Some more new build questions

littlesparkles

I'm buying a new build (and yes I know that some of you on these boards think that new builds are rubbish but I am excited about my lovely new house.....).

I have asked the lawyer to request a planning change to the builder. The contract/title deeds I received has a covenant in it that means I cannot widen the driveway within 5 years unless I ask the builder's consent. So I am asking for consent before exchanging contracts. I have also suggested that I am open to discussing this if the builder wants to widen it as part of the build rather than me doing it later. Does anyone have any experiences of builders agreeing to change the plans? My driveway is different from every other driveway on the estate due to the positioning of my house so it isn't something that would make my house look any more different to the others.

Builder is Taylor Wimpey (and please no TW bashing on this post - I have already read these type of replies and am still going ahead with it...).

Second question: integrating appliances. I want integrated appliances but I do not want TW's integrated appliances. I intend to buy the appliances and doors myself (doors from the same supplier). How tricky is it to fit these? Or how much is someone likely to charge to fit these?

Idiophreak

littlesparkles wrote: »

Does anyone have any experiences of builders agreeing to change the plans?

Not exactly the same, but when I bought our place there was no shower above the bath in the "family bathroom". I said to the builders that I'd pay them extra if they installed one for me. They came back with quotes of £1800 for a "full" shower and £1300 for a mixer tap on the bath. I'm afraid I declined and got the mixer tap option for about £300 inc labour a couple of months after we moved in.

So I guess my point is, even if they agree to do it, make sure you check their price!

borkid

littlesparkles I recently moved into a new build, bought off plan, our builders, a smallish company, were very happy to change some of the spec. In the end we had extra patio door a larger patio, extra sockets, TV ariels , extra plumbing for american style fridge freezer, moved the CH thermostat after we moved in ( we had a good reason for wanting this), larger false chimney breast , conservatory and probably others I have forgotten. All at extra cost but it was easier before the house was built. Now whether a much larger company such as TW would be prepared to do all this I don't know but a larger drive doesn't seem to much to ask unless there are planning implications.

We love our new house and got it for a good price. Hope you enjoy yours as much. Maybe the 5 year thing is so that you don't get 'cowboy' builders in and the drive reflects badly on TW.

littlesparkles

Yes the 5 year thing is to stop external changes that haven't been approved. And the 5 years should more than cover the time it takes to complete the estate! I hope... So the look of the development is important to the builder and that's why I'm hoping they might just change the plans.

littlesparkles

Thanks, Mr Investor.

It is a brand new development. It was a field before this. I can't see anything in the planning application about the driveways but there is a landscaping plan and my little patch of grass is on this. Fingers crossed it will just be an easy change though.

No TW don't include the dishwasher, washing machine or fridge freezer. You can pay extra for them but they are not the models that I would prefer. The kitchen maker is happy to supply the doors to me so there's no problem with that.

As for the mass produced new builds... My development was originally designed and started by a small builder. They went bust and TW carried the development on. It's apparently higher spec than most TW developments and I've visited the site with a family member who is very experienced in construction and he thought the site and build looked very good. Fingers crossed!

Leew1231

I asked for something similar, they wouldn't / couldnt do it (it was a TW house) as they said they had to have so much greenery as part of the development, this would reduce it, and they weren't willing to put in a new application even if they thought it would pass. I just got it done myself afterwards and nothing was ever said.

As for the integrated appliances. That is easy, but get a quote from the supplier first. I did, it was symphony. There was a gap by the utility sink for a dryer I assume. We had a integral washer dryer so wanted to put a cupboard there. The price for a cupboard from the supplier was 200% over the market rate. If you ask TW though they will probably have greater buying power even after they put there mark up on.

Or you could try chatting to the Site manager. Worked well for a particularly attractive female friend of my wife's!

RDG

I would imagine TW will give you permission to widen the drive. But it is unlikely they will do it as part of the build for 2 reasons.

1. Planning, they have to stick to the plans approved with regards driveways as local authorities are quite strick on the amount of space allocated. If you want to widen it after construction and it will be impermeable you will need planning permission if it is greater than 5m2.
2. Cost it will be cheaper for them to throw downs some oil and turf than to extend your driveway. If the above planning issue isnt a problem then you maybe able to arrange something with the site manager.

forgotmyname

Your fitting your own appliances but want to know how much someone will charge?
Possibly more than the builders, As they will be in and out like whippets. Having x amount of identical houses. They could probably do it blindfolded.

As mentioned above Whirlpool are not the brand they were. We stopped supplying them and started selling cheap imports which actually had fewer claims.

Builders loved build 1st buyer homes. They said the buyers were happy to have a home of their own. So little issues were nothing to them.
But the older more affluent buyers, Buying a detached 4 bed house with a large utility and double garage etc. Would find tiny imperfections in everything.

Their nightmare buyer. Or maybe they were lazy builders?

chris_m

RDG wrote: »

cheaper for them to throw downs some oil

The car might well do that anyway :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: