New home builder issues with garage

ScoobyDoo69

ScoobyDoo69

ScoobyDoo69

Soldato
Joined
27 Aug 2003
Posts
9,814
Location
West Midlands
Howdy,

Looking for other people's opinions on something so please let me know what you think.

I have reserved a new build home with detached garage before foundations were laid and said new build home is currently only at 1st floor floor level and garage is fully built.

The garage was built very early, with all the other houses have their garages going up either at the same time or after the main house building has been built. This caused an issue with that I was unable to add the optional extra of an extra door to the side of the garage for access via the garden. This was a problem, but minor, I've not lost anything.

I went back to check build progress on Saturday to find the house at 1st floor level and in a different brick to what I had signed for. Not so much a problem as I prefer how these bricks look, but still... not what I signed for.

I then realised that the garage is now in a completely different brick to the house and therefore does not match. This bothers me so I go around the rest of the development and see that not a single other garage doesn't match their associated house.

So I have 4 "problems"

1. Garage built too early, couldn't spec a side door.
2. The house is not being built in the bricks that I signed for (kind of glad about that.)
3. The garage and the house do not match.
4. My home would be the only one with a mismatched garage.

I raised this with the sales person on site on Saturday, she seemed very bothered by it and very apologetic. She fired off an email to the regional manager followed by a phone call this morning to follow up to see what they could do to rectify or whatever. This is the last plot of said type of house that I would be interested in (the others have the garages at the back, less parking space overall, not what I want.) so this is the only plot left I'm interested in.

Late this afternoon I received a phone call from the sales person giving me some options. They are willing to cover the side of the garage that is visible in the garden with plants or some bamboo decoration, no mention of apology or anything like that. Obviously garage can't be knocked down and rebuilt, neither can house. I expected more?

So... this has left me feeling underwhelmed and generally put off. But am I being silly? I'm paying decent money for a house and I expect everything to be as it should?

What do you guys think?

TLDR Garage built too early, house bricks not what signed for, house brickwork doesn't match garage, developer offered to cover/decorate garden side of garage, me underwhelmed..
 
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It's your money, and you've got to look at it every time you open the front door and pull up at night.

Given that you're spending a six figure sum, and the best they can come up with is some fast growing plants (that you'll have to tend to) I'd be putting an ultimatum on the table. Fix it, or do one.
 
Exactly. You signed for what YOU wanted. That is how it should be built. What about consulting your solicitor? I would be looking for solid advice about this as remember you are the one that has to live there.
 
I guess it depends on how much you want it and whether you can be bothered to look elsewhere I guess.

If it's the most desirable house of the lot, and they know that, then they might not be too bothered if you walk.

I understand your frustration though - it's a lot of money and you want it how you expect - not unreasonable.

I suppose you have a few options: Come to terms with it as is, play hard ball and call their bluff by threatening to pull out, or as koolpc said - seek advice. Be warned that you might do all three!
 
I would be demanding they rebuild the garage. It will cost them peanuts in the scheme of things and a reasonable compromise given the alternative is rebuilding the house. I wouldn't be settling for any less.
 
What if they skinned the garage? Or is that more hassle than building a new one?

If they go for it, I'd love to be a fly on the wall when they tell the builders lol.
 
It's not the most desirable plot by any means. There are bigger houses on the development for sure, but probably (for me) the best of what's left for this house type.

They've said no rebuilding is going to happen so reskinning I doubt also.

Thing is I'm not sure if I'm actually more bothered about the garage bricks or the fact that they've essentially offered me some plants as the solution/apology/incentive.

If they'd turned round and apologised and offered to pay for some extras on the house (I'm already planning on quite a few regardless!) then maybe I'd feel better about it. But I feel that essentially right now they think it's ok for me to have a different house if they give me some plants...

Think I need to speak to my solicitor for legal advise, but I really appreciate the opinions. Glad to see that I'm not just being silly!
 
That's very true actually. It's a cover up, literally. And the more I think about it the more I am offended by plants covering it. I'd have rathered they said tough cookies.

Sales office at the site is closed until Thursday now so I've got some time so decide what I want to do.

Thanks all.
 
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Unfortunately they've probably got the upper hand in negotiations, as they can simply wave you goodbye and return any deposit you may have paid, then look for the next buyer which, if it's a decent house, will never be far away.

Don't suppose you've got any pics?
 
I do have pictures but you can't really see the garage due to fencing around the build work. I'll go through the pics though and see if anything worth posting up.

The sales person did actually say that they could well find someone who simply didn't care about the difference and would buy in the knowledge of differing bricks, which would leave them with no reason to fix etc.
 
Here we go, took one through the fence. You can see garage in red brick and my prospective house to the left in the lighter bricks. House to the right also has the light bricks tbf..

IMG_20150502_135846_zpsqy0mqhnu.jpg
 
Hmm, it's not *that* bad as it goes. Still can't fathom why they'd use that type of brick when EVERY other property around it has lighter brickwork mind.

That said, I'd still be pushing them to sort it. It looks like a 3-4 bedroom place, so I'm assuming you're spending over £250k to buy your house - that sort of money would demand perfection for me.
 
Is that Miller Homes? Looks like an identical design to some on the estate I live on.

I was ready to come in here saying that's outrageous and you should walk away - but to be honest that photo looks fine. You'll hardly see the garage from the street and when you see the garage wall out the back windows you'll be inside the house and the contrast won't be noticeable. Maybe get them to put some nicer bushes in rather than something too fast growing.

If that was me I would use it as a negotiating point to get a patio added or something unless you already have other reservations about the property.
 
I think they should offer more. They should offer to turf and plant the back garden to show home standard. That way covering the wall with plants will at least match everything else.

Also they could put a door in easily enough!

Does the garage have power? Or is it just a shell?
 
ScoobyDoo69 said:
Obviously garage can't be knocked down and rebuilt, neither can house. I expected more?
Click to expand...

Why?
If you bought a red car and they brought a blue one would you just take it?
Can they just cancel the agreement and give you your deposit back for something they messed up? Id consult your solicitor and find out what you can legally do as other people have said for 200k+ Id expect to have what I paid for.
 
Would drive me nuts that its not quite right. Whole point buying off plan is to have exactly what you want.

Though the photos show it is different, it is the same as the base level of the house.

I would push big time on upgrades in the house.
 
re the odd bricks this happened on our house, one batch of bricks on the main wall didn't properly match the rest

the building company got some folks in to "tint" the bricks, they effectively painted them to match, 15yrs on and they are still fine
 
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