“Universal homes are so well designed and we have everything we could ever need in a home,” says Alyssa, thrilled homeowner along with her husband Kent of a new Universal home at West Hills in Auckland’s North West. We caught up with the first home buyers to find out how the process of buying a new build was, and how they’re settling into their brand new home.
Spacious terrace home living
It’s been a busy summer for the couple: not just moving into their own first home together, but getting married as well. “We’re looking forward to a more relaxed summer next year, enjoying the place.” laughs Alyssa.
“Terrace home living really appealed to us. It’s affordable and feels safe. There’s always someone around if you need, and a lot of potential for social neighbourhood gatherings, but having said that we have a great amount of privacy and do not hear our neighbours. We have been surprised by how we have more space than we originally thought we would. Our terrace home feels spacious and it’s actually relatively quiet.”
Liveable and loveable: new build benefits
A low-maintenance lifestyle is one of the perks of a new Universal home. Our architecturally designed homes are built with a contemporary Kiwi lifestyle in mind, and feature on-trend aesthetics and smartly utilised spaces, ensuring they’re practical and effortless to live in. “Universal homes are so well designed and we have everything we could ever need in a home,” explains Alyssa. “The houses are finished to a high standard, with quality appliances.”
“Buying a brand new home is such a luxury,” Alyssa adds. “One of the things we enjoyed most throughout the build was knowing that nothing needs to be done. Moving house is horrible in general, but to know that once we had moved in, we could just relax and enjoy our very own space is the best feeling! Nothing quite beats ‘new house smell’”, she laughs.
Alyssa and Kent bought their new home off the plan, which means they agreed to purchase a property while it was still in the process of being built. Asked how they found this process as first home buyers, Alyssa explains, “Buying off the plan was exciting! Investing so much money into something that you’ve never seen before can seem a bit bizarre, but has so many benefits from the perspective of purchasing a brand-new home. We have no regrets now that we are in!”
A well-connected location
Alyssa and Kent love the handy location of West Hills. “I grew up not too far from here, so am very familiar with the area and the amenities it has to offer,” says Alyssa. “We love how close we are to all the Westgate shops and NorthWest mall, as well as the easy motorway access to get to work.”
Designed and built to suit the demands of an increasingly busy Auckland, West Hills provides an exceptionally well-connected location and a great lifestyle choice in Auckland’s North West, allowing easy access to the city, North Shore, and all the outdoor adventures of the West Coast. West Hills has easy access to a wide range of local great amenities and public transport options.
Our team: “Helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly”
“Everyone we have dealt with across the Universal team, right from the second we stepped into the show home that first time until now, has been fantastic. They are extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly,” Alyssa explains.
“As first home buyers, naturally the whole process has been somewhat overwhelming and a huge learning exercise for us both. Along with Shelley our Universal Homes Sales Consultant, we were lucky enough to have incredible people as part of our team including our lending manager and solicitor. They all helped us with each step of the buying process and answered all of our questions. That’s our top piece of advice to other first-time buyers – find really knowledgeable people who will take the time to answer all your questions, big or small, as Shelley and the others did!”
Despite being newbies to home ownership, Alyssa and Kent have found the process surprisingly smooth. “Other than the unknown of buying a new home, and with the added challenges of covid thrown into the mix, it has been relatively straightforward. We could tell that the Universal team have helped people like us step through the process many times before, so knew exactly how to support us at each stage.”
“Buying with Universal has worked so well. I have to give a special mention to Shelley, our Sales Consultant. She has been so incredibly helpful and kind throughout the process and also honest, which has been key. She answers all of our questions super promptly and nothing seems too much trouble for her. As first home buyers, this has been invaluable,” says Alyssa.
Trusted for three generations
Our team is proud to have been trusted by Kiwis like Alyssa and Kent for over three generations, with our longevity in the industry and straightforward purchasing system ensuring we keep things simple for you, during what can be a challenging time. We understand the changing landscape of New Zealand home purchasing, creating homes at varying price points and typologies to suit your needs. As a one-stop shop for quality, architecturally designed homes, we provide great value and simple buying terms. Enjoy all the perks of a brand-new healthy home including double glazing plus the latest appliances and fittings, all wrapped up in our easy-to-care-for designs. For everyone who wants a home that’s truly their own, there’s Universal Homes.
