Would you move to a new build
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
We went to have a look. Room sizes are good, build quality appears excellent (to an untrained person that has rebuilt two houses). The gardens aren't badly overlooked, but yes they have no character and its just a housing estate.
[TW]Fox;24031168 said:
Is affordable housing teachers/nurses/etc or is it social housing as well? And the development plans list the affordable housing, so we can aim for a plot not close to it.
It's on the list in the link, that list was 2012.
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I just bought a new build and love it. Like all things it depends on your budget, location and who is building it.
I looked at several sites and they were as said above - cramped, no parking, barely any garden. My pet hates were no dining area and bedrooms so small they would be unusable. But I upped my budget and looked further out and and found a really nice development with more character, reasonable garden sizes, double driveway, a dining room and the bedrooms are much bigger. Snagging issues have all been fixed without question and the energy bills are incredibly low.
I got them to decorate everything to my choices so it shouldn't need any work for a few years yet. I've learnt a lot from it (first time buyer) and there's a couple of things I would do differently but I stand by my decision to get a new build. I compared it to lots of properties in the same area and they didn't come close for the same price and I really hate DIY so I wanted everything ready when I moved in.
It's worth mentioning that banks can be more fussy - they want a larger deposit as they don't adopt their market value until the site is complete (who would buy a used house when you could have a brand new one for he same price?). And look at the affordable housing locations - on this development they've stuck them well out of the way.
And never, ever pay the asking price. Go in low and ask for lots of extras.
I looked at several sites and they were as said above - cramped, no parking, barely any garden. My pet hates were no dining area and bedrooms so small they would be unusable. But I upped my budget and looked further out and and found a really nice development with more character, reasonable garden sizes, double driveway, a dining room and the bedrooms are much bigger. Snagging issues have all been fixed without question and the energy bills are incredibly low.
I got them to decorate everything to my choices so it shouldn't need any work for a few years yet. I've learnt a lot from it (first time buyer) and there's a couple of things I would do differently but I stand by my decision to get a new build. I compared it to lots of properties in the same area and they didn't come close for the same price and I really hate DIY so I wanted everything ready when I moved in.
It's worth mentioning that banks can be more fussy - they want a larger deposit as they don't adopt their market value until the site is complete (who would buy a used house when you could have a brand new one for he same price?). And look at the affordable housing locations - on this development they've stuck them well out of the way.
And never, ever pay the asking price. Go in low and ask for lots of extras.
Eh? The development we're looking at isn't on that list.
Sorry, I'm on the wrong wave length this morning, which development are you on about.
See this link, if you contact them, they might have a more up to date info.: http://www.connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk/
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Nooope. Not any of the ones I've seen anyway, ignoring the generally poor build quality and cheap materials used, they always seem to just pack as many houses as they can fit into the smallest possible area. I like having a garden and the view out of my window not bring the window of the house next door.
Saying that, I have just remembered a new build near by at the base of a hill where they gave the houses some room and built them to at least an aesthetically high standard..
Still not a chance,my house is 160 years old this year.
Saying that, I have just remembered a new build near by at the base of a hill where they gave the houses some room and built them to at least an aesthetically high standard..
Still not a chance,my house is 160 years old this year.
[TW]Fox;24031168 said:
This is the number 1 issue for me.
I currently rent on a new development, about 6 years old at my end but other parts still being built. Being on a London commute train line its full of young professionals, but dotted between them are pockets if council estate chavs. Police are always up the road sorting out disputes or dispersing large groups of kids. There's been lots of vandalism, things stolen from the building sites. I even had the wiper blades ripped off my car.
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Housing estates with longy windy roads are annoying, one hour on the motorway and then another hour getting from one end of a new build estate to the other.
Given that everyone is on top of each other, I've never heard anyone say hello to their neighbour.
Great for 20-30's, low bills and you are working so much that you don't notice the hobbit sized proportions. Minimal investment in furniture as there is no room. Also easy to sell, as you are not trying to flog something that is likely to have developed serious problems.
Given that everyone is on top of each other, I've never heard anyone say hello to their neighbour.
Great for 20-30's, low bills and you are working so much that you don't notice the hobbit sized proportions. Minimal investment in furniture as there is no room. Also easy to sell, as you are not trying to flog something that is likely to have developed serious problems.
We bought a new build in Cambridge. Pro's and con's for everything. We bought where the developer bought a small piece of farmland and put one road in. 40 or so houses and a block of flats.
The house was large, 4 proper double bedrooms all with built in wardrobes with a double garage, decent enough sized garden that I can have a vegetable plot but of course it's over looked more than I would like. Then again my last house wasn't overlooked at all in a lovely area and houses used to get burgled.
Mines Brick and block rather than timber framed but it's still plasterboard walls. It was a compromise, if I had enough money I'd build the same house again with more solid internal walls but I can't. The house was perfect for us at the time. Now I know we won't have another child I'd downsize if the Mrs would let me
We have had issues though. Blocked sewer not on the developement but on the highstreet. It took them 5 years to find it had collapsed on the highstreet. The trouble is until your road is adopted it's hard to get anyone out from anglian water. Not the developers fault but things like that on new builds can become frustrating.
Build wise the only area we haven't been happy with is the tiling. Grout was spread on far too thinly and the tile adhesive in the showers not up to the job, which of course we only found out about when it was too late.
That though is the gamble. The houses will only ever be as good as the contractors they hire and site manager to keep an eye on them to check the materials being used and if enough time is being left for example for an area to properly dry before applying tiles.
I'd buy new again but I'd want to do my own visits and spot checks during the build. If I couldn't or couldn't send a friend whose a builder I'd not buy new again.
The house was large, 4 proper double bedrooms all with built in wardrobes with a double garage, decent enough sized garden that I can have a vegetable plot but of course it's over looked more than I would like. Then again my last house wasn't overlooked at all in a lovely area and houses used to get burgled.
Mines Brick and block rather than timber framed but it's still plasterboard walls. It was a compromise, if I had enough money I'd build the same house again with more solid internal walls but I can't. The house was perfect for us at the time. Now I know we won't have another child I'd downsize if the Mrs would let me
We have had issues though. Blocked sewer not on the developement but on the highstreet. It took them 5 years to find it had collapsed on the highstreet. The trouble is until your road is adopted it's hard to get anyone out from anglian water. Not the developers fault but things like that on new builds can become frustrating.
Build wise the only area we haven't been happy with is the tiling. Grout was spread on far too thinly and the tile adhesive in the showers not up to the job, which of course we only found out about when it was too late.
That though is the gamble. The houses will only ever be as good as the contractors they hire and site manager to keep an eye on them to check the materials being used and if enough time is being left for example for an area to properly dry before applying tiles.
I'd buy new again but I'd want to do my own visits and spot checks during the build. If I couldn't or couldn't send a friend whose a builder I'd not buy new again.
Associate
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We bought a new build 2 bedroom flat 4 years ago. We looked at quite a few and this was the most decent size-wise, but still not big. My bro and aunt-in-law live in new builds too and they are also small.
It's nice that everything is new, but we are looking at buying a house now and we are not going to buy a new build again. They are just far too small to actuall live in and you quickly run out of space. I'm also sick of an open plan lounge/kicthen/dining area.
It's nice that everything is new, but we are looking at buying a house now and we are not going to buy a new build again. They are just far too small to actuall live in and you quickly run out of space. I'm also sick of an open plan lounge/kicthen/dining area.
Soldato
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The missus and I looked at a few new builds last year but we personally did not like the feeling of the places. We are a little older now and felt that we wanted something with some character, which is something new builds seem to lack in my opinion. A friend of mine ended up buying one and even though it is a nice build, I just don't get a warm feeling from it. They were all being sold ready to move in, ie white goods all in place but it was not enough to tempt us. He has also been having a few teething problems with it and has had the builders round twice. An old house is way past this, though of course, you do need to keep it maintained as much as a new one.
We ended up buying a property built in 1890 instead. I love the original features and the road has some nice history to it. I even love all the slightly wonky bits, though we are planning on making it modern and minimalist inside, but keeping the original features.
We ended up buying a property built in 1890 instead. I love the original features and the road has some nice history to it. I even love all the slightly wonky bits, though we are planning on making it modern and minimalist inside, but keeping the original features.
I would, and am, after spending a lot of time looking round for what we want and our budget it was the right fit.
Some rather sweeping generalisations in the thread, not all new builds are over priced for instance, looking round we'd need at least an extra 30k to buy something already built that's on the market with the same features etc.
Also lucky in that due to the size of the development there's no social or affordable housing.
Our current place was virtually a new build (less than 2 years old) when we bought it and again it's been great. Plenty of room given it's a 2 bed, nice sized plot, lovely long driveway etc.
It totally depends on the particular development which seems to be hit and miss, pick a good plot on a decent development and you'll be ok.
Some rather sweeping generalisations in the thread, not all new builds are over priced for instance, looking round we'd need at least an extra 30k to buy something already built that's on the market with the same features etc.
Also lucky in that due to the size of the development there's no social or affordable housing.
Our current place was virtually a new build (less than 2 years old) when we bought it and again it's been great. Plenty of room given it's a 2 bed, nice sized plot, lovely long driveway etc.
It totally depends on the particular development which seems to be hit and miss, pick a good plot on a decent development and you'll be ok.
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Soldato
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No way.
I don't like new builds for a variety of reasons. They're soulless, they just look so generic. Even the higher end models tend not to be built properly as they are all built to cost. The view from the gardens / bedroom windows tends to be of other houses looming over your view. Also they tend to have smaller rooms or badly thought out rooms (such as silly box rooms so they can say OMG THREE BEDROOM HOUSE)
What I don't get is the snobbery about affordable housing. We have a complex of social housing, affordable housing and OAP housing opposite the green at the back of our house. Not one bit of trouble in the decade(s) I have lived here. I supposes nurses or other lower income families should just be put on their own estates, right?
My house is two centuries old and has her flaws (my garden is a little small, the door frames have twisted over those years, you can't hang a picture without a diamond bit drill) but I'd not swap her for a new build, even one that is bigger. In my Victorian dinning room with the coal fire roaring I'm up to my nose in character and that makes me happy.
Other people like new builds, but hey, not everybody is the same.
I don't like new builds for a variety of reasons. They're soulless, they just look so generic. Even the higher end models tend not to be built properly as they are all built to cost. The view from the gardens / bedroom windows tends to be of other houses looming over your view. Also they tend to have smaller rooms or badly thought out rooms (such as silly box rooms so they can say OMG THREE BEDROOM HOUSE)
What I don't get is the snobbery about affordable housing. We have a complex of social housing, affordable housing and OAP housing opposite the green at the back of our house. Not one bit of trouble in the decade(s) I have lived here. I supposes nurses or other lower income families should just be put on their own estates, right?
My house is two centuries old and has her flaws (my garden is a little small, the door frames have twisted over those years, you can't hang a picture without a diamond bit drill) but I'd not swap her for a new build, even one that is bigger. In my Victorian dinning room with the coal fire roaring I'm up to my nose in character and that makes me happy.
Other people like new builds, but hey, not everybody is the same.
Soldato
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I am hopefully going to be moving into a new build soon. I looked about the area and I could either spend a bit less and get a flat (didn't want a flat) or spend quite a bit more (30-40K) to get the kind of house I'd like to get. The build I am getting is a Coach house.
In the end I opted for the new build, I know the area is decent, it's close enough to work that I could walk, with shops nearby, and motorway exits to wherever I want to go.
I am not expecting I will make a killing on gaining value or anything. I reckon if I did sell it I would get back approximately what I paid in a few years time perhaps, but it's somewhere that is big enough for me to live in for the forseeable future.
No garden on mine unfortunately, but then the only real use I would have for a garden would be somewhere to chill outside when it's sunny. I can always jet back up to my parents up the road if I want to do that.
In the end I opted for the new build, I know the area is decent, it's close enough to work that I could walk, with shops nearby, and motorway exits to wherever I want to go.
I am not expecting I will make a killing on gaining value or anything. I reckon if I did sell it I would get back approximately what I paid in a few years time perhaps, but it's somewhere that is big enough for me to live in for the forseeable future.
No garden on mine unfortunately, but then the only real use I would have for a garden would be somewhere to chill outside when it's sunny. I can always jet back up to my parents up the road if I want to do that.
The fact that you've not had any trouble is probably why you're not able to understand and have instead dismissed it as snobbery. Fortunately in the block of flats I live in there aren't any however one of the blocks around the corner (built by the same developer) contains a portion and another block further down is completely social housing. As there is a residents forum you do get to hear about some of the incidents and it isn't pleasant for some people living there - ranging from music/noise(tis great to play music at 3am mid week when you've got no job to get up to), rubbish being left in corridors and people keeping staffy/pit bull type dogs when technically no dogs are allowed at all.
Its simply a risk that is sensible to avoid/minimie if possible... while you quite possibly end up with the nicest neighbours possible you also have to consider that people who are so lazy they throw rubbish out of their windows perhaps have a higher chance of being unemployed and requiring social housing. You've got a higher chance of being housed next to someone with 'issues' or quite frankly people who just don't know how to behave in a very very basic sense.
While I can see a need for key workers - nurses etc.. to require affordable housing in a particular area I can't see the need for anyone else... If you own your own place you'll take pride in it, if you're paying rent for it you'll probably still be concerned about your deposit etc... if you're getting it subsidised or completely free of charge and have nothing to live for anyway then what do you care...
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And this hits the nail on the head, everyone is different
World would be a dull looking place if everyone liked and wanted the same thing.
Some people want the grandeur/character, others aren't that fussed.