New build Vs established property

LJPB

Hi,

We're in the process of selling and moving elsewhere. We've been looking at a variety of properties (mainly new builds) but finding it difficult to focus our search on one or the other.
We're a little scared of buying from a plan and would much rather be able to see something we were going to move into. But in our area you seem to get more for your money with established properties.
Any experiences people could share with me about buying a new build. We've bought 2 established properties now and haven't been too lucky with things needing done despite the surveys.

Thank you 😊

Sibz

Maybe not too much I can say on experience - other than that I have had the same experience as you buying non-new build. We had to do a bit of work on our last property so this time we have gone for a new build. We don't move in until next month though, so I can't say if that's been better or not yet.

new build v non-new build is very vague of course. You can get unscrupulous developers and unscrupulous owners. We have gone on the basis that there should be less work to make the new build comfortable to live in. Often developers will have other sites that you can go and see that will have show homes in the model you are looking at

jonnygee2

We've been looking at a variety of properties (mainly new builds) but finding it difficult to focus our search on one or the other.

Why would you want to? Just look at any houses with potential until you find one you like.

LJPB

Thanks. We've only bought 2 houses as stated and I was keen to hear from others their experiences of buying new Vs older

kerri_gt

What makes this move different that you are specifically looking at new builds only?

We looked at both before buying, the appeal of a new build being it new and shiny and supposedly nothing needing doing. However the reality was a) we would have been paying a significant premium for this,
b) as soon as we moved in, it would no longer be new - consideration for future resale.
c) soulless empty estate with no feeling for who else may be moving in (ok you have no control over who moves in with established estates but usually it's not a whole raft of people at once so you can get a feel for the type of road / community)
d) compared to older houses we looked at, in the main a lot of new builds seemed to have smaller rooms overall, often due to some new obsession with toilets and en suites. Honestly, in a three bed we looked at there were more toilets than bedrooms!
e) gardens seemed smaller than many older properties of similar size

Looking at these factors, we decided new the new builds we looked at, whilst lovely showhomes, were not worth the premium being asked for them so not for us.

LJPB

All very valid points, also very thought provoking. Thank you sharing. I'm also concerned about these greenery maintenance changes and the fact they aren't capt so can increase every year I believe.
Your points are really helpfully Kerri GT thank you

Mcgough221

I think it depends where you are buying tbh. We are buying a new build. Simply because we want house that we can grow into if that makes sense. We have 3 children so wanted a 4 bed property. Where we are most are small terrace houses. Max 3 bed. Most bigger, affordable houses are snapped up by landlords who convert to student accommodation and what’s left are unaffordable to us. New builds are actually cheaper for what we need here. Ideally I wanted an older property but we just couldn’t afford one. And what we could have afforded would have needed a lot of renovation work and extending which we can’t afford to fund and also can’t really do with having a child with autism.

So the question of new vs old depends entirely on your needs and area. Both have pros and cons.

Beeper

I’m in the process of buying a new build. I don’t mind a small garden as I would only use it in the summer (if that). Price-wise its two large bedrooms for roughly the same price as a three bed with one big and two medium/ small ones. I intend to live there for 5+ yrs, and no intention to expand in the family sense in that time. I have no DIY/ construction skills. So in that sense a new build suits me perfectly. The only thing Im worried about it the management fees associated with it. I know some have managed fine with the management fees but I’ve also heard and read horrible things about them.

NeilCr

My second "new build" purchase was actually one that had been built fo two years. The couple had bought it for their daughter who, for various reasons, had never moved in.

That was good as I got all the advantages of a new build but the builder was long gone from the site The estate had settled and a community had been created. The residents owned the freehold, too.

I think I might try that again if I ever have to move. Obviously, I'd be very lucky to get the not lved in bit but somewhere on an estate which was 3-4 years old would be good

pimento

I'll be moving in the spring and I think I will have to buy new or nearly new to find a house that has more than one bathroom. I don't know how people manage with only one.

LandyAndy

pimento wrote: »

I'll be moving in the spring and I think I will have to buy new or nearly new to find a house that has more than one bathroom. I don't know how people manage with only one.

Really? We are (were) a family of four in a 60's house with only one bathroom. It was never a problem as our children grew up. We did have a downstairs toilet as well which makes things easier but one bathroom was never a problem