Price difference David Wilson vs Barratt

MiniEggs

David Wilson are owned by Barratt

Two developments side by side, so in effect the same site

For the same number of bedrooms why would the price of a DWH version be 50% more than a Barratt version before offers etc ?

It's got to be a lot more than some nicer taps and light switches !

Anyone any clues ?

[Deleted User]

Even if all else was the same, which it won't be, they're different brands.

MiniEggs

Great forum name

"Even if all else was the same, which it won't be"

That is what I am trying to get at

Yes they are different brands and maybe DWH can charge a bit of a brand image premium but a 5 bed for 400k or 600k is quite a difference given they are in the same location

What are the likely quality/quantifiable differences ?

Cornucopia

Size of plot? Size of rooms? Size of Garden? Finishing details? Extras included? Development density and layout?

I remember a while back looking at two different sites with two different builders, but they had an identical coach-house flat in both that I was considering buying. Whilst the floor plans for each were identical, in one site, the property and every dimension in it was about 85% the size of the other one. When comparing newbuilds, it is the detail that makes the difference.

TadleyBaggie

Supply and demand, there are probably lots of people (me included) wouldn't touch a Barratt home, however David Wilson is a different matter.

MiniEggs

TadleyBaggie wrote: »

Supply and demand, there are probably lots of people (me included) wouldn't touch a Barratt home, however David Wilson is a different matter.

Could you elaborate please ?

MiniEggs

Cornucopia wrote: »

Size of plot? Size of rooms? Size of Garden? Finishing details? Extras included? Development density and layout?

I remember a while back looking at two different sites with two different builders, but they had an identical coach-house flat in both that I was considering buying. Whilst the floor plans for each were identical, in one site, the property and every dimension in it was about 85% the size of the other one. When comparing newbuilds, it is the detail that makes the difference.

The Plots look about the same but your 85% point is a fair one I will have to add up the room sizes more carefully

bowlhead99

MiniEggs wrote: »

Yes they are different brands and maybe DWH can charge a bit of a brand image premium but a 5 bed for 400k or 600k is quite a difference given they are in the same location

What are the likely quality/quantifiable differences ?

Why don't you ask the person selling the £600k house why it is objectively / quantifiably better than the one built by their affiliate / rival a few hundred yards away which is for sale at a third lower cost for the same square footage? They are more likely to be able to answer that than we are. We haven't seen them or checked what they're made of, what they're finished with, how big the windows or garage or driveways are, how desirable the plots are, how much more convenient or more tranquil their end of the development is than the other, etc etc

Which do you prefer? "The DWH one, if it was the same price as the Barrat one" might be a common response.

Tell them you are looking for buildings insurance quotes and need to know the rebuild cost for if it burned down or blew up. If the surveyor says the same for both, the ability to command a higher price with one of them is a combination of branding, smarter architecture, quality of finish, location and plot size / shape.

There is also the aspect that you are talking about price "before offers etc". The RRP of two products often differs from their practical 'street price' that you might have to pay.

You also pay more stamp duty per pound of house price at higher house prices so it is good to know what you're tangibly getting for your money with the more upmarket brand. It's up to the salesman to convince you that something is worth the extra - I'm sure they'll have a good crack at it if you let them. Meanwhile your role in all of this is to avoid paying something for nothing...

brewthebear

Barretts quality is not a patch on David Wilsons, have looked at both houses in past and purchased DW which was more money but values hold better when we came to sell and compared the Barratt price it was nowhere near DW. Barrett homes look nice until you get inside and look at the finishes

Marvel1

Brand? A hoodie with Reebox on it and another with Ralph Lauren written on it, Ralph Lauren costing more.

ReadingTim

Same reason as a VW Golf costs more than a Seat Leon - after all, they're both cars of roughly the same size and shape, and they both share the same chassis/drivetrain. But the fit and finish may be (or appear to be) different and one may feel it is more of a premium brand, and will charge according. And if the customers are happy with this and buy the product anyway, what's the problem?

And yeah, everyone thinks they deserve a Rolls Royce, even if their budget only stretches to a Reliant Robin, but the world doesn't work like that....