Barratt homes - incentives

hello_petal

I'm interested in buying a new build plot with Barratt homes.

During my chat with the sales rep, I was querying whether he could offer me any incentives such as flooring/kitchen appliances etc. He advised that Barratt do not offer any incentives whatsoever as the plots as selling well. He said even the cash buyers have not been offered extras.

I have been looking at this development for some time and I know the new phase is not selling that quickly - some of the plots have been 'featured' for months.

I'm at the stage where I'd like to sign up but I just feel they could offer something to help reduce my move in costs. I cannot seem to push the sales rep to include any extras - even carpets/flooring thrown in would help.

Is this really the case that developers don't need to offer anything nowadays? Only a few years back they were offering to pay towards deposits, stamp duty, free upgrades! Could the sales rep simply be digging his heels in for commission?

Anyone bought a house with Barratt in the past few months and been able to negotiate any extras?

Or any advice on how/if I should keep trying?

richard2511

We attempted to buy a Barratts home a few months ago. We enquired about incentives, but like you they said no.

Long story short we missed the deadline to exchange because of their solicitors holding back paperwork. We sent a complaint to head office and are in the process of having a complaint reviewed by the consumer code for home builders.

Barratt brought up the fact that we had asked for incentives in response to our claim, so they clearly didn't like us asking. We only asked as I work with someone who bought on the same development and got over 10k worth of incentives thrown in.

I wouldn't go near Barratt homes if I was you, but if you do, I wouldn't become a nuisance, as they will find a way to screw you over!

They will no doubt want 25% towards the cost of your extras before you exchange contracts as well. This, they will tell you, is non refundable should you not exchange contracts within 28 days.

pawlala

Be wary of the ground rent, it can be as much as £250 p/a. One incentive that can be worth more than all the others put together is for the developer to add the freehold into the package. It worked for me and I saved £6500 just by asking the question. Try it, the worse thing they can say is "no".

hello_petal

pawlala wrote: »

Be wary of the ground rent, it can be as much as £250 p/a. One incentive that can be worth more than all the others put together is for the developer to add the freehold into the package. It worked for me and I saved £6500 just by asking the question. Try it, the worse thing they can say is "no".

The house is in Scotland so already Freehold. Just thought the developer may have offered something to secure the sale - apparently there is no need! It frustrates me to hear that people have managed to secure thousands of pounds in extras but I can't even manage to get them to throw in a carpet!

TwentySomethingGirl

We bought with Barratts in 2014 and got the flooring put in for free. Ours was one of the last properties to be reserved and we had to use their recommended solicitor and mortgage advisor to get the free flooring. It might depend on whether or not they're struggling to sell the property...?

swishy87

It depends on the stage of the phase and how well they are selling. We secured our new build in June and we couldn't get anything from them (other than the upgraded kitchen that had already been ordered in error). However, now they have reduced the prices of some houses and are including incentives with some. All depends on if you get there at the right time I guess (right now is coming to the end of Q3 so if they have met targets already then they won't be willing to give much. If they haven't they will be pushing. We were looking at end of Q2 and I know they were meeting targets, however I suspect they aren't in Q3).

Polaris49

I bought in may and got quite a few incentives from Barratt.

But the house wasn't selling so was near completion (finished in july) so i had all flooring in as it was already chosen and managed to get 8k in combined (legal fees etc) extras.

It wasnt a quick process though, took quite a few visits and phone calls.

robatwork

Let me tell you the incentive that could persuade me to buy another Barratt's home.

Another house constructed by another builder, preferably about 100 years ago.

SuzieSue

Don't use their recommended solicitors even if they bribe you with discounts- they will not act in you interests.

jdderbys

I was offered 6k of extras to purchase Barrett