Does anyone want to join me waiting for new build to be built and complete

Haylescom

Bt1 we reserved on the 17th December with an exchange date of 17th January (that was never going to happen). We're still waiting now, last communication was some enquiries from the builders about our part exchange.
If it's them causing the hold up then they can't complain about you not meeting the deadline!

fashionvictim

Don't worry about reservations. We reserved in September and we only exchanged in February. They just want to see progress - you have a Solictor etc, applying for mortgage etc, getting valuation etc.

It's meant to be exchange 28 days from contract being issued, but they scared us too With the sales office saying it's was from reservation..

TW were slow at issuing contracts etc and then they set the reservation expiry to 28 days from when the contracts were issued.. It of course expired ages before we exchanged and they did really pressurise us. But they still had our reservation fee and their delays to build dates were main reason we went well past the reservation. It was a big issue for our buyer so we had to sort them out too.

As once exchanged you are committed to buy I think you should take your time and be sure everything is ok before you go ahead.

Haylescom

Exactly, it all depends on the reasons for the delay. If it's your lack of mortgage, sale of house etc they will get shirty but if the delays are down to them, they can only speed themselves up! I'll admit I'll be happier once we've exchanged though as that's the hardest bit!

chlo88

Well we finally exchanged on Monday! After quite a stressful previous week the builders were putting a bit of pressure on saying they wanted to exchange no later than Friday. We made sure everything was in place, gave the solicitor authority to proceed. Then later a phone call from our solicitor to say the builders solicitors weren't ready to exchange on Friday!!! So a bit frustrating but done now so a weight off. Glad your passports have arrived back haylescom! Hope you exchange soon.

I agree about the 28day thing. Don't worry about it, we reserved late December so nearly two months from reservation to exchange. The 28 day time limit panicked me though I was convinced they were going to sell it to someone else.

I agree the options are crazy prices we didn't go for some stuff like the towel rail in the bathroom which they were charging. £250
For or something like that knew we'd get it cheaper . We did however go for some stuff even though we knew we'd get it cheaper after because it just made life easier for us. We went for:
Upgraded kitchen cupboards
Upgraded oven hob
Glass splash back
Upgraded hood
(We got free vinyl in kitchen as an incentive and dishwasher and washer/dryer and built in wine rack)
Upgraded carpets (we got basic ones free as an incentive, but they were thin and reminded me of the houses I lived in as a student. So they deducted the price of the free ones off the upgraded ones so was £600 for whole apartment which I didn't think was too bad!)
Upgraded tiles to bathroom n ensuite
Shower and extra tiles and shower cover to bath
Upgraded shower box to both bathrooms
Upgraded sink and tap in kitchen

All came in at about £3500. I must say we were really lucky with our incentives and that all flooring was included and white goods as it's allowed us to spend our budget on other luxuries we might have had to wait for.

Hope today's snow doesn't slow the builds down too much take care everyone!

Tygermoth

Congratulation on your exchange Chlo88! so jealous of your incentives.



In the SE too, but persimmons not TW.


Well, I doubt I have made friends of the builders as the council planning office have written to me to confirm they have ‘opened an investigation’ I think (only think – the letter was very brief) that maybe the alterations to the house aren’t in line with what was agreed or maybe breach some regs.


That being said they could open an investigation, supply a case reference, case handler contact information and response timeframe for every enquiry that is sent in……..

I am fully expecting a retaliatory withdrawal of the agreement to sell to us - being that the council are involved, the technical team at head office have been drafted in and my solicitor being gung-ho regarding the contact….. and all this before we have even exchanged!

Haylescom

Tbh Tygermoth it's better to have them investigate now, rather than come along at a later stage, halt the whole build process and leave you at square one! Are you still going ahead with the purchase?

Congratulations Chlo88, not jealous (much)! Hoping to join you next week. MA has spoken to solicitor today who are waiting for replies from builders regarding the queries they've raised. Our solicitor has said if she were working for the builders she'd be telling them photocopies of the FENSA is enough. Should hear back in a few days and hopefully there won't be any more enquiries so we'll be ready to exchange. I'm assuming they'd send all enquiries at once!

fashionvictim

I agree with Haylescom !!

Tygermoth please don't exchange until this is ressolved, this is business deal not a friendship. You don't want any issues post moving in if a planning breach is discovered. The builders don't take it personally. You and your solicitor are right to be checking on these things. They can wait for exchange, keep asking questions.

fashionvictim

bt1 wrote: »

We are same, TW in SE, very popular development!

*Wonders if we might be neighbours at some point, but doesn't want to know in case I get options envy :rotfl:

Tygermoth

If you guys are in TW - SE development local to me I have more than just 'options' envy - those houses were WELL outside of my budget range.

Nice looking too.

Not going to agility this weekend, so trying to decide if I am going to stalk or not. Its a lot of petrol for something that we might not end up buying. On the flip side they may not have mentioned the back door/side gate issue, esp as the plans were super confusing, if we had not noticed....... so keeping an eye on things might be advisable.

For those wondering why we have not just walked away it comes down to two things. 1. There is nothing else we can afford - honestly its crazy here in the SE currently - the new phase release with our style house is now 22K more, no incentives no offers and a waitlist 2. We live in a rented hole which is a shocking amount a month.

By hanging about we are no further down the rabbit hole i.e. paying anything more or less... so up to the point of exchange its worth our while hanging on to see if they are going to make us an offer and what that will be.

-pete-_2

I'm sure we all understand the desire to move Tygermoth, just remember that you may want to sell it on in a few years and that other people will be looking at it as it is rather than what it should have being. If you are going to still go ahead you should at least try and get a substantial adjustment in the price.

As far as our news goes, there is some good and some bad...

We have had a fair bit of back and forth with the bank for the mortgage. We already increased our deposit from around £19K to £21K a few weeks ago but they now aren't happy with my OHs income.

She had a pay raise reasonably recently and as she works odd amounts each month her income isn't a set amount. This means they aren't happy she is earning enough (despite the fact that its currently less than our rent!) We've sent this months pay slips over which should mean they have evidence of 6 months at the new rate, figures cross that we get a proper answer from them regarding this tomorrow.

On more positive news, the first floor joists are now installed and they're starting the brickwork on the first floor level. Hopefully this means the place should be ready in July