Would you buy a new build home?

Would you buy a new build home?

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Discussion

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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kurt535 said:
Henners said:
I wouldn't.

For £500k round here I get 4 bedrooms in an executive home which seems to mean no real garden, one parking space and a lounge / kitchen / diner.
who'd be an executive? all that hard work and life sapping job just to own a house you never see as consolation in the back of your mind!!
I drove past a poky little plot along side an A-road the other day that was having 8 houses squeezed on to it, with a big billboard advertising them as

"an exclusive selection of eight luxury executive three bedroom homes".

So many of those words were either superfluous or downright wrong.

Chamon_Lee

3,779 posts

146 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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We really are our own worst enamy. People just seem to throw money away without any proper due diligence; builders throw up any old crap and people just keep on paying for it.
Would I buy a new home, yes of course but I would make sure the place I am buying is a good one.

My friend on pure blind faith buys a new build out of desperation to get on the property ladder and the drive wasn't even wide enough to open the door on his car! Bathroom flooded in 2 weeks due to a pipe bursting off, plaster coming off in chunks over the last few months, never mind the mile long snagging list outside of those things

On the other hand I am seen some new builds and the work is excellent. Same as its always been and always will be: there are good ones and bad ones. Check to see which one you are paying for!!!

Nickbrapp

5,277 posts

129 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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I would say this is a pretty decent house “for a new build”


mcg_

1,445 posts

91 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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^bloor homes are quite pricey / good.

Persimmon = cheap (in comparison to others) and cheerful. A good ish way for someone to get on the housing market with help to buy (better than renting?)

Generally, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. All depends on the developer.

MrBarry123

6,025 posts

120 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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Yes.

We're just about to exchange on a new build however it's been built by a small, local developer rather than one of the big companies. The location is okay (7/10) but the fit and finish is excellent (9/10) for the money.

Highway Star

3,573 posts

230 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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Nickbrapp said:
I would say this is a pretty decent house “for a new build”

Bloor build a good quality product generally, as do CALA of the big nationals. Redrow, as someone mentioned above, are decent also.

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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Spoke to Redrow, well, after an annoying recorded message telling me I'm being connected to a sales 'executive', and about 30 rings, then spoke to some effeminate sounding chap who could do noting but take my number as the sales team didn't. start until 10am. I only wanted to check if they had properties available in my budget.

Rand back later in the day to the same recorded message, another 30 or so rings before the same chap answers and tells me the sales teal are busy and will have to ring me back. Still can't tell me what their houses are priced at. Further discussion clarifies it's a very busy site supposedly and the sales team is actually just one person.

I declined to leave my details and hung up.

I have no doubt my stubbornness can result in me missing out on things sometimes but I really can't be bothered to deal with a company that 1 has stty recorded messages 2 are understaffed 3 the staff in place aren't trained to do anything useful and 4 aren't willing to spend a bit of money on what matters rather than glossy brochures.

blueg33

35,580 posts

223 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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mcg_ said:
^bloor homes are quite pricey / good.

Persimmon = cheap (in comparison to others) and cheerful. A good ish way for someone to get on the housing market with help to buy (better than renting?)

Generally, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. All depends on the developer.
Both Bloor and Persimmon have products that span the range from starter homes to mid-top end. The product used will depend on the site and local market.

Personally, I find Bloor’s products a bit predictable and dull (sorry Adrian), Redrow product is much more imaginative, even Persimmon are showing more imagination these days.

Our product is aimed at a very specific market for supported housing and with the cost constraints it’s proving difficult for us to make the buildings look different/interesting on the outside. Much money is spent on hidden spec.

Tiggsy

10,261 posts

251 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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I believed all the anti New build stuff till we bought one 2 years ago.

Snagging just means you spend as long as you can having them come and fix anything that is not perfect. 2 years on our house looks like New still! It’s great. Like having handy men on call!

Garden is small (for a big 4 bed) but all we do is Bbq in it. We are out every weekend so wanted simple. First thing we did was got rid of all the grass!!! And binned our mower!

And the best bit.....My other half organised a Xmas drinks for our neighbours (we moved in autum time) I thought no one will come, modern new build estate......had people packed in the house till 4am! Now a regular event that we all get together for bbq, poker nights, whatever. Few of us are off to a neighbors weding today! And we are all a mix, young old couples singles.

Most social place I’ve ever lived.

uuf361

3,154 posts

221 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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Yes, I’ve bought 4.......the only house I’ve bought that was pre-enjoyed I pretty much gutted before I moved in.....

Escy

3,907 posts

148 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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My parents and grandmother both bought new build houses in the same development and got totally done over. They bought it quite early in the development, a few years later after the building was done, the developer had added a 3 story office building in the middle that wasn't on the plans. Everyone got together with some legal action but it got nowhere.

The problem which I think applies to lots of new builds is there isn't enough space for cars, they typically give one drive space per house but every house in the street has 2 or 3 cars, add in the office block and it's total carnage around there, cars parked both sides of the road. Also after a couple of years they had added the affordable housing that they are required to build on new developments. All of a sudden the place turned to st, beer cans dumped, dog st on the pavements, gangs of youth's with bad attitudes. It's a bit of shame. The house prices tanked.

loafer123

15,404 posts

214 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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blueg33 said:
Both Bloor and Persimmon have products that span the range from starter homes to mid-top end. The product used will depend on the site and local market.

Personally, I find Bloor’s products a bit predictable and dull (sorry Adrian), Redrow product is much more imaginative, even Persimmon are showing more imagination these days.

Our product is aimed at a very specific market for supported housing and with the cost constraints it’s proving difficult for us to make the buildings look different/interesting on the outside. Much money is spent on hidden spec.
Is Steve Morgan still proud of the fact he spends £1,200 on average on bath and WC fittings per house, or has he shut up about that now?

blueg33

35,580 posts

223 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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loafer123 said:
Is Steve Morgan still proud of the fact he spends £1,200 on average on bath and WC fittings per house, or has he shut up about that now?
He has never mentioned it to me. £1200 is quite a lot for a volume new build. A decent toilet if about £60, cistern £20, bath £80, brassware £200, shower and tray £400, shower valve £200.

That list will be all branded stuff like ideal standard, Merlyn and cross water. TBH if he is spending £1200 he needs to have a word with his procurement team unless the price includes tiles and floor covering.

loafer123

15,404 posts

214 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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blueg33 said:
loafer123 said:
Is Steve Morgan still proud of the fact he spends £1,200 on average on bath and WC fittings per house, or has he shut up about that now?
He has never mentioned it to me. £1200 is quite a lot for a volume new build. A decent toilet if about £60, cistern £20, bath £80, brassware £200, shower and tray £400, shower valve £200.

That list will be all branded stuff like ideal standard, Merlyn and cross water. TBH if he is spending £1200 he needs to have a word with his procurement team unless the price includes tiles and floor covering.
I believe that was everything per house in bathrooms and WCs. Crap low quality stuff with a brand, but made specifically for the large builders.

As far as advice I would give, never buy from a volume house builder where it is built to a price to maximise profit, but the local SME ones can do good value stuff.




anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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I wouldn't buy a new build based on my previous experiences.

- Bought a flat from a developer which came with the 2 year NHBC warranty. Had problems with the bathroom and the developer had no interest in resolving. Had to get the NHBC involved who awarded in my favour but even then the developer did the absolute bare minimum to put right which ended up not being a good job. I just gave up in the end.

- Social housing allocation. When the development is brand new it's nice and quiet. But after a couple of years tenants move around and the noise/theft/litter starts to get worse. You have to make sure you buy as far away from it on the development as possible.

- Agreed to buy new build house and then pulled out 3 weeks before move in date because of the now well documented leaseholder issue. It's pure greed on the part of the developer. Will always go freehold from now on.






blueg33

35,580 posts

223 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
quotequote all
loafer123 said:
I believe that was everything per house in bathrooms and WCs. Crap low quality stuff with a brand, but made specifically for the large builders.

As far as advice I would give, never buy from a volume house builder where it is built to a price to maximise profit, but the local SME ones can do good value stuff.
It’s all built to a price to maximise profit regardless of size, just some are better than others. For the record at Miller the stuff we used was the same as retail but buying power means you buy at cost plus, likewise at Charles Church. Looking at Redrow spec the bathrooms are little different from retail.

Nampahc Niloc

910 posts

77 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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Integroo said:
My concerns with a new build are depreciation, snagging issues, being stuck on a soulless housing estate in my late twenties, and the additional commute (would likely be bus or train depending on transport links at development). However the advantages seem to be modern well kitted out home under warranty and guarantee, that we would not need to move from for many years (I'm sure in a few years we would want to upsize from a City centre flat). It would also get us on the housing ladder a year early.
Edited by Integroo on Tuesday 14th August 08:41
Would I buy a New build? Yes and I have. However, do your research. Same as any house, it needs to be well built. People dismiss new builds, but not all developers are building for as cheap as they can. So to answer your concerns:

Depreciation: yes it may depreciate initially, but I’m assuming you’re planning to stay there long enough for the price to bounce back up. Also, remember that you will have to spend money on an old house anywah, much of which won’t necessarily add to the value.

Snagging: yes there will be defects, but the developer will fix them for you. Sometimes they are pretty bad at this. However, if you buy an old house, in all probability, there will be far more things that require fixing, and guess who’s responsibility it will be? Yours.

Soulless Housing Estate: I suppose you just need to pick your area. Remember, it’s the people who make the difference. Try to chat to some of the people who have already moved in. This applies to a lot of your worries actually. They will be able to tell you of any problems they’ve had.

Finally, to paraphrase Kirsty Allsop from Location Location Location: Futureproof yourself, a property is a long term investment, so plan for your needs in a few years time, not just your party lifestyle now.

I’m not saying definitely buy the new build, they can be terrible rip offs, but that’s no different to any house. You need to decide if they’re value for money. This means researching the developer online and speaking to the people who have already bought one.

Hope this helps, and sorry if I’ve repeated what others have already said, I wasn’t going to read through 5 pages or posts.


Garemberg

424 posts

88 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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You seldom hear the satisfied new build owners only the ones with issues, much like everything else.

We bought a new build (5 bed) by Cala in Edinburgh in 2016 and have been delighted with it. We did a lot of research about the builder and how other estates by them aged after 5 - 10 years plus their after sales service.

In terms of problems two years on it's a couple of sticking doors, paint finish, one leaky under sink waste that's it and all were fixed with no issues at all our neighbours have similar experiences.

It's been one of the best decisions we ever made.




Edited by Garemberg on Monday 20th August 13:02

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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mcg_ said:
Generally, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. All depends on the developer.
Exactly what I posted earlier. There's no such thing as a generic "new build home" - they all differ according to the developer and the development.

andye30m3

3,452 posts

253 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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I happy buy a one off new build or something from a small developer on a small estate.

I wouldn't want to move to one of the big new build estates from one of the national developers. I tend to find their products are quite often quite expensive, lots of small rooms with little storage and the houses are all to often on very small plots which are too close to each other.

I'm not all that keen on timber framed houses and certainly not timber framed flats.