Developer won't give garden dimensions

dipdap

I'm hoping someone can help me
We've looked into a new build we really like a few times recently (not yet finished building it), there's a plot which we seem to like (I've got no problem with the developer knowing we're interested in it).
Every time we've been in to speak to the developer I've tried to find out how big the garden is (I can understand them early on assuming we were time wasters).
We now have our house on the market and are obviously keen to move when we sell it but today when we popped in the lady still wouldn't tell us how big the garden will be.
I'm getting annoyed because I saw some plans a while back (with lots of numbers on) when I asked how steep a garden would be, a different rep back then pulled out some technical drawings and showed me (different plot, has since sold).

I'm just wondering if I'm maybe expecting too much?
The garden isn't a straight forward square shape (if it was I wouldn't be so worried about the dimensions)
It's put me right off this development and I'm now leaning towards another one we've looked at.
I have no intention of going any further with them if I can't figure out if I can fit my stuff in the garden! :mad:

moneyistooshorttomention

Does sound suspicious...

They know how big the plot is. They know how big the house is. Subtract one from t'other and that's how big the garden is. I may not be the worlds best at maths....but I think even I could manage that calculation.

They may not be able to tell you whereabouts on your plot the house will be situate...I can think of a certain 1970s house where the house is set a good bit further back from the front of the plot than it was originally due to be by the look of it (ie mine), but the plot dimensions aren't going to change.

dipdap

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Does sound suspicious...

They know how big the plot is. They know how big the house is. Subtract one from t'other and that's how big the garden is. I may not be the worlds best at maths....but I think even I could manage that calculation.

They may not be able to tell you whereabouts on your plot the house will be situate...I can think of a certain 1970s house where the house is set a good bit further back from the front of the plot than it was originally due to be by the look of it (ie mine), but the plot dimensions aren't going to change.

Thanx for replying glad it's not just me.
They know we're interested so why can't they just tell us, I really don't understand.
It's the width at the back of the garden I really need to know (it's not near the property, it's the dimensions between boundary fences) so I'd have thought it would already be known (I don't want an exact millimetre perfect measurement, just a reasonably good idea so I can plan for what we can take when we move and what needs re-homing).

moneyistooshorttomention

Is it possible for you to go to the plot and measure up yourself? I am guessing that you might be able to work out what the boundaries from left to right of the plot are.

I would be inclined to think about whether that is possible myself and, if it was, I'd be over there with my retractable steel rule and taking measurements. I'd then put it in writing to the builder that I had been to the plot on x date/photo enclosed and found the measurements to be this x thus and could they please confirm this was correct in writing.

Its worth a shot I guess.

EDIT; You would need to bear in mind to make an allowance for any sloping in the ground - as no site is going to be dead level.

dipdap

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Is it possible for you to go to the plot and measure up yourself? I am guessing that you might be able to work out what the boundaries from left to right of the plot are.

I would be inclined to think about whether that is possible myself and, if it was, I'd be over there with my retractable steel rule and taking measurements. I'd then put it in writing to the builder that I had been to the plot on x date/photo enclosed and found the measurements to be this x thus and could they please confirm this was correct in writing.

Its worth a shot I guess.

EDIT; You would need to bear in mind to make an allowance for any sloping in the ground - as no site is going to be dead level.

We've been down to the site and had a look already.
The back of the garden is shown as a triangle (houses go round in a semi circle with the back gardens all meeting at a point at the back)
We know the width of the house and the plans we saw show the width at the back should be slightly wider than the house.

Having a rough idea from a picture is all we have.
I don't know if I'm being picky but I wouldn't want to buy a house with no idea how big the garden is

chanz4

ours was sloped like hell so I would

fishpond

Have you tried pulling up submitted plans from local council planning office?

missindecisive

take it the garden will be small, they nearly always are on housing developments

moneyistooshorttomention

My suspicion is also that it will prove too small to actually be usable, ie will have just about enough room for a clothes dryer and a table and chairs (maybe 2 chairs at that).

I've seen many back gardens on smaller modern houses that only have that amount of usable space and the rest of them goes so steeply up hill that its pretty pointless having that space (except from pov of greater distance from neighbour). I was studying details of one online the other day where they just about had room for a narrow patio at base of garden and the rest had me thinking "A LOT of hassle and expense there...as that needs terracing to be usable and I bet that would cost...".

Loopy28

The gardens in the new development in our town are tiny. Most are sloped or tiered.

I know because I am buying one but at least it is now a second hand home I have seen the garden. It is triangle shaped, small and has 3 levels. I am going to try and do something with the levels to create more space but at best there would be enough room for a table and chairs and one sun lounger.

Wasn't a deal breaker for me as I have no kids and love the house. But I would want to know the exact size of the garden if it was still being built and can't believe they won't tell you!

Cash-Cows

fishpond wrote: »

Have you tried pulling up submitted plans from local council planning office?

This would be my suggestion and worth checking anyway that what you're buying is actually being built to the approved planning permission plans.