New Build with Bellway Option choices- buy from them or separate?

Pantobabe

Hi there,

I am just about to buy a new build home with Bellway homes and had a question about upgrades and options as I have heard many a story about not to buy directly from the developers.

Basically, having fallen in love with the showhome we typically found out that most of the appliances/fixtures and fittings were upgrades and not offered as standard. We have been given a £2500 voucher from a bellway to spend on upgrades but obviously anticipate we have to put a lot more to it ourselves too.

We would like to upgrade the
-kitchen
-flooring to tiles in the kitchen and hall and carpets everywhere else
-internal doors to glass doors
-bathroom (money dependant)

Which of these would people recommend doing through the developer and which could we possibly save money on doing ourselves (my o/h’s brothers are in the trade, one a builder and one a plumber but it’s a case of it’ll be finished in 5 years if we let them do it)


Thanks in advance!

Doozergirl

The only thing you’ll definitely be able to do yourself without ripping out a whole kitchen/bathroom that needs to be in place before purchase (for building control sign off and your mortgage) is the flooring.

And maybe the doors, but I’m not so sure about that either.

No way will they let you install your own kitchen and bathrooms. Certain appliances, you could.

SuboJvR

I’m pretty sure they need to give you a usable kitchen and bathroom to achieve the required sign offs from NHBC. So, you need to let them put something in.

If we were so inclined and had the money I would have done upgrades to kitchen and bathroom with our builder as then you have comeback to them for any issues. We got our flooring done separately (if you do this make sure they screed the floor) which also meant we had to get the doors trimmed afterward too. Not a big deal just unexpected. Our flooring was £2800 instead of £7500 from builder.

we did however get the builder to tile the floors in our bathroom and cloakroom so they were usable for purpose from day 1.

wifigeek

have a read of the NHBC's terms and conditions around buildmark and the reviews of your builder online and consumer protection law regarding new build properties before committing to purchase. Trust me.

AlexTheLion

Personally we upgraded our kitchen as it was a £2500 option, we didn't foresee changing the kitchen in our planned time in the house so we swallowed that one fairly easy. A nice kitchen is also helpful for curb appeal in selling it on. Worth noting choice was limited, but appliances were all in from day one. We also probably couldn't have put in what is there for that cost.

Next door however was a bigger house and the kitchen upgrade was nearly £8000. They moved in and ripped out the generic whateveritcamewithkitchen. Putting in what is no doubt a much nicer kitchen than what the builder would have fitted, for between £5-6k.

If you have a voucher then happy days at least do something, but I wouldn't go mad over the £2.5k personally.

htaylor16

W just moved into a Bellway new build and have £8.5k worth of extras put in at their cost. We got top of the range carpets throughout, amtico flooring in hallway kitchen and bathrooms and full tiling in the main bathroom. Plus turf to the rear garden, that's all the £8.5k would allow.

We are already considering replacing the kitchen worktop and cooker splash back because I hate them and I added a kitchen island unit at my own cost.

Upgrades are more expensive than you realise

SuboJvR

We spent £2700 on hard flooring in all bedrooms, living room kitchen and utility, carpet to stairs and landing. £750 for builder to put tile floors in bathroom and cloakroom.

We didn’t use the building company for the flooring. Amtico or Karndean would have cost more but not up to £8k. The builders really do inflate their flooring prices so do weigh that up.