Assisted move schemes: what homebuyers should check

An assisted move scheme is a developer’s help-to-sell offer for someone buying a new-build home while still owning a property to sell. Rather than buying the existing home itself, the developer may help organise the sale, often by introducing an estate agent or coordinating parts of the process. The exact arrangement varies by builder, development and offer, so the name alone does not tell you what you will receive. How it usually fits together A buyer first identifies a new home and asks whether the developer offers an assisted move option. If accepted, the builder may connect the seller with an agent, help arrange a valuation and marketing, or set out steps for progressing the sale alongside the new-build purchase. Some offers are branded under a builder’s own name. They are not a standard product: the services, eligibility rules, costs and conditions can differ. Ask for the written terms before relying on the offer. In particular, clarify who chooses and instructs the estate agent, who pays any fee, how the asking price is agreed, whether you can use another agent, and whether the arrangement is exclusive. Check what happens if you change your mind, the sale takes longer than expected, or you receive an offer below the figure you hoped for. Confirm whether the incentive depends on using a particular agent or buying a specific plot. Assisted move is not automatically the same as part exchange. With part exchange, a builder may consider buying the existing home directly, subject to its own valuation and eligibility rules. With assisted move, the existing home is generally marketed to an outside buyer. Ask the developer which arrangement is being offered and who would be your buyer. Timing matters. A sale can fall through, and new-build completion dates can change. Read the reservation paperwork and purchase contract separately from any help-to-sell terms; an assisted move promise does not itself guarantee that the old property will sell or that the new home will be ready on a particular date. Before deciding, compare the offer with selling independently. Request the full fee and incentive details in writing, obtain an independent view of the property’s likely selling price, and ask a solicitor to explain any linked conditions you do not understand. The useful question is not simply “Is assisted move free?” but “What exactly is included, what choices do I keep, and what happens if the sale or purchase changes?”