Harron Homes, a leading housing developer with sites across northern England including Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, uses Dye & Durham’s award-winning BuildX search service for new build plots to help speed up the sales process from reservation to exchange.
Catherine Smith, Harron Homes plot conveyancer stated:
“Dye & Durham’s BuildX search service for new build developments offers a simple solution. The BuildX team have years of experience in the search industry and understand the challenges that often arise when dealing with the reservation and sale of new build plots. Thanks to seamless collaboration between developers, panels of law firms and the search company, data is now sourced and prepared up front.”
Smith adds that as a result, the silo approach that often previously hindered the process is now gone. She stated:
“Working with developers beforehand means that plot specific searches can now be produced straight away, significantly reducing the transaction process that used to take weeks or even months. Searches are refreshed regularly to ensure they are fully up to date are all backed by a £10 million indemnity.”
With the help of BuildX, Harron Homes now regularly exceeds its six-week target from reservation to exchange, she added:
“With searches returned in a matter of minutes, one recent cash purchase was completed within three weeks, which was fantastic.”
BuildX has significantly improved Harron Homes’ processes, but it’s not just Smith’s team seeing results. “Panel solicitors have noticed too,” said Smith. She continued:
“They simply log on to the BuildX portal and select the development and reserved plot, and the searches are available to order immediately. Sometimes the results are already back before they’ve even put the file away.”
BuildX recognises the unique challenges that occur with new builds, and that’s why the service is constantly being improved. Dye & Durham General Manager Victoria Hurst said:
“By working directly with the developer and our data partners, we gather, digitise and compile all the data in real time, allowing us to deliver property searches on new build plots almost instantly via our ordering platform,” says.
With more than 300 development sites nationally and more being added every week, conveyancers and new build teams can dramatically reduce the time taken between the homebuyers’ reservation and exchange of contracts, in many cases cutting weeks off the process.”
Hurst offers an example of some of the challenges BuildX solves:
“Solicitors may need to draw plots manually as information relating to the title is not yet available. Local authorities may not recognise new addresses and so reject search requests which all add to further delays. BuildX ensures all this work is already completed up front, and the information is fresh and current, saving time for developers and legal firms.”
By harnessing the power of BuildX, duplication of work is also avoided and overall efficiency is improved.
For example, solicitors searching hundreds of plots within the same development — in some cases at risk of flood or contamination — that have not been fully approved by local authorities will no longer have to ask the same questions repeatedly. That’s because BuildX provides this information, making searches instantly available and fully indemnified. The same goes for new addresses that may not yet be lodged in the council records.
The BuildX service for new build plots is available for both panel and non-panel solicitors and covers:
- Regulated Local Authority searches;
- Regulated Drainage and water;
- Chancel check;
- Premium environment including contaminated land, flood and energy and infrastructure; and
- Coal mining if required.
According to Sam Corbett, Part Exchange Manager at Harron Homes in Yorkshire:
“As well as the new build searches, we also use BuildX searches for our part exchange properties. BuildX offers us a streamlined approach and the feedback from our colleagues is very positive. Turnaround times are shortened, and time spent on due diligence is reduced. For our team, using BuildX is good practice and benefits everyone involved in transactions.”
BuildX was recognised for its innovative approach to speeding up the home-buying process at the Housebuilder Product Awards 2020.
For further information please email: Victoria.Hurst@DyeDurham.com
This article was submitted to be published by Dye & Durham as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Conveyancer. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Conveyancer.
