Surge in sales for housebuilder despite lockdown

Miller Homes, which has seven developments across the region, has seen the first quarter of the year deliver a significant sales rate with almost all properties now being bought off plan.

The housebuilder, which has its Yorkshire headquarters in Wakefield, says it is over 80% sold for the year within just 12 weeks.

Sarah Whinfrey, regional sales manager, Miller Homes Yorkshire, said: “The initial lockdown proved a challenge for many in the housebuilding sector, but since then we have seen customers remain eager to view, buy and move into our homes without hesitation at all resulting in forward sold figures that have not been seen for many years.

“Undoubtedly the Stamp Duty Holiday has inspired some people to buy that perhaps were not planning to do so quite so soon.

“Our buyers have decided to seize the moment and get on with living their lives – buying, and then enjoying, a new home is one thing that been a positive from the pandemic.”

During the last few months Miller Homes has been taking reservations on its homes that are for build completion in the latter half of the year and even in to early 2022.

Whinfrey added: “The concern was that the housing market would be adversely affected due to the pandemic when in actual fact the opposite has happened.

“Spending so much time in our homes has reinforced how important they are to us and as many of us have had to learn to work, teach and study from home.

“It has inspired many buyers to seek a home that allows them to do all this with ease and in lovely surroundings.”

In the Yorkshire region Miller Homes expects to complete on 341 private units this year.