Show Home Specification

dan96

But then again only people who aren’t sensible buy new builds, am I right @slithery? Being unable to afford anything other than shared ownership kind of limits you (and by the sounds of it dictates how sensible you are).

ethank

Don't understand why people are being so snobby about new builds. lots of people love them!

I would say its a pretty big thing to be able to choose your kitchen and be provided something else

Davesnave

Slithery wrote: »

Yes, but you seem to be a (relatively) sensible person

Well, I can see both sides, having bought a conservatory, agreed the general spec, waited for the surveyor to do his thing, and then, after his visit, waited a long time for something not to happen in the way of a proper plan!

Yes, I've some experience, because I'm used to sitting down with an architect or a kitchen designer and ending up with a detailed plan. When that didn't happen, it was a huge red flag and I stopped things right there.

It didn't end well for the company. Like this case, thy just wanted to give me what they normally give people. However, I had a generous helping of luck and a large, grumpy, builder, who was willing to get heavy in the way that only large, grumpy builders can!

dan96

The problem is that all flats are the same with 0 customisation so I assumed that colour etc would not need to be specified in the contract.

AdrianC

ethank wrote: »

I would say its a pretty big thing to be able to choose your kitchen and be provided something else

Ah, but...

dan96 wrote: »

The problem is that all flats are the same with 0 customisation so I assumed that colour etc would not need to be specified in the contract.

...and therein lies the issue. Assumption.

Is it a bit lousy that the showflat is one colour and the actual flats all another? Yes.
Is it entirely within the contract that the OP voluntarily agreed to? Yes.
Will changing the doors after moving in be fairly cheap? Yes.

dan96

Am I right in saying that my solicitor should have spotted this? Like I said I’m a first time buyer and it didn’t occur to me. If they should have, what shall I say to them?

AdrianC

dan96 wrote: »

Am I right in saying that my solicitor should have spotted this?

Your solicitor never went to the showflat, so doesn't have the first clue what the kitchen doors were there.

Ultimately, even if you had noticed, you'd still be getting the beige doors - because there's no choice. Would you have walked away from the purchase over that?

How far ahead of completion did you purchase these appliances, anyway?

Murphybear

hazyjo wrote: »

It's not the blue film they use to protect kitchen cabinets is it? Just checkin'!


And they call this news LOL: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/19/mum-took-three-years-realise-blue-drawers-actually-grey-8939590/

That was quite amusing. Especially the bit where she asked B & Q staff if they had any other colour than blue and obviously no one pointed out the blue colour was protective film :rotfl:

Davesnave

dan96 wrote: »

Am I right in saying that my solicitor should have spotted this? Like I said I’m a first time buyer and it didn’t occur to me. If they should have, what shall I say to them?

As Adrian says, it's not something that your solicitor would be able to know or pick out individually; more a case of warning you to satisfy yourself about the finer details, if all you have is a vague spec. Some solicitors are more pro-active than others.

Like my example of the dodgy but very long established conservatory firm, one wouldn't expect such a company to behave like spivs, but some do, particularly in their selling of the product. It's not unknown for specially made, small furniture to be used in show homes to give the illusion of space.

Having said that, there's usually something in a house builder's contract allowing minor variations to cope with difficulties that arise; say the non availability of a certain flooring. They can't stop work if something like that happens. However, examples of complaints this forum has received include the use of different bricks and exterior finishes and the omission of a window, so a colour difference in a kitchen is relatively minor in this context, though I appreciate it's important to you.

Bottom line: assume nothing and trust no one on the selling side.

dan96

My solicitor has replied to me today saying that the spec of the inside of the property is not part of the legal process and instead between the buyer and seller. He has asked to raise my concerns with the builder but that won’t solve it.