Would you buy a new build home?
Discussion
PurpleTurtle said:
Having lived in a 4yo (relatively) new build for 4 years, no, never again.
The thing was cheaply thrown up with poor quality materials, bodges everywhere, paperthin walls, just problem after problem. ]
Now live in a 1970's house so still relatively modern, but made of much sterner stuff.
We’ve a 1950’s house and the walls are solid double depth brick and plaster. The house keeps so much cooler due to that aspect alone ideal for summer - also noise between rooms zero The thing was cheaply thrown up with poor quality materials, bodges everywhere, paperthin walls, just problem after problem. ]
Now live in a 1970's house so still relatively modern, but made of much sterner stuff.
We've just bought a 4 bed detached new build on a small development on the edge of the city; it has a garage, 2-3 car drive and decent sized garden. We are under no illusion that there'll be teething problems but we have had no issues with the developer - Linden.
Having spoken to other owners on the development, there have been very few snags to deal with and their experiences - pre and post sale - have been positive.
The rooms are all a decent size, which suit two adults and two kids, and the sound doesn't reverberate and pass through rooms as it does on new homes usually.
We are happy, having sold a 1930s terraced house previously and lived in a multitude of married quarters over 20 years; some of them great, some not so much so!
Horses for courses as some say. I get why people shy away from them, with horror stories but as long as you do a lot of research you should be ok.
Having spoken to other owners on the development, there have been very few snags to deal with and their experiences - pre and post sale - have been positive.
The rooms are all a decent size, which suit two adults and two kids, and the sound doesn't reverberate and pass through rooms as it does on new homes usually.
We are happy, having sold a 1930s terraced house previously and lived in a multitude of married quarters over 20 years; some of them great, some not so much so!
Horses for courses as some say. I get why people shy away from them, with horror stories but as long as you do a lot of research you should be ok.
Yes. New house we had was much lass hassle than the old one we currently live in.
But - I wouldn't live on a housing estate, whether it was built yesterday or 150 years ago. But recognizing that most people don't have the luxury of living in a quiet village, I would generally go for a new house.
Better design, cheaper to run, more compatible with modern IT, better built (I am not joking) etc
But - I wouldn't live on a housing estate, whether it was built yesterday or 150 years ago. But recognizing that most people don't have the luxury of living in a quiet village, I would generally go for a new house.
Better design, cheaper to run, more compatible with modern IT, better built (I am not joking) etc
Timbuktu said:
Definitely not.
As others have said, paper thin walls and terrible build quality are just some of the features you'd want to avoid.
This always makes me laugh - build qulaity of your average Victorian, Edwardian, 1930's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, house is worse than any modern house. The standards and quality control were much worse, the materials often flawed. The drainage is frequently crap, foundations built without much thought for the ground condtions etc. Pretty cornices and tall skirtings to not make a good house with a sound structure and a good roof.As others have said, paper thin walls and terrible build quality are just some of the features you'd want to avoid.
Oh and lath and plaster walls are a nightmare
Not unless I was commissioning the build and had some say over the build quality and design. These new build estates are thrown up with very little quality my sister has one and the snagging list was huge and took 6 months to sort out it’s one of these 3 story town houses with the living room on the middle floor whoever the architect was obviously missed the lecture about getting a sofa out of or into the living room.
put some balance in
My mate bought a new build, loved it at first but then a tile fell off the roof and smashed into his wifes car, rear sliding doors broke and needed complete replacement amongst other snagging
They sold after 2 years for around 20K profit and moved into a house circa 100 years old. After 2 months they used their profit from the old house to build an extension, they now have snagging to do on the extension...
I've lived in two relatively new builds, once the main snagging has already been done. No complaints
My mate bought a new build, loved it at first but then a tile fell off the roof and smashed into his wifes car, rear sliding doors broke and needed complete replacement amongst other snagging
They sold after 2 years for around 20K profit and moved into a house circa 100 years old. After 2 months they used their profit from the old house to build an extension, they now have snagging to do on the extension...
I've lived in two relatively new builds, once the main snagging has already been done. No complaints
My first house was a new-build I designed and supervised the building of myself. My second home was a new-build from a large UK Developer, my third a new-build from a smaller, more upmarket UK Developer. Now in my fourth home and it was an unfinished bank repo I finished myself.
Made a good profit on every single one, all served their purpose - first home, young family home, good school catchment area and now beach 'retirement' home.
I have never considered buying an older home. I want new. Always.
Made a good profit on every single one, all served their purpose - first home, young family home, good school catchment area and now beach 'retirement' home.
I have never considered buying an older home. I want new. Always.
mcg_ said:
depends on the developer
I was in the 'never' camp, based on experience. However I'm now in this camp.My parents just bought a brand new house, they were also in the 'never' camp, so I was very surprised. Went to see it last week and gave it a proper going over looking for snags, because their site manager was coming the next day to see what needed sorting.
The quality is superb, really impressed with the work, the quality of everything they've used, the design and look of the house, the size of the plot, the ability to get 4 cars on the drive, one in the garage and 6 visitors spaces visible from the door. All the houses have loads of parking, so they're genuine visitors spaces too. Good sized bedrooms, no small room, three well done bathrooms. Site is large, about 30 on now, another 200 to go, but the layout means they're all in little blocks with most houses away from a main access so not traffic running all day.
The one thing I found was that the radiator valves have been fitted 180 degrees out, so the plastic pipes are hanging down and visible on a few of them. If the valves were rotated the pipes would be tucked out of the way. That's it. I would buy one too.
I've had 3 new builds in a row and they have a lot of plusses going for them. All depends on your outlook though, I can see the attraction to older properties too.
We did rent an older house for a while. If they ever made a Movie of the game 'Cluedo' this house would have been ideal. Fully wooden panelled walls in some rooms, iron bath, old but quality tiles on the floors - that type of thing. Heating the place was a challenge in the winter - lots of cold spots in the house - condensation dripping off the windows. Mice in the walls that we just couldn't catch. Some nice features but lots of drawbacks too. Pro's and Con's.
The thing about new build that I like is that its a blank canvas for decorating and you're always moving into a house that's how you like it, rather than spending lots of time ticking off the 'to do' list that an older house has. Our 1st buy was a 3 bed detached with garage that was done by a large developer and was a great 'starter' home for us. 2nd was by a bespoke builder who built more traditional style houses so not exactly a new build estate type thing and the 3rd was a plot of land with planning permission which was great, as we could re-design the layout, do an extension on the original plan before it was built etc - so again, not exactly a new build in reference to what we are talking about - new build estates.
The key thing I've learned though - is that its the interior of the house that gives the most pleasure. Our 2nd home was a stunner, but so was the cost. 3rd house looks very bland from the outside but all the money went on the inside. Does it really matter what your house looks like when you drive up to it? For some, it really does. For me - no. This house is perfect in terms of space, the décor is how we want it and the build quality is excellent. It worked out great value for money. That's why I would recommend the new build for the OP. So what if you house looks like a cookie cutout of next door - if you are getting the space you need inside, and the décor is brand new and to your own taste, you're already most of the way there to getting the perfect house. After all, you spend most of your time inside it, not outside looking at the 'kerb appeal'
We did rent an older house for a while. If they ever made a Movie of the game 'Cluedo' this house would have been ideal. Fully wooden panelled walls in some rooms, iron bath, old but quality tiles on the floors - that type of thing. Heating the place was a challenge in the winter - lots of cold spots in the house - condensation dripping off the windows. Mice in the walls that we just couldn't catch. Some nice features but lots of drawbacks too. Pro's and Con's.
The thing about new build that I like is that its a blank canvas for decorating and you're always moving into a house that's how you like it, rather than spending lots of time ticking off the 'to do' list that an older house has. Our 1st buy was a 3 bed detached with garage that was done by a large developer and was a great 'starter' home for us. 2nd was by a bespoke builder who built more traditional style houses so not exactly a new build estate type thing and the 3rd was a plot of land with planning permission which was great, as we could re-design the layout, do an extension on the original plan before it was built etc - so again, not exactly a new build in reference to what we are talking about - new build estates.
The key thing I've learned though - is that its the interior of the house that gives the most pleasure. Our 2nd home was a stunner, but so was the cost. 3rd house looks very bland from the outside but all the money went on the inside. Does it really matter what your house looks like when you drive up to it? For some, it really does. For me - no. This house is perfect in terms of space, the décor is how we want it and the build quality is excellent. It worked out great value for money. That's why I would recommend the new build for the OP. So what if you house looks like a cookie cutout of next door - if you are getting the space you need inside, and the décor is brand new and to your own taste, you're already most of the way there to getting the perfect house. After all, you spend most of your time inside it, not outside looking at the 'kerb appeal'
We moved from a 160 year old cottage to a brand new house from a "quality" builder. The move was really easy and the house was well designed and in a great location. We knew that before we committed. However there were all sorts of things we had to add - curtain rails, TV aerial, shed, plants etc.
The quality of the basic shell was excellent. However clearly the plumbing subcontractor was a cowboy and there were joinery issues too. The snagging was a major headache (60+ items, although every tiny fault was in there) and after lots of mithering I eventually got 70% of the faults corrected. The remaining 30% I had to deal with myself or have now forgotten about. The NHBC were called in over a major issue with the drains and their conclusion was that the work quality was fine and that it would not be unreasonable for me to have to lift a manhole cover every 3 months and poke away the items from the toilet soil pipe that would accumulate in the corner of a drain - not pleasant!
Even though the new house required more effort than the old cottage I wouldn't hesitate to go for another new build but would go in with my eyes wide open.
The quality of the basic shell was excellent. However clearly the plumbing subcontractor was a cowboy and there were joinery issues too. The snagging was a major headache (60+ items, although every tiny fault was in there) and after lots of mithering I eventually got 70% of the faults corrected. The remaining 30% I had to deal with myself or have now forgotten about. The NHBC were called in over a major issue with the drains and their conclusion was that the work quality was fine and that it would not be unreasonable for me to have to lift a manhole cover every 3 months and poke away the items from the toilet soil pipe that would accumulate in the corner of a drain - not pleasant!
Even though the new house required more effort than the old cottage I wouldn't hesitate to go for another new build but would go in with my eyes wide open.
soupdragon1 said:
If they ever made a Movie of the game 'Cluedo' this house would have been ideal.
Off-topic entirely but: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clue_(film)I chose to buy a central city new build - 8 years old - due to not wishing to rip apart a victorian house yet again.
however, ive ended up ripping this one apart - new wiring in 50% of the house plus new plumbing where i ripped out the hateful standard spec bathrooms. garden is merely a postage stamp and....we took great care ensuring we were as far away as possible from the social houses which wherever you go blight new housing developments these days.
so upsides? location is right next to the city centre. insulation better than i can ever make an older house. parking for 4 vehicles at the front, including a garage. im also onto of a massive park land which makes walking the dog great.
in total, pluses and minuses. but right now, it works for us massively due to its central location to everything.
however, ive ended up ripping this one apart - new wiring in 50% of the house plus new plumbing where i ripped out the hateful standard spec bathrooms. garden is merely a postage stamp and....we took great care ensuring we were as far away as possible from the social houses which wherever you go blight new housing developments these days.
so upsides? location is right next to the city centre. insulation better than i can ever make an older house. parking for 4 vehicles at the front, including a garage. im also onto of a massive park land which makes walking the dog great.
in total, pluses and minuses. but right now, it works for us massively due to its central location to everything.
Edinburgh is a great city to live.
We made the mistake of moving from a whisky bond in Leith to a new build in East Lothian.
Didn’t make a massive amount on the EL house the problem is there are so many new builds around the outskirts but there is bugger all to do so you end up having to come back into town.
Got sick of paying 30 quid a trip on a taxi or suffering the night bus so we moved back a few years ago!
If your going to have a family soon then moving out to new build makes sense but if not city all the way.
We made the mistake of moving from a whisky bond in Leith to a new build in East Lothian.
Didn’t make a massive amount on the EL house the problem is there are so many new builds around the outskirts but there is bugger all to do so you end up having to come back into town.
Got sick of paying 30 quid a trip on a taxi or suffering the night bus so we moved back a few years ago!
If your going to have a family soon then moving out to new build makes sense but if not city all the way.
blueg33 said:
Timbuktu said:
Definitely not.
As others have said, paper thin walls and terrible build quality are just some of the features you'd want to avoid.
This always makes me laugh - build qulaity of your average Victorian, Edwardian, 1930's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, house is worse than any modern house. The standards and quality control were much worse, the materials often flawed. The drainage is frequently crap, foundations built without much thought for the ground condtions etc. Pretty cornices and tall skirtings to not make a good house with a sound structure and a good roof.As others have said, paper thin walls and terrible build quality are just some of the features you'd want to avoid.
Oh and lath and plaster walls are a nightmare
The materials and spec of a couple of the new builds I was working on were, actually, laughable.
I appreciate some new builds are better than others but I'm yet to see one I would actually want to live in myself...
Plus as others have said - he's in his 20s so should be living it up in town!
Timbuktu said:
It may make you laugh, but I'm speaking from personal experience of actually working on new build houses and (unfortunately) briefly living in them.
The materials and spec of a couple of the new builds I was working on were, actually, laughable.
I appreciate some new builds are better than others but I'm yet to see one I would actually want to live in myself...
Plus as others have said - he's in his 20s so should be living it up in town!
It makes me laugh because generally it’s wrong. I have probably been involved in speccing and snagging more new homes than 99% of people on ph. My office used to build 750 units per annum, the directors snagged them all. Occasionally there were problems but the vast majority were very good and the buyers very happy. Independent research also confirmed this. The materials and spec of a couple of the new builds I was working on were, actually, laughable.
I appreciate some new builds are better than others but I'm yet to see one I would actually want to live in myself...
Plus as others have said - he's in his 20s so should be living it up in town!
Many houses built pre 1980’s use properly crap materials installed by untrained unskillec labour. Designs were seriously flawed in terms of structure etc.
Yes I will continue to laugh.
Timbuktu said:
It may make you laugh, but I'm speaking from personal experience of actually working on new build houses and (unfortunately) briefly living in them.
The materials and spec of a couple of the new builds I was working on were, actually, laughable.
I appreciate some new builds are better than others but I'm yet to see one I would actually want to live in myself...
Plus as others have said - he's in his 20s so should be living it up in town!
A 1970's prefab is not 'well built' at all.... The materials and spec of a couple of the new builds I was working on were, actually, laughable.
I appreciate some new builds are better than others but I'm yet to see one I would actually want to live in myself...
Plus as others have said - he's in his 20s so should be living it up in town!
Its timber frame, with internal walls made of 2 sheets of plaster-board sandwiched around a cardboard 'egg box' centre. Not much is square, and one side is on a noticeable slant and has been for nearly 50 years. Things were done quickly and cheaply when they needed council housing.
I really dont buy the argument that older houses are somehow better built than new ones. You find more expensive problems in older houses than you do with new ones, without the benefit of a builder able to snag the problems for free.
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