Pulling out of a new build

[Brookert]

Afternoon all,

Trying to keep this short and sweet. I reserved a new build house back in late April, was told the exchange would be late May with estimated finish in September. Shock horror, the salesman was talking rubbish and I can't see the house being finished much before Christmas, and we still haven't exchanged. I've had enough with the builder and want out.

I've paid a reservation fee, which is fully refundable before exchange. I've paid for a few extras, which I probably won't get back, and a fee to the financial advisor (help to buy) and solicitors. Paperwork wise, I've signed the mortgage deed, and our end of the contract (but not dated) and the help to buy offer has expired. I've not yet handed over the deposit to the solicitor.

On appearance, I can tell the builder to shove it, ask for a final invoice of services from the solicitor and that's me gone? Obviously I will go to the solicitor before going full nuclear on the buying process.

 

[Brookert]

Would you buy the house if they compensated you for the delays?

I don't think so. I've heard enough lies from the sales agent. The big one being the green field next door to my house. When asked 'are there any plans for housing on that field next door', the answer I got was 'we don't own that land'. This in itself wasn't a lie, but they had already begun the surveying process to begin the planning application for 170 houses next door!

Another couple reserved a house on the promise that they were in a cul de sac (according to the plans), turns out this would actually be one access road to the much larger site next door.

I've had enough of it. We've had no concessions on price, discount on extras, nothing our way at all. We have to turf the garden and tile and carpet 80% of the house. We haven't got an agreement yet that we can have the internals painted trade white instead of the hideous Mag they use. We originally went for a house 50m away, but came back 2 weeks later and it had been reserved, fair enough. The mirror image house on the end of the same row was magically 10k more expensive the week later.

It's a shame because the build quality of the houses are superb.

 

[Brookert]

Just to update the thread, the builder refunded all fees and extras as they hadn't got to the stage of being ordered. Customer service from the developer was great, apart from the one sales guy ruining it.

I've just had an offer accepted on a 3 bed detached in a lovely part of Suffolk, absolutely chuffed to bits we came across the house when we did straight after this mess! The best part is, no help to buy, and we have spare cash to do what we want to the house.

 

[Brookert]

The only reason I went for it in the first place was the solid internal walls and location ofc. Sad I know. All internal walls are breezeblock and plaster. The brickwork was phenomenal compared to your big house builders.

All I'll say about the new place is, anybody who uses the Orwell River, you'll see me out on the water hopefully next year!