How can I get a developer to reduce a new house price?

Caz6

I've found a new Bryant house which doesn't come on to the market until June and will be completed in December so I'd be buying "off plan". The price they expect the house to come on at is c£180k which is about £10k over my budget...but I really want the house!

I'm already stretching myself as a single first time buyer so don't want to get a loan for this amount and the lady in the sales office has told me there will be no offers (5% deposit paid, stamp duty paid, legal fees paid etc) available on that plot. I think I'll be able to get stamp duty & legal fees out of them but that's only about £3k's worth - it's the 5% deposit paid or a £10k discount on the price I really need.

Anyone got any advice or past success stories with Bryant (or otherwise) accepting an offer below asking price?

Doozergirl

The chances of getting a better deal are increased when the house is already built. I suspect you'll be more likely to get things like carpets and other fittings chucked in with the price at this stage, though of course you MUST throw in an offer! Take your time also between offers etc because they're better at playing this game than you are and you need to comvince them there are other houses out there, although if you're still sniffing around in June, they're going to know you're pretty desperate

Have you looked at what £180k will buy you in neighbouring streets? The difference is normally huge. I've never seen a reasonably priced new build. Have you also been inside the same style house?

I'd be incredibly wary of buying off plan as you just don't know how close your neighbours will be, or really even how that section of the development will look and sometimes people don't even realise how small their own house will be!

Bryant are really stingy on fittings too

Caz6

Cheers for your advice...I'm not hell bent on a new house but I do like this one - I know there are pro's and con's and you are probably right - the £180k can buy a whole lot more in neighbouring streets! In fact the house type and style I'm after is about £160k in the second hand market so there are definite benefits to buying second hand (like a having a life when I've started paying my mortgage!).

I'm very undecided!! The pro's to the new house are new kitchen and bathroom (no limescale/other peoples stains etc), tidy garden when you move in, no risk of dodgy DIY repairs. Oooh I don't know!! I reckon when I start to look I will see something second hand that some one has looked after to the same standard I would if it was mine...if that's the case it will make up my mind easily!!!

Good to get your perals of wisdom though!!!

Doozergirl

A new kitchen and bathroom would cost less than the £20k price difference!

New houses 'snag' you know. It's far better to buy one a year or so old so that the owners have already been through it! The plaster almost always shrinks and cracks, doors don't fit frames correctly, appliances stop working, grass dies, pipes burst. Every house has it's own little list of snags. It isn't hassle free.

It's a bit like breaking in a new pair of shoes; sometimes it's uncomfortable for a bit!

You've got ages until June. Start looking at more reasonably priced houses, you'll have plenty of time to work out if the new build is for you.

tomstickland

A new house is 90% marketing !!!!!! though. The bathroom and kitchen won't be new 18 months later!

Caz6

Sounds like the voice of experience!! Cheers for the advice... I'm going to keep an eye on the Bryant house but from a distance and see what happens - I reckon I'll end up in the nearly new market though which isn't such a bad thing and really doesn't bother me! Can see what the neighbours are like then!....

Doozergirl

Ah! Are you coming around?

Remember me when I save you £20k and the associated interest, okay?!

Best of luck x

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

We bought a new house and a couple of years and lots of problems later we live in a much larger nicer house round the corner from it.Need I say more except DONT BUY A NEW HOUSE,the novelty soon wears off and a couple of years down the line its not so new and you do realise you can get so much more for your money.We did.

oldandhappy

Just five properties squeezed into a plot of land opposite us that was listed as two in the past. We hate it as it was previously a little nature reserve for many many years and there direct neighbour side-on unfortunatley lives and breathes hate towards the development because of his love of nature which is his whole life to him. So that can be another issue to consider.
We get on very well with the new neighbours and Mr. Old has already made a quite a 'mate' with one in particular.
This was built by a small company and honestly looked very impressive in the varying stages of work... but the list of complaints is very long and although some points have been sorted many have not been as yet. Two out of the five purchased before they where complete and they both have said they would never again purchase a new property offplan or on. I just keep reading so many bad things about new builds and yet they do sell still.
Mrs Happy

sarkin

don't buy new builds there rubish as everyone else has said. Because they build the rooms smaller, there are companies out there that design furniture for the show room house that is 3/4 size to make the room look bigger. If you look at new build flats the windows are always a lot smaller than your average place.

MJMum

OTOH, we bought a "nearly new" Bryant home (second owners), lived in it for 7 years and loved it. Only moved because we were moving to a different area closer to family.

Not sure I would buy new though, esp. off-plan - plans can and do change, and you have no come-back.