Buying Redrow/Newbuild - Any Tips On The Process?
Discussion
Been in our Redrow house for 2.5years now. We bought halfway through the development, and negotiated £5k off the list, and a few extras thrown in.
The first houses sold got larger discounts (circa £15k) but had to put up with a building site for ~ 3 years.
I think the quality of their houses depends largely on their local builders and how good the site manager is, we had a few snags, but all had been dealt with quickly and the quality of the work was good, often the rework guys are the more experienced.
Not sure how they're operating, but we reserved our plot (I think ~£1k) which came off the list price of the house, and we then got 3/4 weeks to make a decision on the purchase - I can't remember if the early bird scheme worked the same.
As we had no house to sell, the initial deposit (~ £10k) was paid 10-12 weeks prior to exchange. They were on time, despite our solicitor's best efforts to cock it up!
A colleague purchased a house on the same plot, right at the end of the development, and hasn't got the same discount the first people did. So getting in early is a good shout.
Cheers
Pete
The first houses sold got larger discounts (circa £15k) but had to put up with a building site for ~ 3 years.
I think the quality of their houses depends largely on their local builders and how good the site manager is, we had a few snags, but all had been dealt with quickly and the quality of the work was good, often the rework guys are the more experienced.
Not sure how they're operating, but we reserved our plot (I think ~£1k) which came off the list price of the house, and we then got 3/4 weeks to make a decision on the purchase - I can't remember if the early bird scheme worked the same.
As we had no house to sell, the initial deposit (~ £10k) was paid 10-12 weeks prior to exchange. They were on time, despite our solicitor's best efforts to cock it up!
A colleague purchased a house on the same plot, right at the end of the development, and hasn't got the same discount the first people did. So getting in early is a good shout.
Cheers
Pete
The quality of new builds is very much the same as the quality of any building work - it's not south to do with the umbrella company as it is to do with the site manager and local sub contractors.
The main difference comes from customer management of issues - the principles handed down by HQ. Redrow have a pretty good record in that regard. Same can't be said of a few other mass house builders - particularly Persimmon and now Charles Church (who Persimmon bought recently).
The main difference comes from customer management of issues - the principles handed down by HQ. Redrow have a pretty good record in that regard. Same can't be said of a few other mass house builders - particularly Persimmon and now Charles Church (who Persimmon bought recently).
Venom said:
The quality of new builds is very much the same as the quality of any building work - it's not south to do with the umbrella company as it is to do with the site manager and local sub contractors.
The main difference comes from customer management of issues - the principles handed down by HQ. Redrow have a pretty good record in that regard. Same can't be said of a few other mass house builders - particularly Persimmon and now Charles Church (who Persimmon bought recently).
Persimmon bough Charles Church in 2001 so not exactly recently!The main difference comes from customer management of issues - the principles handed down by HQ. Redrow have a pretty good record in that regard. Same can't be said of a few other mass house builders - particularly Persimmon and now Charles Church (who Persimmon bought recently).
I was a Director at CC at the time of the takeover, in my region were took a great deal of pride in the quality and in customer care. I can confidently say that Persimmon did not have the same attitude. Of course that may have changed now.
Customer care is good if the local team are good and bad if the local team are bad. Its true that the culture of the business can impact customer care, but much of that culture is driven through the local MD. HQ may dictate procedures but its the way those procedures are applied that makes all of the difference.
BoRED S2upid said:
MajorProblem said:
Today's new build estates are tomorrow's slums.
Avoid.
Don't they have to put a certain percent over to social housing from the start? So your neighbours could be unsavoury characters from the start. Avoid.
My sister has one of these new 3 bed "townhouses" that's not in a town. Very close together perfectly square small garden I'm not a fan. Give me a house built 30 or 40 years earlier with a bigger plot room on your drive for 3 cars with another in the garage any day.
I've posted this before on PH.
Swindon has had a huge development in the North from 1997-2011 called Abbey Meads/Priory Vale depending on which part. Redrow built a small estate of homes which was completed in around 1999. I think they still look good today and in comparison to other builders, have aged really well.
I have no relationship to Redrow and unfortunately didn't buy here
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Swindon/@51.60...
Swindon has had a huge development in the North from 1997-2011 called Abbey Meads/Priory Vale depending on which part. Redrow built a small estate of homes which was completed in around 1999. I think they still look good today and in comparison to other builders, have aged really well.
I have no relationship to Redrow and unfortunately didn't buy here
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Swindon/@51.60...
blueg33 said:
Merp said:
Ive just bought a redrow home off plan at the Meadowfort Grange site in Winchcombe, Cheltenham.
All properties seem to sell as soon as they are released so the sales team are not offering any discounts, other than a free dishwasher.
The carpets and flooring are quite expensive throughout the entire property so we are considering buying the same items and having them laid independently after completion.
It works out to be approx 120gbp per m2 from redrow and the same flooring from a specialist is 35gbp (excluding underlay and fitting) - So im trying to work out what is most cost effective.
Ideally I dont want to spend used 987 Boxster money on flooring
Just down the road from me, nice site, Redrow outbid me on the land All properties seem to sell as soon as they are released so the sales team are not offering any discounts, other than a free dishwasher.
The carpets and flooring are quite expensive throughout the entire property so we are considering buying the same items and having them laid independently after completion.
It works out to be approx 120gbp per m2 from redrow and the same flooring from a specialist is 35gbp (excluding underlay and fitting) - So im trying to work out what is most cost effective.
Ideally I dont want to spend used 987 Boxster money on flooring
. We looked at these for my parents. Generally Redrow are one of the better new builds, but extras are expensive.
Do you get up to Prescott? The Revival on Sunday 9th is a good day. Google it
Im not moving back from Austria until the 28th August...then faffing around in Northamptonshire until I move down to Winchcombe on the 8th of September. Ive seen the schedule for Prescott and was planning to attend the meet early October. Unfortunately I will be in my wifes BMW Mini, whilst im spunking out all of my coin on the house!
Do you know if there are any plans on the land next to it? Ive got a plot with a view across the hills to the North/East and I was assured by Redrow that the farmer wasnt planning on selling it anytime soon
Love the Evora btw! An ex colleague of mine will be down in his VX220 so im sure there will be a little envy if your at prescott in Oct.
Merp said:
blueg33 said:
Merp said:
Ive just bought a redrow home off plan at the Meadowfort Grange site in Winchcombe, Cheltenham.
All properties seem to sell as soon as they are released so the sales team are not offering any discounts, other than a free dishwasher.
The carpets and flooring are quite expensive throughout the entire property so we are considering buying the same items and having them laid independently after completion.
It works out to be approx 120gbp per m2 from redrow and the same flooring from a specialist is 35gbp (excluding underlay and fitting) - So im trying to work out what is most cost effective.
Ideally I dont want to spend used 987 Boxster money on flooring
Just down the road from me, nice site, Redrow outbid me on the land All properties seem to sell as soon as they are released so the sales team are not offering any discounts, other than a free dishwasher.
The carpets and flooring are quite expensive throughout the entire property so we are considering buying the same items and having them laid independently after completion.
It works out to be approx 120gbp per m2 from redrow and the same flooring from a specialist is 35gbp (excluding underlay and fitting) - So im trying to work out what is most cost effective.
Ideally I dont want to spend used 987 Boxster money on flooring
. We looked at these for my parents. Generally Redrow are one of the better new builds, but extras are expensive.
Do you get up to Prescott? The Revival on Sunday 9th is a good day. Google it
Im not moving back from Austria until the 28th August...then faffing around in Northamptonshire until I move down to Winchcombe on the 8th of September. Ive seen the schedule for Prescott and was planning to attend the meet early October. Unfortunately I will be in my wifes BMW Mini, whilst im spunking out all of my coin on the house!
Do you know if there are any plans on the land next to it? Ive got a plot with a view across the hills to the North/East and I was assured by Redrow that the farmer wasnt planning on selling it anytime soon
Love the Evora btw! An ex colleague of mine will be down in his VX220 so im sure there will be a little envy if your at prescott in Oct.
I am not sure about the adjoining land, planning is a big fluid at the moment because as always Tewkesbury council are less than efficient! I will check the development plans.
There are a few ph meets locally, last Sunday of each month there is a breakfast meeting at Kemble.
I hope to be at Prescott in October if I am not on holiday.
Good luck with the move. Let me know if you need any local info.
Nick
Dan_1981 said:
Blueg33 - You're obviously experienced in the new build industry - do you have any experience of Harron Homes as a builder?
They seem to be a bit smaller - Leeds based and seem to work in Yorkshire / Derbyshire etc.
Apologies for the hijack OP.
I know of them, they a reasonable rep but I haven't looked closely at their product. I think my business development director lives in one. I will ask him. They seem to be a bit smaller - Leeds based and seem to work in Yorkshire / Derbyshire etc.
Apologies for the hijack OP.
We bought a new Redrow 'Richmond' 2 years. Ago, and we love it. They are good at fixing snags and the room size/ceiling height and windows are all great. Lovely house.
Redrow don't like to discount so get stuff thrown in. Otherwise don't pay them to fit extras as they are very expensive compared to local trades (carpets, sockets, turf, fireplace. Etc.).
Redrow don't like to discount so get stuff thrown in. Otherwise don't pay them to fit extras as they are very expensive compared to local trades (carpets, sockets, turf, fireplace. Etc.).
Good solid advice from everybody thanks!
We've only selected the bi-folding doors to the rear garden (I like the feel of openness)
Bathroom upgrades and tiling, kitchen unit upgrades and spotlights upgrade in the kitchen and all wetrooms.
Carpets and kitchen/hallway flooring will be done seperatly once completed. If there are any recommendations in the Winchcombe/Cheltenham area for flooring specialists then please let me know
I've gone for a Stratford btw - I originally wanted the Shaftsbury but the only released plot didn't appeal to me- plus they were asking for 80k more (20k over the initial approx website price). "Currently" it's only me and my wife so that smaller 4 bed is just right! Our neighbours are burford and balmorals all around...so we're in good company I suspect!
We've only selected the bi-folding doors to the rear garden (I like the feel of openness)
Bathroom upgrades and tiling, kitchen unit upgrades and spotlights upgrade in the kitchen and all wetrooms.
Carpets and kitchen/hallway flooring will be done seperatly once completed. If there are any recommendations in the Winchcombe/Cheltenham area for flooring specialists then please let me know
I've gone for a Stratford btw - I originally wanted the Shaftsbury but the only released plot didn't appeal to me- plus they were asking for 80k more (20k over the initial approx website price). "Currently" it's only me and my wife so that smaller 4 bed is just right! Our neighbours are burford and balmorals all around...so we're in good company I suspect!
Yoof said:
The first houses sold got larger discounts (circa £15k) but had to put up with a building site for ~ 3 years.
I think the quality of their houses depends largely on their local builders and how good the site manager is, we had a few snags, but all had been dealt with quickly and the quality of the work was good, often the rework guys are the more experienced. Pete
Our friends are on the estate we are moving to and they managed a bigger discount for phase 1. They have had to put up with a building site for the last 2 years but have had the benefit of not having a neighbour to the left of them in that time. It's only recently that the last two houses to their left have started to get built. There was a pilon in the field next to them and a sub station had to be built before they could finish.I think the quality of their houses depends largely on their local builders and how good the site manager is, we had a few snags, but all had been dealt with quickly and the quality of the work was good, often the rework guys are the more experienced. Pete
We were weary of the recent negative report on Persimmon homes (as I presume they will use the same contractors for Charles Church) but we know how good our friends house is after 2 years. The only problem they had was the contractors who did the driveway block paving. A friend of ours who has a paving company said they should have it completely ripped up and redone. When he pointed out how badly they cut around the drains and how it wasn't in-line with the house they agreed and did it again.
toon10 said:
Yoof said:
The first houses sold got larger discounts (circa £15k) but had to put up with a building site for ~ 3 years.
I think the quality of their houses depends largely on their local builders and how good the site manager is, we had a few snags, but all had been dealt with quickly and the quality of the work was good, often the rework guys are the more experienced. Pete
Our friends are on the estate we are moving to and they managed a bigger discount for phase 1. They have had to put up with a building site for the last 2 years but have had the benefit of not having a neighbour to the left of them in that time. It's only recently that the last two houses to their left have started to get built. There was a pilon in the field next to them and a sub station had to be built before they could finish.I think the quality of their houses depends largely on their local builders and how good the site manager is, we had a few snags, but all had been dealt with quickly and the quality of the work was good, often the rework guys are the more experienced. Pete
We were weary of the recent negative report on Persimmon homes (as I presume they will use the same contractors for Charles Church) but we know how good our friends house is after 2 years. The only problem they had was the contractors who did the driveway block paving. A friend of ours who has a paving company said they should have it completely ripped up and redone. When he pointed out how badly they cut around the drains and how it wasn't in-line with the house they agreed and did it again.
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