New Build Incentives

cakeforbrains

I just wondered what incentives and extras people think would be normal for a new build. Also, whether we should be expecting to negotiate on price.

We're looking at buying from a new development of over 140 dwellings, which will be phase one of several hundred in the area. A few have been released, but we're waiting for the right four-bed to come up.

We actually already live in a new-build built by the same company (private rent) so we've been able to pop into the sales office, get on the lists, and get our faces known. The sales advisor has already been eager to tell us that the properties that have already been released have been very popular, there's no negotiating on price, and that nobody is getting incentives like carpets etc..

Is this just sales talk? The sales advisor is quite a formidable woman and I can see her just holding her ground, but then again I don't want to have the mick taken out of me. We'll be spending over a third of a million pounds with them after all.

The houses already come with burglar alarms, tiling in all bathrooms, tiled floors to the kitchen, ovens, hobs, fridge-freezers, dishwashers, and turf. Should I be expecting more? We're chain-free and will be using a Help to buy Equity Loan.

sarm333

Hi,

i'm a first time buyer and currently just reserved an apartment, so don't completely take my word for it, but during my long search on new builds, there was no mention of these incentives what so ever. The house price was the house price and nothing was offered as extra. Most places didnt even allow negotiations of price, where some few just wanted to wait until we were at the reservation stage to negotiate price.

Not sure if this is normal, but it seems buying a new build these days seem quite different from what I read about, say, 3-4 years ago.

These were apartments in London, if that makes any difference.

hieveryone

The list you've supplied seems quite extensive of things to be included, to be honest!

We have just bought a new build 4 bed and got turf and integrated fridge/freezer included. Tiling to bathroom walls was included, as was basic oven/hob.

Burglar alarm, floors, upgraded hob/oven, dishwashers all had to be purchased. As an example, my Amtico flooring for all bathrooms and kitchen/dining/hallway came to approx. £4k - so that's a good saving.

My alarm system was £600. Dishwasher cost to be integrated was £600. Upgraded hob and oven was £500. I estimate turf to be approx £1k for my size of garden. Just a few examples.

dgtazzman

London may as well be a different planet, in all fairness...

Bought a newbuild in Northampton 1.5 years ago, just before the market started picking up. Got a load of incentives thrown in (full flooring, with tiling in bathrooms, kitchen and dining room; white goods including dishwasher; turfing; outside tap in the garden; half-height wall tiling in the bathrooms; painting of the rooms in my choice of paint (though I did have to supply the paint); some extra sockets/a few socket moves). Property was already priced to sell as it was one of the first they were building, so there was no room to negotiate on price.

Now buying a newbuild in Wales. Fridge/freezer, stainless steel oven and extractor fan, dishwasher, outside tap and turfing are included as standard. Negotiated an allowance towards flooring with the guarantee I will be charged at cost for any flooring I order through the builder, vanity cabinets under the sinks in the bathrooms, upgrade to induction hob and 8k off the 200k asking price.

Looking at the standard fit you mentioned, I don't think there is much more they can/will add to fixtures and fittings. They'll be reluctant to negotiate on price, as that may have an effect on the rest of the development, especially if they still have plenty to build. You might be able to try for stamp duty paid and/or legal costs, but be careful with this when using HTB as there is a limit to how much they will accept in financial incentives, which I believe varies depending on who the local HTB agent is.

Be ready not to get offered anything though, the housing market is moving again and in most areas, builders have no need to offer any incentives or discounts to sell their properties as people are lining up for them...

I got lucky in Wales as it's a small local developer and they are looking to finish the site I'm buying on sooner rather than later as they have another site they want to get started on.

@ Hiever: those look like Persimmon prices, which are a total ripoff. I reserved a Persimmon home before finding the one with the small developer. Once I started reading the paperwork they gave me on reservation I started realizing how limited their standard fit was, would have cost a small fortune to bring the property to a state I'd be happy to live in. Mentioned this in another thread, but the Persimmon houses didn't even have fencing between properties, no outdoor lighting, very basic kitchens,...

A stainless oven over a 'basic' oven probably is only costing the builder 100 quid, hob upgrade about the same, integrated dishwasher from a reputable brand, maybe 300 pounds, etc. The flooring will probably also be around half of that 4k if you get your own company in to do it...

cakeforbrains

Thanks all. Yes, to be fair, the standard fittings mean the house is ready to live in with the exception of carpets (flooring is included in the kitchens and bathrooms but nowhere else). On the estate I live now (built by the same company) I know that some of my neighbours got free carpets, but I think that they were some of the last to buy.

Help with stamp duty would be brilliant. It'll cost us over £7k to pay it, which I would rather spend on carpets and astroturf!! I guess we can only ask. I know that they've paid stamp duty on selected plots in other areas so it's not an impossibility I suppose. Also, they have a scheme to help people sell their existing house, which we're not going to need.

Anyway, looks like I ought not to feel like a complete mug if we get nothing extra.

clint_S

I've just purchased a new build and heard no a lot of times before we finally reserved. I got flooring carpets and lino, Shower in main bathroom, turf and fences, all the white goods, and legal costs. Burglar alarm and Tiling throughout was included as standard.


If you don't ask they can't say yes, but if you do ask the worse they can do is say no.

TBeckett100

We got stamp duty, carpet, wood floor, tiled bathrooms, Smeg range oven/hood, washing machine, turf, wardrobes. It's a premium home so I suspect I didn't get it free with the asking price

cakeforbrains

Thanks. Sounds like a good package. What would you call a 'premium home'?

Jon_B_2

It really all depends on the developer to be honest. Some offer a lot as standard, so not as much to negotiate.


The developer I bought with, integrated fridge/freezer, double oven, dishwasher and washing machine are all standard items.


Not much chance knocking anything off price anywhere that I've heard of, but I was able to negotiate ceramic tiling to hallway, cloakroom and kitchen/diner, plus carpets everywhere else.