Persimmon new build

ADAM001

Hi,

My wife and i have been looking at a Persimmon home and have accepted a part ex offer and reserved the plot,i have paid the £500.00 deposit,i'm now however having second thoughts,and am not sure if this is just nerves or should i be really concerned,the mortgage,although a stretch initially is affordable,but we would be consolidating a significant unsecured debt against it,which worries me,the house is lovely but the finish was a bit rough,and although not officaly a showhome i cant help but feel if this is the house they use to show people,surley it should be flawless,the windows and doors didnt shut properly,paint splashes/marks/celing roses on wonky and there was no running water upstairs,i have pointed them out to the site manager who has assured me they will snag it before completion,but im not convinced,my gut feeling is telling me to back out,i will lose £350.00 of the deposit but as it will be our last move and its a significant step up the property ladder,i wanted to feel good about it and to be honest ive done nothing but worry about it,am i being too fussy? should i expect perfection in a new home? like i say,if im going to take on such a big mortgage (trebling what i owe now) Surely i should feel good and sure about it?

SleeplessinScandinavia

Interesting.

I wanted to buy a new-build flat in Kent (built by Persimmon) just before last Christmas. I thought that this developer had a good reputation (from what evidence I could find). In the event, the last flat sold before I could even view it.

There is a lot to be said for 'following your intuition' - on the other hand, if you do decide to proceed you perhaps need to chat with your conveyancer, with a view to making the sellers/developers aware of the standards you expect in this new home

Best of luck:)

ADAM001

Thanks,was initially really keen,and i want to move - but something doesn't feel right to me,the missus won't be happy as she loves it,but i cant help but think its a gamble,its a 3 storey townhouse,which,the more i read about them the less i want to live in one,its in a nice area and has lovely views,and the inside living space is great..but im still not convinced its the right house for us,ive two young kids 18month and 5years old..the fact im extending my mortgage from 10years left to 26 and borrowing 3 times as much fills me with dread...maybe im just a tight*rse....i dont know.

MrsAtobe

I started a thread yesterday asking for hints and tips when buying a new build, it might be worth you keeping an eye on it? Some useful information there.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4170735

One thing that I will be doing if we go ahead is using a 'snagging surveyor'. They are chartered surveyors who will compile a report for you to give to the developer. You'd have a survey done if you bought a house that was already lived in, so why not with a new build? There's another useful website snagging.org, that has a lot of useful information on it.

Like you, I'm not looking forward to extending the mortgage, but needs must at the moment.

dimbo61

I live in a 3 storey modern house and love IT!
We have the top floor to ourselves but we also have teenage kids.
Our house is detached and has a double garage.
Its the layout and size of the rooms that are important?
4 tiny bedrooms with no room to swing a CAT ? or good sized master with ensuite and great family bathroom.
Your age? income? property location ( schools) are all very important.
I have overpaid every month for the last 6.5 years and this means I wont be an old man before the mortgage is paid.
Make sure all the problems are sorted before you collect the keys.
You also have the benefit of the NHBC 10 warranty and the builder on site

ADAM001

Im thinking as my two daughters grow up,ill will suit us more in the future as it has four good bedrooms and a study - plus a gargae.,its part of a terrace of five houses,so neighbours each side,so noise could be a concern - im just thinking i want it to be the perfect home - and although its nice - it doesnt feel perfect to me.

Mickygg

You must go and check out the sound proofing if you are buying a terraced new build. I have heard awful stories. I wouldn't say expect it flawless, but close to it! Snagging list is imperative, look at everything from behind the toilet to the door frames. My new build was horrendous in quality, took over a year to get snags fixed.
On the plus side I liked my new build for years once it was fixed.
I just worry when people buy a new build wanting it to be the best house and quality there has ever been. It won't be perfect.

caeler

I've been in my new build for 18 months and it is fab. It is a Charles Church (part of persimmon). The finish in places is a little rough (but odd imperfection but I just wasn't as robust with snag/complain as I could have been). I live in an end terrace and have been pleasantly surprised - next door have two young children, one newborn and I rarely if ever hear a peep!

My top tip would be you don't get what you don't ask for.

ADAM001

Thanks,wer'e going to press ahead,ive spoken to my solicitor and he assures me we wont exchange until im satisfied with the finish - as the house is nearly complete,im able to go round and inspect regularly before this happens,im also looking at a retention clause - so that if snags are not sorted within a specified time - they dont get all the money,again my solicitor is willing to do that for me.

2010

All house builders use sub contractors for everything.
About the only person who actually works for the house builder is the site manager.
The subbies come in and sling it up as fasts as they can, grab the money and run.
This is why you will probably have a list of "snags" as long as your arm with new builds.
The house builder should put right the snags inside of two years.
(but you have to keep pestering them to do so)

They usually have a couple of "odd job men", "jack of all trades" working for them to do the snagging.
Needless to say these are sub contractors too.