham was too far. Sam works from home anyway so as long as he could still commute occasionally to London it made sense to move here. We didn’t specifically look for a new build but we had looked at about 20 or 30 different houses and it was the only one that we agreed on as it met all of our needs; the location being one, and it also being a nice mix of being fairly traditional in its design but it with everything modern that we could want too. We also like that it is a blank slate, so we can put our own stamp on it.

What first attracted you to this CB Homes house?

When we looked at the advert on Rightmove and saw the floor plans it was the right size and we liked the layout. It solved all the little things that we didn’t like about our existing house, which had an odd shaped lounge and no fire. The floor plan just looked perfect for us. We researched the area and we really liked the look of it.

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

We like the kitchen with the vaulted ceiling; it is a great space for socialising, being light and bright and a good size too. We really like the lounge as well. Although we have not spent a lot of time in there yet it feels like it will be a nice winter room with the log burner which we did use once and it was fantastic. As well as being really cosy, the log burner is really efficient too.

“Will, the Site Manager, was amazing. If we had a question, he would answer it and when we moved in, he did extra bits like help us put in the washing machine.”

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

We did want one of the bedrooms turning into a dressing room which was no trouble. CB Homes sent us some designs which we approved and went ahead with. We also had a choice of kitchen, but then after seeing the kitchen next door we decided to go with the same design with a few minor changes which suited us. For example, changing one of the cupboards to house a waste bin and adding a warming drawer and coffee machine.

To be honest as the house is exactly what we wanted there was very little change required.

What was the buying process like for you?

We did struggle with our solicitor, who admittedly was not very good, so consequently we did have some problems but CB Homes was supportive and responded very well to it. Nathan was supportive and sent an email to us during our time of crisis which was much appreciated. We would advise you to choose your solicitor with care, for example word of mouth or go with a well-known solicitor and be wary of on-line reviews as they may not be real or reflect what the actual experience would be.

How did you find the build process with CB Homes?

When we first looked, the plot next door had already been built and the structure on this plot was built, but the kitchen was not in and the bathrooms were only half completed. We said we would aim for a 4–6-week completion and from the build point of view even with the kitchen extras and the dressing room, that would have been achievable and we were very impressed by that and how speedy it was, but it was our solicitors that let us down. Will, the Site Manager, was amazing. If we had a question, he would answer it and when we moved in, he did extra bits like help us put in the washing machine, diagnosed a leak that we would not have noticed and sorted the issue and if he was working next door, he would always check in to see if everything was all right.

How involved did you get in the build process?

As the structure had already been built there was very little involvement, apart from the kitchen and the dressing room , mentioned earlier, along with soft furnishings.

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

As we had been to see it several times, it was the anticipation of moving in. Then finally when we did walk through the door on moving in day to a pristine house that was exactly what we wanted, that was the high point. The low point was having to go back to the old house that same day and spend one last night on a mattress on the floor!

What are the best features of your home?

We love looking out of the window at the front of the house onto the lane. Seeing all the cottages across the road gives a real sense of living in a village, especially after living in a city, having that traditional view outside is special. We like the south facing garden and it is very peaceful. Our old house backed onto a road so it was very noisy, especially when trying to have a conversation you had to shout. We like how big the utility room is. As well has having the usual utility appliances it is large enough for all our dog paraphernalia and we also use it as a boot room.

We also like the little features that make a big difference, for example, the low-level light that comes on in the bathroom by motion and the marble feature/window in the ground floor cloakroom. Another nice little touch is the Quooker Tap. It’s very easy to use and there is no clutter on the worktop with a kettle. The little alcove in the ensuite where you can put all your toiletries is really useful. The way the storage has been thought out really works. There is more storage space than we realised, especially in the attic, which is easily accessible and you can stack things very neatly.

What was your biggest extravagance?

Probably the library. On the plans it was marked as a snug but we have turned it into a library.

What are your home running costs like?

In our old house for gas and electric we were paying around £350 per month but here it has been worked out at £200 per month. We have electric cars and we have an air source heat pump so it’s quite a bit cheaper, but bearing in mind we have not spent a winter here yet.

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

Get a good solicitor!

Build a good relationship with the builder. Nothing is plain sailing and there are going to be some bumps in the road, so it is important you trust the people you are working with. I would also advise not to try and do everything at once but have the flexibility to spread everything out. We are both very impatient and impulsive people and we wanted to move in, get the library done, get everything unpacked and buy the new furniture, but in a new build you don’t need to do that because it is liveable, so for example the room that was to be the library became a storage area for a few weeks, which allowed us to concentrate on getting the high use areas how we wanted them.

We also think it is important to get to know your neighbours. We were conscious that the plot was something else before the houses were here and had been that way for a long time and not a lot changes in the village and although our neighbours have been really positive about the experience it must have been a big change for them too.

Please sum up your CB Homes house.

Exactly what we wanted. It exceeds our expectations. When we think about the alternatives that we were looking at we would have had to compromise and still do bits of work. Even other new builds that we looked at had more in them that we would have had to change in order to get exactly what we wanted.

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

Yes, we would! We envisage living here for a very long time but sometime in the future we would love to buy some land and build our own home and given the experience we have had with CB Homes and this house is of such high quality we would definitely look into doing that with CB Homes. The local aspect is really nice, looking through the Home Owner Manual where it lists all of the manufacturers, suppliers etc. which are all local, helps to keep the local economy going which is really important.