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Budget 2013 - Help to Buy

We are pleased to see the Chancellor recognise the importance of housebuilding to the economic and social health of the country by providing further support for the industry and homeowners in his 2013 Budget announcement.

As availability of finance has continued to be a barrier for those wishing to get onto or up the property ladder, we welcome the launch of the new Help to Buy initiative and are delighted that we will be able to offer this to our buyers.

The launch of this initiative should help break down the barriers to finance further by increasing the supply of low deposit mortgages to a wider range of people within the housing market.

Removing the equity burden on housebuilders is also an important step as it will enable us to free up funds so that we can continue to invest in new land and building, creating jobs and much needed new homes at the same time.

Chris Endsor

Chief Executive

Miller Homes

Budget 2013

We warmly welcomed the new government-backed 95% mortgage scheme, NewBuy, when it was introduced last year as it offered a responsible and achievable means for homebuyers to get onto or up the property ladder, particularly for those who might otherwise have struggled to find the large deposit required.

During the second half of the year, we saw interest in NewBuy grow and with the positive benefits of this initiative and the Funding for Lending scheme now only beginning to have an impact, it’s important that housebuilding remains at the heart of tomorrow's Budget in order to maintain the momentum and give the economy the boost it needs.

We would like to see an extension to both NewBuy, especially now that it can be offered in conjunction with part exchange to provide an additional incentive for potential buyers, and Funding for Lending.

We are pleased to have benefitted from additional funding through the FirstBuy scheme; however we would welcome more support for first-time buyers, whose ability to buy is essential in order to keep the market moving, such as a return to the stamp duty holiday and the creation of a Housing ISA as suggested by the CBI.

Chris Endsor

Chief Executive

Miller Homes

Save Money by Buying New

Winter can be a worry for many as they wonder how to pay those ever-increasing energy bills.

It was good to hear the government announce recently that they would look at measures to simplify the mass of complex tariffs as well as helping households understand their energy bills and usage more easily.

On the back of this, we undertook some research of our own and found that you can save almost £300 each year on energy bills by buying a new home*.

This figure rises considerably when directly comparing a newly built four bedroom Miller home with one built in the Victorian era and one built during the 1960s.

Interestingly, the research found that energy savings amounted to almost £3,000 on the 1900s home and just over £2,000 compared with the 1960s property.  We carried out this research using the NHER Plan Assessor 5.4.2, taking into consideration the build materials of the time and typical energy usages, including lighting, cooking and heating.  

All our homes are built to be as energy efficient as possible, with high quality loft and cavity wall insulation, windows and other energy efficient appliances. They also feature ‘Smart Meter’ technology which can provide greater control over energy usage by displaying real time information on costs and usage. The meters even feature a warning sound when energy consumption goes beyond your chosen amount!

So, if you are in the market for a new home, a new build is definitely worth considering as the energy efficiency figures really do speak for themselves.

Chris Endsor

Chief Executive

Miller Homes

*For guidance only. Values based on average energy bill for Miller Homes’ largest standard UK housetype, The Huxley, against average annual energy bill of £1,400 per year (Source: Ofgem)

Forget 50 - It's Every Shade of Grey for 2013!

Grey is tipped to be the hottest colour in 2013 by leading interior designer, Jeanette Holmes. From rich charcoals to delicate silvers, grey will feature in wallpapers, paint shades, soft furnishings and accessories.

Jeanette, who is creating some fantastic show homes for us using the scheme, says: “Contrary to popular belief, grey is a fantastic colour to work with and its versatility means it can be adapted to create contrasting looks.

“Pair it with citrine yellow and a vibrant, striking look will be achieved or opt for muted shades of pink or orange for a restful idyll.”

In addition to the top colour trends, 2013 will see a shift in the emphasis we place on material goods with more of us opting for fewer costly accessories – choosing ones that have meaning to them creating individual and unique homes.

“Creating a great looking home is no longer about designer accessories and the best money can buy,” said Jeanette. “Homes should reflect the personality of its inhabitants and whilst it is worth investing in things like quality furniture and floor coverings, placing an emphasis on accessorising with sentimental items would really give your home a unique identity.”

Other top tips include:

 - multiple accessorising; why use one vase or mirror when you have room for two or three?

 - statement walls that can be created through innovative use of wallpaper to create feature panels and emphasise focal points, such as headboards and sofas in the room.

“The ground rules of deciding which style works best for you is still critical to the success of any scheme,” said Jeanette. “Using interesting key accessories teamed with well proportioned furniture and a mixture of good lighting and you have the basic ingredients for creating a stunning, well balanced home that’s stylish and functional.”

A Winter Service Check for Your Home

Keeping warm in arctic conditions can be tricky and with the predicted fall in temperature this week, the start of 2013 may offer some challenges.

As all our new homes are constructed with energy efficiency in mind, we thought we’d share our knowledge and expertise by compiling a few tips that may help you stay warm and enjoy a great British winter!

Our top tips include:

 - Make sure your pipes are well insulated. Fluctuations in temperature can cause them to freeze, defrost and refreeze rapidly and if they burst you’ll have a lot of clearing up to do.

 - On that note, check your home insurance and make sure you are adequately covered.

 - Check your radiators and make sure they are hot from top to bottom. If not, then bleeding them will ensure you’re getting the most from your heating.

 - Give your energy supplier a call. You may find that there is a better deal out there and that you could be saving £££’s.

 - Get your boiler and fire serviced. Not only is it essential from a safety perspective you will feel reassured that it’s all in working order.

Homeowners often put home maintenance at the bottom of their priority lists due to constraints such as time and money. However, with just a little foresight they can feel confident that they prepared their home for the winter as best as they can.

Steve McElroy

Sales Director – Yorkshire & North East of England