Bellway - buying new
Discussion
I've a real suspicion of new builds, however we've been to view one nearby with a plot backing onto green space which cannot be developed, on a dead end road of the development, in a good area of our local city which we know well. OH really likes the (half built) house, and I'm pleasantly surprised too.
What are Bellway like overall? They seem slightly better than a few others we looked at, new and nearly new.
What's the deal on negotiating a little? e.g. asking for flooring etc as part of the deal. This is last few houses of first phase of a development, there's no need for us to ask for any of the 'deals' like trade-in etc, it's a £400k house.
What else do I need to know?
What are Bellway like overall? They seem slightly better than a few others we looked at, new and nearly new.
What's the deal on negotiating a little? e.g. asking for flooring etc as part of the deal. This is last few houses of first phase of a development, there's no need for us to ask for any of the 'deals' like trade-in etc, it's a £400k house.
What else do I need to know?
I bought new from Bellway. They're OK, but no better than that. They did fix one or two problems after the purchase.
We haggled a little off the price but they insisted the original headline price was shown on the legal documents. Stamp duty also had to be calculated on the full original price. They do this so that other buyers can't look at the Land Registry and see the discounted price you've actually paid...
We haggled a little off the price but they insisted the original headline price was shown on the legal documents. Stamp duty also had to be calculated on the full original price. They do this so that other buyers can't look at the Land Registry and see the discounted price you've actually paid...
Bellway are one of the lower end house bashers. They have a terrible reputation for dragging their heels over snagging issues, and bigger problems like onsite drainage etc. Once they have your money, they’re off to the next person, and you’re suddenly bottom of the list. In an ideal world ( if you really want the house) some sort of condition based retained amount of the purchase price would focus their attention. Also check if any areas will be under a management company, and if it’s RMG, run a country mile.
Our first house was a Bellway in 2013 - lived there for 10 years.
It was fine. Basic, but no issues with the likes of heating / plumbing / electrics.etc
Did the job as far as a starter home.
Only thing was, it was leasehold back then, with other charges such as grounds maintenance.etc - Was very pleased to get away from all that.
It was fine. Basic, but no issues with the likes of heating / plumbing / electrics.etc
Did the job as far as a starter home.
Only thing was, it was leasehold back then, with other charges such as grounds maintenance.etc - Was very pleased to get away from all that.
Started the process on a Bellway new build a while ago but backed off when I started reading the reviews on Trustpilot. They reassured me that they won't increase their annual change for maintenance of communal areas by more than inflation. What they don't tell you is that once the whole development is signed off they hand this to someone else who starts ramping the charges big time. Strictly speaking, Bellway haven't lied as they said they wouldn't increase the charges by more than inflation. They don't tell you that they hand it to someone else who will! Also, complaints of snagging issues, quality issues, and invoices for a second charge that they'd never been told about.
They were one of the better house builders years ago, this was when they were still family owned. I worked for a few of the Bell family at their homes in Northumberland, they were all rolling in cash but pretty down to earth and friendly, they liked a glass of whiskey. I don’t think there is much between any of the big boys, they are all built to a price, its down to luck if your house has been built by a decent sub contractor or a s
te one.
te one.No experience as a buyer, but the Bellway estate just up the road from me is well designed and relatively spacious for new builds, with a decent amount of green space and paths through the site. The floor plans are pretty good too.
The show homes are very well put together, but you'd expect those to be very well checked before the public are allowed in.
The show homes are very well put together, but you'd expect those to be very well checked before the public are allowed in.
Thanks all.
It's a greenfield site, the house backs onto area of woodland/field that's not able to be developed, the estate has trees and green areas with this plot overlooking a small green area. Yes there are issues of build quality which we need to pick up, but it seems OK built and specified. The neighbours who have been in 4 months seem happy.
It's a greenfield site, the house backs onto area of woodland/field that's not able to be developed, the estate has trees and green areas with this plot overlooking a small green area. Yes there are issues of build quality which we need to pick up, but it seems OK built and specified. The neighbours who have been in 4 months seem happy.
Saleen836 said:
How close to the plot are the HA units on the development?
This would be a deal breaker, personally I'd avoid any new development for this reason alone !!! I'd be checking very thoroughly, they usually won't tell you but there will be at some terraces or blocks that will be on the plan. Driving past the sofas on the lawn, kids toys everywhere and there inevitable noisy exhausts from the chav chariots on route to the next deal. The social housing units are 5 doors away, already occupied, they are private bought not HA and rent, and according to a neighbour many are key workers and seem so far OK folk. But then I've lived in Toxteth, Liverpool and Manor Estate Sheffield before so have different views on that issue.
POIDH said:
The social housing units are 5 doors away, already occupied, they are private bought not HA and rent, and according to a neighbour many are key workers and seem so far OK folk. But then I've lived in Toxteth, Liverpool and Manor Estate Sheffield before so have different views on that issue.
Can you elaborate as (unless i'm missing something) i'm confused, you say HA is 5 doors away but private bought not HA and rent, they can't be both???I wouldn't buy a new build again, too much HA nearby that cause disruption to the area (from personal experience) and the land trust costs are totally out of your hands.
We were told £150 a year going up slightly each year as it will reduce the more houses that are sold but after 3 years they now ask for almost £300 a year. They adopted hardly any of the proposed land so last year refunded half that amount but only as credit so are sitting on thousand in refunds and won't issue a cash refund.
They're happy to send debt collectors when you don't pay though.
We were told £150 a year going up slightly each year as it will reduce the more houses that are sold but after 3 years they now ask for almost £300 a year. They adopted hardly any of the proposed land so last year refunded half that amount but only as credit so are sitting on thousand in refunds and won't issue a cash refund.
They're happy to send debt collectors when you don't pay though.
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