Taylor Wimpey new build - wrong windows!

fuzzb3k

We're in the process of buying a new build property from Taylor Wimpey and I've just noticed that some of the windows they have installed in our house are very different in size to the windows in the show home and indeed as shown on the plan. The two Velux-style roof windows are on the top floor. The windows in the show room are 1140mm x 1180mm and the ones in ours are 780mm x 1180mm. The smaller size will reduce the amount of natural light in the room.

I'm not supposed to have been able to access our house as it is still under construction, so I shouldn't know that the windows are different sizes. However, you can see the rear roof elsewhere on the site which is publicly accessible, and it is quite apparent from that view that the windows are considerably smaller than those in the show home. So I guess what I'm saying is I can't approach them saying that the windows in our home are 780mm, I'd have to get them to go and check to confirm.

I know they try it on with the show home, so I 'd expect them to have some lame excuse for why the windows aren't the same as the show home, however I can't see any reason why the windows wouldn't be the same size as shown on the plan.

Our house is at first fix stage, so it's better that I found this now rather than after we complete as it gives them the opportunity to put it right. Imagine if I hadn't been able to check the windows beforehand and I didn't discover this until after we'd moved in!

I'm going to call them this morning to see what's going on, but has anyone come across anything this before? Changing the window size is a fundamental departure from the plan and from what we were sold.

silvercar

However, you can see the rear roof elsewhere on the site which is publicly accessible, and it is quite apparent from that view that the windows are considerably smaller than those in the show home.

Just tell them this and ask for written confirmation that it will be rectified.

kazwookie

Do you have it in writting exactly what size each window will be?

fuzzb3k

I just called the sales office and they're going to check with the site manager tomorrow and give me an update next week.

It's annoying that you have to go through everything with a fine tooth comb, otherwise you risk being caught out. Another thing that was different was the show home had windows in the side of the house but ours didn't. I caught that quite early on by poring over the plans, but the sales office weren't exactly falling over themselves to tell us before I found it.

Maybe it's naive of me, but I'd expect the sales office to go through all the differences between the show home and the actual plot you're buying. To a degree I don't mind so much if they bring it to your attention early because it gives you chance to put things right or otherwise alter your decision making process. When they leave things to be discovered by chance later on, often when it's too late, then it causes so much more aggravation.

Rant over

fuzzb3k

kazwookie wrote: »

Do you have it in writting exactly what size each window will be?

The window size (1140) is listed on the plans that the sales office handily photo copied for me.

comeandgo

Dont you have the actual drawings for your own house? Thats what you should be looking at.

fuzzb3k

comeandgo wrote: »

Dont you have the actual drawings for your own house? Thats what you should be looking at.

Yes I have copies of the plans for our actual plot and they clearly show that the windows should be 1140mm wide.

kazwookie

A show home is just that a show home, you need as comeandgo has said the plans to YOUR actual house.

Planning persmission may have allowed for extra windows in the show house, but not in the actual houses.

fuzzb3k

kazwookie wrote: »

A show home is just that a show home, you need as comeandgo has said the plans to YOUR actual house.

Planning persmission may have allowed for extra windows in the show house, but not in the actual houses.

Yeah I know that the show home is not entirely representative of what you will be buying in terms of fixtures and fittings, but in my opinion I think the show home should be structurally the same. Having extra windows to the show home is misleading, especially when the sales office don't make any effort to explain the differences between the show home and the plot you are buying. It just feels like a shady practise.

Anyway, I've verified that the plans for our plot show that the window sizes should match those of the show home, so I will await their reply next week and will post an update when I know what they plan to do about it.

dimbo61

Simple really BUY the showhome ! We did :-)

fuzzb3k

dimbo61 wrote: »

Simple really BUY the showhome ! We did :-)

That's certainly one way to ensure you end up with what you expect