new build homes

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GeX

GeX

GeX

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Hi all :)

We've begun house hunting, and have been looking at new build developments.

They're attractive because of the help to buy scheme. 20% equity loan topping up the deposit to 25% with only minimal up front from us.

There are older properties near some of the new build developments, they're cheaper - but without the 20% equity loan they're not as affordable right away.

We're going to speak to a mortgage advisor about our options - I'm not attempting to gleam all we need to know from GD :)

But has anyone here bought new build, how was the experience - would you rate the home builder? Also, any people who work in the building trader - anything you've seen that'd put you off buying with some of the new build developers?

Some developers we've looked at, Barratt, Taylor Wimpey, Millers and Seddon. We like the layout of one of the Barratt houses, it's them that we're leaning toward.
 
New build - lots and lots of plaster board, which means minimal sound insulation throughout the house.

Always go old but properly built houses. Just have cash in the bank for repairs. If you want to hear what the neighbor is watching on the telly they're great...

Maybe I'm spoiled here in France. Exterior walls are 2 foot thick stone, and interior are 1 foot thick stone walls. No plasterboard in sight (except a few extra bathrooms we've put in).
 
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I prefer thick/brick walls and floors really - but if you can't afford a good "old fashioned" house, then go for it. Our flat is a relatively new build, and I feel almost as though I can put my finger through the wall - but, it's warm, cheap to run/maintain, and accruing value all the time.

With all the government schemes in effect at the moment it's probably worthwhile, certainly if you get to choose your finishes and so on. Then sell it after a few years and try and get a less "modern" house with more money in your pocket to do so.
 
benskia said:
Hi,

Pretty sure the 2nd wave of the government's equity loan scheme had now kicked in and it works on 2nd hand houses too?
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It's different, gov will vouch for a % of the mortgage to reassure the lender - but it'd still be a 95% mortgage, with the rates that that'd attract.

'Harry said:
New build - lots and lots of plaster board, which means minimal sound insulation throughout the house.

Always go old but properly built houses. Just have cash in the bank for repairs. If you want to hear what the neighbor is watching on the telly they're great...

Maybe I'm spoiled here in France. Exterior walls are 2 foot thick stone, and interior are 1 foot thick stone walls. No plasterboard in sight (except a few extra bathrooms we've put in).
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It totally depends on the developer, which is what I'm asking about. I grew up in a massive Victorian house - old and built well - couldn't hear next door. I've lived in new build apartment buildings and heard nothing of next door - but in the house we lived in before this apartment, we could hear next door.

New build doesn't always mean paper thin walls.
 
Sweet lord jesus on a slice of toast..

New builds are the biggest rip of going.

Crammed in like rabbit hutches, cheap materials, no sound proofing, basically modern day dolls houses built to the smallest budget possible.

Houses for idiots with more money than sense.
 
Me and the partner did to get us on the property ladder, both quite young and didn't have loads of savings so it was the best option for us.

We bought from Taylor Wimpey and don't regret it one bit. There was a few things they messed up on and resolved before we moved in and then just a few teething problems which were quickly sorted. They are easily the biggest and cheapest new builds in our area and there are currently about 10 new developments within a 5 mile radius. But even though they were the cheapest they were still very good quality for the money, much better than Barratts, Charles Church and Persimmon Homes. They did also win quite a few awards last year.
 
I have a new build and yes i can hear the neighbors and they are thrown up with cheap materials but its not damp, everythings new so i havent had to do any repairs and my gas and electric bill is very low, even lower now i have a log burner..

i'd love an older house but i'd have to factor in ripping the place apart because i hate cold damp houses.

like others have said, the deposit was 5% and it was the only way i could afford my own place.
 
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Our house is a 110 year old terrace and it has a few bits of damp here and there. But the bricks are solid, can not hear the neighbours, unless they go psycho!! :p

We had a joiner fit doors the other week and he said the house is leaning, I said so would you after 110 years!! :D
 
I would never live in a new build. Mainly a personal thing - they never have any character at all, both in terms of the actual properly and immediate/surrounding area.
 
Trigger_Happy said:
Sweet lord jesus on a slice of toast..

New builds are the biggest rip of going.

Crammed in like rabbit hutches, cheap materials, no sound proofing, basically modern day dolls houses built to the smallest budget possible.

Houses for idiots with more money than sense.
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Couple in starter home new build=one of them dead within a couple of years! :eek:

I am not kidding!

Cabin Fever!

There is an estate just up the road from me. This is an old(ish) one (90's) so the, erm, "Dwellings" are quite large by modern standards.

This isn't Chavdom by any means, they are all freeholds and in a generally "Posh" area but there have still been 3 deaths by violence over the last 20 years in an estate of only 80 "dwellings"

I have a 1 bed flat (In an older converted property) My Bedroom has a floor area comparable to some of these properties (So called "Studio Flats) entire floor area!:eek:

I'd kill myself after a week or two living in somewhere so cramped, how whole families manage to survive in such accommodation I cannot understand! :confused:
 
GeX said:
They're attractive because of the help to buy scheme. 20% equity loan topping up the deposit to 25% with only minimal up front from us.
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It's not free money though, you've got to pay it back, so surely you are just kicking the can down the road and generating a problem to deal with in the future?
 
[TW]Fox;25618934 said:
It's not free money though, you've got to pay it back, so surely you are just kicking the can down the road and generating a problem to deal with in the future?
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It's interest free for 5 years, and with expected salary increases (hell even without) we'd be able to pay it back by putting money aside every month - and it means that the money we're spending on rent atm goes into paying our mortgage - not someone elses!
 
I can't stand the cardboard box houses. Lived in one when my parents moved for years and couldn't wait to move out.

The company I work for supplies new build homes, specifically Barratts and Taylor Wimpey in this area. Plasterboard, wood and rain are not a good mix when you move in and you wonder why your ceiling starts to sag or your floorboards pop up.

IMPORTANT BIT!!!
I understand from one of our fitters though that you can get large discounts at certain times of the year (June and December) as this is some sort of profit share time. It wouldn't hurt to offer maybe 25% less than the advertised price and see what they say.... (this might not be true but they can only say no, but if it is true, you've saved a lot of money with a lower mortgage)
 
I bought one last year from Millers over a year ago - Couldn't be happier.

There's no one answer, it varies significantly between builders and even between sites. I did a lot of research and swayed away from the larger builders on the sites near my desired area. In some of the bedrooms I could stick my arms out and touch 3 walls without moving, crazy. Or it would be allocated parking on the other side of the site and some of my friends have had nightmares getting snagging issues fixed.

In the end I got a semi with plenty of space, double drive and a very large garden for the same price as comparable "older" properties in the nearby area.

I negotiated lots into the deal and essentially got the whole house decorated to my spec. Any small issues have been fixed within a few days with no quibbles, even items I thought were completely anal on my part and I expected them to push back on - No, contractor was out within a few days.

No damp to speak of.

The adjoining wall is well insulated and breeze block construction. I can just about hear if the neighbours slam kitchen cupboards or if I concentrate and my house is silent I can make out their baby when it's screaming but hardly anything beyond the levels you would expect in a semi. I've never been complained at and I like my 5.1 system quite loud when I'm watching films.

Everything is modern - pressurised hot water, smart meter which submits its own meter readings, zoned central heating system with a timer I don't even fully understand how to use etc...

I hate the thought of DIY so a finished product, with warranty, really appealed as well as the lower running costs. For example in my 3bed with one person living here and the central heating set to 20C morning, evening and weekends my combined energy bill is £95 a month (actual usage over the winter months - less in summer).

I agree not for everyone, but a great way to get on the housing ladder IF you do enough research.
 
Around my area it was either get a new build from TW or get a really bad semi-detached with no parking or one in a bad area. Decent houses in this area cost closer to £200K which was a bit more than I could afford at the time I purchased.

I opted for the new build from TW and so far don't regret it. Having my own property means I have a lot more freedom, and the finishing on mine isn't all that bad (could be better, granted). I have two parking spots and my property is a detached one, a coach house similar to a flat with ground floor under property parking.

Some advice from me:

1. Haggle. Haggle and haggle some more. Go in lower than the asking price, I could have probably got mine even cheaper if I had really haggled with them. They can but say no if you ask for too much off the price, so maybe start 20% lower than asking price and see where that gets you. You can also get extra cash for options if you are buying off plan.

2. If you see something on the design that you don't like, ask to get it moved/changed early on in the process. Boiler in a bad place? get it moved. That room could really use a second window? ask for it. If it's a big deal for you make a big deal out of it and they will probably allow it. Don't roll over on any issue that matters to you.

They kept telling me "they are not a bespoke builder" but they did change a lot of things for people because the designs were a bit thoughtless!

3. Be prepared for delays. They may say that it will be ready in x months but I would add a bit of fat onto that lead time. Mortgage offers only last for 6 months and they normally ask for you to get one early on, so be careful it might expire before the house is built and a lot of providers don't let you extend them.

4. I really don't regret getting networking points put in when I had mine built. Can work out expensive but so good being able to hardwire everything back to my router/switch in the cupboard. The master socket was also moved for where my internet comes in.
 
Russinating said:
I would never live in a new build. Mainly a personal thing - they never have any character at all, both in terms of the actual properly and immediate/surrounding area.
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Mines not too bad in that regard, they fitted old street lamps, houses are made of stone..

to try and make them blend in with the surrounding houses, the house and garden isnt that small really but the road is a bit tight.

i live in a culdesac, i think its much better than say living in a 100 yr old house thats falling apart on a busy road or something.
 
Every development is different. Near my old house they're putting up 12 detached houses in cotswold stone starting at £600k. Down the road, in Swindon, there's 1000's of houses going up at rock bottom prices.
 
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