New Build - What's the build quality really like?

brit1234

muhasib wrote: »

I remember a 'Grand Designs' episode where a couple from London were making a large modern open space in a Victorian Terrace and they did find that the structure had been badly built and needed serious strengthening - 'Hackney Terrace Conversion'.

Lets not get rose tinted glasses about Victorian Builders.

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/grand-designs/episode-guides/hackney-the-terrace-conversion-08-06-11_p_1.html

All buildings require that sort of strengtherning in these expansion, steal beams are always used. Remember these older buildings have heavier materrials and thus need to carry more load.

You try that with a new build and your likely get cracks thoughtout the building.

Victorian :dance:

Newbuild

bodgerx

wymondham wrote: »

We sold our 1990 house for a 1970 house and the difference in cost/space and lifestyle generally was incredibly better. Our 1990 house was Wilcon built
.

Err 1990? New build? 20 years old!

Things have moved on, even since 2000.

badmoon

OP - please don't take what's been said on here as read.

Of course some new builds can be terrible, my family (well. parents) walked away from a new build in Bradley Stoke many years ago (later called Sadly Broke famously) and those homes were shocking and it was a typical example of a new community they tried to create but which turned into a nightmare for many.

But the very nature of these threads is that you get more negative than good comments, there can be some good quality new builds as well as the bad ones.

Take on board everything said of course, bad and good, but do some research too around all the new builds you can find, as someone else said, ask around at developments you may be interested in, ask the people who live there what it's like.

Walk away of course from the new builds if you're really not sure but be careful to take the positive or negative from just 40 (or so) people on this forum is all I'm saying (including me of course).

Idiophreak

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I cannot imagine buying a new build house, I think they tend to be boxy and you pay a premium for the 'newness' which is gone as soon you move in.

"tend to be" of course meaning "not always"

And you pay more, but I don't think that's the same as paying a premium. If I were to buy one of the beloved Victorian terraces for 10k less, then immediately spend 10k putting in a new kitchen, bathroom and redecorating, nobody would think twice about it...with a new build, you're just paying for the new stuff already being there.

maya+2

I live in a new build built by bellway now and am looking to move to an older property, and though i'm looking forward to having an older house i can do up and love I will miss the luxuries of the new build as though i'd never been a fan of them in past, having lived in one I have gotten used to some of the benefits.
I've lived in old properities most my life and the main benefits I found in a new build is that they are a lot warmer, I've certainly not missed the "its too cold to get out of bed feeling" and I've not had to worry about maintanence costs. Its also very quite, and due to it being a cudlesac I feel very safe. Room sizes in mine are good, I have a big kictchen, good size garden and a master bedroom that I can fit wardrobes into, I've also become used to having an ensuite.
Bellway provided a two year guarantee on any snags, so we've had them come out to fix minor things like a scratch in the bath tub, (they ripped the whole thing out and put in a new one) and they've also plained the doors for us and re did some of the tilling we weren't happy with. The fixtures and fittings they used were also good quality, porcelonsa tiles, solid wood kitchen units and a very efficient (and expensive boiler).

DKLS

As somone for whom the garden is as important as the house I would never consider a new build, as I am yet to see one that is on a decent sized plot.

mikey_D

I brought a new build off plan from David Wilson Homes in 2006 and have had no problems with it, I don't think its necessarily the name behind the homes but the site foreman and the team he has working on site that defines the quality. We looked at some other DWH that were being built nearby and the quality finish on them was appalling and they were selling for 70K more than ours, however other than a few small fininsh problems we have had no issues, then again I know people who have had to move out of there homes for a few months while they were rebuilt. One thing to pick up on aswell, someone posted that builders who can't sell homes offload them to the local HA's this isn't the case, as most do not meet the standards they require, as they are alot higher than normal residential developments.

Trollfever

and a very efficient (and expensive boiler).

If it is a Pulsacoil 2000 made by Gledhill you may experience difficulty getting it repaired if it breaks down.

pawlala

Been living in new build since 2002. Not a single problem in 8 years. Bellway. Success story here!

Sulphur_Man

Dear All,
Thanks for the varied and usefull responses. Since I started the thread, we've looked at both 3-bed and 4-bed configurations on this estate, and, as yet, I havent noticed anything worrying.

FYI - The development is on previous MOD land, and is clustered around a Grade 1 listed building.

What the literature doesn't make entirely clear is that there is a quota of 'affordable housing'.

The asking prices are comparitively cheap for the surrounding area, which makes me wonder about the build quality.....

FYI - the development is Farnborough Central in Hampshire, RedRow