Housebuilder Beal Homes has helped a series of buyers to move into their new homes despite challenges caused by the coronavirus lockdown.
East Yorkshire-based Beal is committed to doing all it can to help to overcome challenges due to the Covid-19 crisis and has introduced a package of support and reassurance for people who have begun the buying process and house hunters searching for a new home.
The Government’s official advice is that transactions can continue where the property being moved into is vacant, as with new-build homes, provided social distancing measures are in place at all times and Beal is following this to the letter.
The family-owned business has now helped three couples move into their new homes at its Kings Vale development at Kingswood Parks in Hull within just eight days.
The successful moves challenge false perceptions that people can’t complete a property purchase during the current climate and that the housing market has been put on hold.
Beal supported paramedics Sarah Hara and Nathan Otley to move into their four bedroom home on April 17, more than three weeks after the UK was placed under lockdown.
The couple, who previously lived with their parents, hired a self-drive van to transport their furniture, enabling them to adhere to social distancing rules.
They benefited from the government’s Help to Buy equity loan scheme for newly-built homes and Beal’s own discount scheme for NHS workers.
Sarah said: “We were worried we wouldn’t be able to move because of the lockdown and concerned about the arrangements for moving our furniture in, but we got everything sorted with our solicitor and it all went ahead, with Beal’s support.
“The Beal team have been lovely and kept us informed throughout. Everyone is facing challenges in the current climate and fair play to Beal for doing their best to help people through the moving process.
“The whole experience of buying our first home has not been as stressful as it could have been, even with the lockdown. We’re so pleased we’ve been able to move in.”
As part of the “Helping you make your move” support package, Beal is being flexible on contract exchange dates as well as offering part exchange and providing assistance through its Smooth Move scheme, which makes it as easy as possible for buyers to sell their existing home and move into their new Beal property.
Guidance is available on how customers can benefit from Help to Buy and Beal’s exclusive Launch Pad scheme, which helps first-time buyers take their first step on the property ladder. In addition, East Yorkshire-based Beal has introduced a new 5% discount for all NHS workers, recognising the life-saving role they are playing on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus.
First-time buyers Rebecca Barber and Chris Jaques moved into their three bedroom home on April 9, transporting their belongings in their cars.
The couple, who are both secondary school teachers and also moved from living with their parents, used the Launch Pad initiative, which meant they were given £5,000 to spend on extras to make their home their own.
Rebecca said: “We’d accepted our move might not happen because of the lockdown period and we were surprised when Beal said it could go ahead.
“They’ve done so well under the current circumstances. They continued to give us weekly updates, which was so reassuring for us.
“They stuck to social distancing rules, made everything really clear and gave us space to do our inspection four days before we moved in. They didn’t rush us and waited outside. Beal had our best interests at heart all the way through and it was so easy.”
Maria Stephenson moved into her new three bedroom home at Kings Vale with her partner on April 17, again moving their own furniture and belongings. The couple benefited from the Help to Buy scheme and Beal recommended an independent mortgage advisor.
The couple also moved their own belongings and Maria said: “We were worried we may have to start the house buying process all over again, but I expressed my anxieties to Beal and they have been really good, in constant contact and handled everything for us.
“What Beal have done for us is outstanding and we wouldn’t have moved in without their help. Even during lockdown, Beal staff rang us while they were working from home to see how we were and supported us all the way. Beal have gone the extra mile and have been so helpful.”
Sue Waudby, Sales and Marketing Director for Beal, which has developments in Hull, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, said: “Congratulations to these couples and all the other buyers who we have helped to complete their moves despite the current unprecedented conditions.
“The Government has made clear that people can complete house purchases and move into unoccupied properties during the current restrictions. So, moving to a new-build home is the ideal option and these buyers’ experiences show that, if you want to move to a new property, you can still do it.
“We’re committed to continuing to support and reassure existing customers through to them moving in and beyond and we’re very much open for business for new buyers.
“Despite the current climate, we’re receiving encouraging levels of enquiries and we continue to take reservations across all our developments.
“Although our marketing suites remain closed, we’re supporting customers and fielding sales enquiries via phone and e-mail and we’re rolling out a series of virtual walkthroughs of our house types so potential buyers can experience them without stepping over the threshold.”
