Completion Date of New Build flat

marcovan

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I have reserved and paid the deposit on a new build flat. We were told their initial estimated entry date would be Nov/Dec at the start of this year when building commenced.

I phoned the developers about a month ago and they then tried to be more specific about the entry date saying that it is looking likely to be in the first couple of weeks of December. So trying to be prepared as possible we contacted a whole of market broker and tried to get the application for the mortgage in process.

I've spoken to the sales team again today and they are now saying that entry is likely to be January! What are other people's experience of moving into a new build home. Luckily, I am only renting and it will just be a case of giving my landlord a month's notice but what are people who need to sell their current home meant to do when the sales team are unable to be specific about entry dates?! Is this normal for new builds? It is two months away from December now so I thought they would have a more accurate estimate of when entry is likely to be allowed?

Looking forward to hearing people's view on this.

Thanks

niceguyed

Hi Marcovan,

I bought my new build flat last Oct. First I was told by the sales office it was going to be built by Sept. Then I was told they were ahead of schedule and it would be Aug. Then every couple of weeks the completion date edged forward, eventually moving in on the 20th Oct. Things like the weather, waiting for utility companies and outside contractors were all used as reasons (or excuses ) for the delays.
If you're renting the worst case scenario is you will end up paying an extra months rent more than you need to. I must admit that I don't know of anyone who has moved into a new build on time so you're not alone. Unfortunately you are not in control of how quickly the build progresses and the more I pushed for a date the more stressed I became.
Maybe Jan is not such a bad thing as it gets xmas out the way. Anyway, good luck with things and enjoy your new pad.

Regards

Niceguyed

bunking_off

Agree with niceguyed. Our place was 6 weeks late (absolute pain as we had to move in with parents, not something you anticipate doing in mid-30s...). As the plots were released one by one on completion, I was able to observe adherence to the schedule, and it went anything from a couple of weeks early to three months late...build can be impacted by all sorts of issues such as weather, there's a fundamental shortage of skilled tradesmen (and they're all subcontractors so the builder can't rely on their own employee pool) and even shortages of components (e.g. one house in our street paused for 3 weeks because there was zero availability of the particular brick type in the UK; our own place was the first of its design and lost 2 weeks for want of a custom-made RSJ).

I've heard of houses in some places hitting 6 months delay...couple of months isn't unusual I'm afraid.

marcovan

Thanks guys for the above posts. I didn't think we were in the minority with builders delaying the entry date. It's just really frustrating as we're not able to plan anything until we know when we would be moving in. i.e. holidays etc.

One concern I do have though is that we have got the ball rolling with our mortgage application. If the application is accepted, how long will the offer be valid for as we have not been given a definate entry date?

clutton_2

mortgage offers can be for 6 months, sometimes less, with current property, i am not sure about new builds. it will be in your documentation if you have a look, or ask your broker.

the thing to beware of with new builds is "Snaggings" - ie lists of faults which need to be repaired - yes, i kid you not. Snaggings is such a difficult area, that i would (if i were to buy a new build) employ a professional snagger to go round and make a list, and then get them to negotiate with the builders to do these repairs BEFORE you move in.

i have never known anyone move into new build and get all the snaggings done once they are in residenc, builders just will not come back to sort out "bits and pieces" - their recalcitrance wears people down and they just give up in the end.

Dont for one minute think that you will get a perfectly built home just because it is new !! sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.

terrierlady

Have u visited the development, at what stage is your plot? Ask to see the build programme and make an appointment to see the site agent and ask your questions.Sales only know what their told,
What is the hold up any idea?
No new Home is guaranteed to a fixed date as weather, contractors etc can cause problems so make sure you know the build stage each time you visit.
When you exchange contracts its usally/the norm on notice.

marcovan

I pass the development every morning in the bus to work and it seems to be coming along nicely. Checked their website and they have offiicially announced on it that the showhouse will be opening two weeks from today. Sat 4th November. The style of flat they are using as showroom also happens to be the layout of the flat we have purchased so that will give us an idea on the type of furniture that we can buy and the space available.

Our plan is to wait until we visit the showroom and then try pin point them down to giving us a more precise date of entry. If it is January then we don't have a problem with that but its just the fact that they seemed to have shifted the date from beginning of Dec to January in the space of a couple of weeks. Sounds like they don't really know themselves and are just guessing a date each time we phone. Granted it is in Scotland, so I would imagine the weather prob has played a part in this delay.

We would rather be told a more realistic date than a lie.

clutton_2

they probably dont know when they will be finished - can we forecast good weather - any more than builders can ?

niceguyed

clutton wrote:

the thing to beware of with new builds is "Snaggings" - ie lists of faults which need to be repaired - yes, i kid you not. Snaggings is such a difficult area, that i would (if i were to buy a new build) employ a professional snagger to go round and make a list, and then get them to negotiate with the builders to do these repairs BEFORE you move in.

.

I'd have to disagree with that. All the major structures would have been NHBC checked which is a condition of the mortgage. This leaves just minor internal/external cosmetics. Snagging will usually be done a couple of weeks before completion with the site manager. This leaves time for those minor points to be rectified. When snagging make sure the site manager writes down all indentified faults and that you get a copy. Also make sure you have your GF with you as two sets of eyes are better than one. I agree with clutton that you won't spot everything when snagging but there is NO need for a professional snagger. However, if after verbal and written requests the builder does not comply with remedial work to faults (only the ones they are liable for) then you can go through the NHBC resolution service (free, and they are very good). Additionally, once the builders have started all fitting out and internal work they will have a much more accurtate picture of when things will be finished as weather plays less of a part.

In summary, it sounds like they are progressing so try not to worry as it is out of your hands.

Regards

niceguyed

bunking_off

Normally agree with your posts, Ed, but on this occasion, to the first line of your post, "b0ll0cks".

As I say my property was the first of a new design, so many of the snags were related to that. However, in total I had approx 200 unresolved on the day I moved in. The way the contracts are written, so long as the place is structurally sound/habitable you've no choice but to complete (and if, like me, completion happens to fall 2 days before the house builder's financial year, they will play hard ball).

Most of the issues with my place were "cosmetic", although issues with the plumbing (e.g. having to replace 4 radiators with higher capacity ones) probably can't fall into that category. In terms of the quality of the NHBC inspection, however, I was there when they did their final and it was extremely swift...e.g. some of the window fittings did not meet building regs (around which should/should not have locks) and were missed. Also missed, and only discovered some months later when I leant out of an upstairs window, was the fact that it was loose in the aperture...I wouldn't term that cosmetic.

At the end of the 2 yr warranty period (for info of the OP first 2 yrs will be covered by your builder, remainder by NHBC) I took the precaution of getting a professional survey - my lender had been happy not to survey the property as a new build. In addition to giving me the weapons I needed to get the builder to fix the outstanding cosmetics, he highlighted that the floors in two of the bedrooms were "bouncing" and needed taking up/repacking. The builders had been there twice previously and insisted there was no issue, but couldn't argue with a proper survey. In reality, when they were taken up it was discovered that the ceilings of the rooms below were barely fastened to the joists (screw in each corner) and in due course would have come down.

Oh, and the results of the survey meant we had 3 weeks with scaffolding up while they redid part of the roof tiling.

Point is, there will be snags and they may not be cosmetic. Either get a professional snagger, or do a good list yourself, followed up by a professional survey once the place has settled down. Clutton, I am that mythical person who got all the snags resolved, but it did take a lot of perseverence and 30 months.

clutton_2

I managed a couple of new builds for a client, and they never got all the snags fixed, in the end they annoyed the developer so much they gave them money to go away and get them fixed by someone else.

I have heard of numerous tales of snaggings not done - which include roads not finished for years and years; playgrounds never finished; - these are major things, and were on estates built by major national developers.