“Particularly if you don’t have a home to sell first, builders throw collateral at you to encourage you to buy from them,” says Scott.

“If you can help the builder balance their books by purchasing at the end of their financial year — usually March or December — you can dictate the terms. Incentives are designed to pique your interest, but use them to negotiate a cash discount equivalent.”

A search for completed sales in your favoured development at www.nethouseprices.com should give you a sense of how much bargaining power you have. One place you should not cut corners is in paying for advice.

When money is tight, it is tempting to make decisions independently, says Scott, but these deals can be difficult to evaluate. “There is a deal out there for everybody,” he says. “But the experience of a trustworthy financial adviser, lawyer or surveyor can ensure your new home deal doesn’t become a millstone.”

Deals on new builds

Stewart Milne

Deals on offer: assured sale value, home exchange, fixed-rate finance, shared-equity scheme, a 5% deposit and fees and furniture package for first-time buyers

Sites: East Kilbride, Stirling, Aberdeen;

www.stewartmilnehomes.com

Cala

Deals on offer: cash-back, discounts, interior design packages and stamp duty paid on selected plots

Sites: Bearsden, East Kilbride, Larbert, Paisley, Newton Mearns, Glasgow, Stirling;

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