Part-Exchange Experience?

Davesnave

stingy_rach wrote: »

This is not a wind up. I am just asking as I have heard many horror stories about part exchanging with developers especially Barratts who we have gone with.

I am not too worried about the price decreases over the next year as I am in this for the long run and we would have lost out on our old house if we didn't move.

What I was asking is whether anyone else has part exchanged and whether they encountered any problems with the process and if there are any pitfalls I should watch out for. If this doesn't seem like a worthwhile question then apologies

There's nothing to apologise for; it's a perfectly worthwhile question. As you are a genuine first poster, you are not to know that we get trolls on here making posts which are similar to yours in being short on specifics. I apologise for assuming you were one, but I also assumed if you weren't, you'd come back at me pretty sharpish!

Now we know you've done a p/ex with Barratts there's a good chance someone else who has done similarly will see your question and let you know how they did.

There's already some info on this site, and on others, which you may, or may not, have found:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=5821668&highlight=Barratt+part+exchange#post5821668

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=4625575&highlight=Barratt+part+exchange#post4625575

http://www.grumbletext.co.uk/vt.php?p=21123

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=313451

As you know, some people have found p/ex a positive thing and others haven't. There are also many grumbles about new builds; not just Barratts though. As someone who's an EA said on here, so much work is sub-contracted, the quality of work can vary site to site rather than by the name of the builder. Probably the best thing you can do is check the quality of your house very carefully before moving out / moving in.

One possibility, if you are worried about checking the build of a property yourself, is to use an organisation like this one:
http://www.snagging.org.uk/

As to using the developer's solicitor, I can see how that would probably save time, but if it were me the answer would be 'No.' I appreciate that solicitors are supposed to be impartial and professional, but the best way to ensure they are is to pay your own! Look out for restrictive covenants in particular & make sure they're explained fully.

I hope you enjoy your new house. We still don't know much about your circumstances, and maybe you prefer it that way, but if you think this is a good move, and the house is well-built, who is to say you are wrong in taking a route which saves all the hassle others of us are enduring?

space_rider

Mine is a Barratt house and although I bought it when it was almost a year old they came out and did all the things that I asked them to. Don`t think the person who bought it from new ever bothered with the cracks etc. They replaced locks, retiled all the floors in the bathrooms, sorted out the french doors and even replaced some lights that I thought were faulty but the bulbs had blown. All in all I was very pleased with them and they came out at my convenience. Just make sure you get all the things that need doing before the 2 years are up.