When do New Builds become "Old" Builds?

purplebuzz

I know that a lot of people are anti "New Builds" (for good reason sometimes!) but what are people opinions on when a "New" build becomes and "Old" build and therefore more acceptable to buy.

Or do people think that these type of house, i.e. building style, would never come up to scratch.

All Opinions Welcome !!!!!

tek-monkey

IMO I don't like new builds simply because of design/construction. Therefore regardless of age, they're still not of interest to me. I much prefer older properties, bigger rooms, higher ceilings etc. If someone built a new property along the same lines as 1930s houses I'd get one, but they're always smaller and often for more money.

Doozergirl

Old houses might have brick internal walls rather than studwork, but lots of old houses don't even have foundations. Georgian houses in theory shouldn't even be standing.

I like older houses for their character. It isn't true really to say that the houses were better built in so therefore you can't draw a line on what is acceptable to buy You can replace nasty new build doors for better quality ones; you might have to rewire an old house.

There are distinctly dodgy conversions of flats. Those converted in the last 10 years as a rule will be safer than older ones but being a Londoner, we lived in a couple of really good conversions, one terrible one. If you can lift the carpets and see the flat downstairs - probably not good!

Ultimately you must choose what suits you best. Practically speaking a newer build with cavity walls and proper foundations is better but whether you can find one with a decent sized garden and big rooms is another thing...

00ec25

unless you are (possibly) talking about high end "executive" developments then to me, a "new" build development will typically be of little interest when it is old (ie all building works have ceased) because:
- small plot sizes with each house shoehorned into avalaible space at maximum density
- small rooms

but in favour they will be well built to the latest specs, but these obviously change, for example my father bought a new build off plan but never updated the property and all you'd get for it now is an offer from a developer who can afford big ££ to modernise it


PS. I used to work for one of the big housebuilders and even with a (40%) staff discount I went off and bought a 1950's place simply because at that time I wanted a home to live in, not an investment

Amanita_2

Doozergirl wrote: »

Old houses might have brick internal walls rather than studwork, but lots of old houses don't even have foundations. Georgian houses in theory shouldn't even be standing.

I like older houses for their character. It isn't true really to say that the houses were better built in so therefore you can't draw a line on what is acceptable to buy You can replace nasty new build doors for better quality ones; you might have to rewire an old house.

..

Well I will put money on my 200yr+ house outlasting the 1960/70s estate houses around the corner. Foundations or not!

purplebuzz

Anyone with any other opinions??

vixarooni

10 years? Then its lost its newness factor and its become an established part of the area.

Im only thinking of what i would regard not new anymore new development wise

Guitar

There's an "executive" development near me, the other week I was reading an article on it and how the developers had allegedly cut corners and the people who'd paid a small fortune for these flats weren't happy because they were leaking and generally shoddy.

What surprised me about this place is that the development started 6 years ago but the whole area still has the 'executive' new build feel to it which I wouldn't have really expected with somewhere that old. I think this is mainly because the development is still on going and alot of the place is still a building site (currently stalled) large numbers of the flats are unsold. (Despite dropping in value the tiny apartments are still extremely expensive and the developers seems to think there would be plenty of demand for tiny 'executive' studio flats for the price of decent sized house.)

What I find really interesting is that on this particular site, history is repeating itself. The new development is being built ontop of another development. The old development was also for expensive 'executive' flats that many people paid a premium for. But because there wasn't enough people who wanted to spend so much money on tiny apartments that were unsuitable for families, the empty properties ended up going to council tenants. The area declined and eventually the whole place was flattened.

[FONT=&quot]Then 6 years ago another developer came along and decided they could build lots of tiny flats that people will pay a premium for if they refer to the studio flats as Executive Apartments.[/FONT]

tek-monkey

Thats kind of my issue, new builds are generally a LOT smaller for your money. Buy a small place thats nice, and when you need more room you're screwed. Buy a bigger place with potential for the same money, and you have something to grow into. Its all on room size and plot size IMO, if either are too small I'm not interested. Not seen a single thing round here built in the last 10 years I'd consider.

pinkshoes

tek-monkey wrote: »

Thats kind of my issue, new builds are generally a LOT smaller for your money..

Seriously??? I would have loved a period property, but for the same area in square meters as my newbuild flat, it was an extra £100k!! And then there was no off-street parking, and the rooms were tiny.

I wouldn't touch a mass production new build, as I've seen many shoddy ones, but those done my small local builders are often very well built with much larger room proportions.

I'd say anything built since 1980 is still kinda "new build". The advantage of buying something a few years old means any problems have hopefully already occurred!

poppysarah

builds near us been new builds for over a year now. That's a lot of band d council tax someone is paying...
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/new-homes/property-8873190.html