Good Experiences of New Builds?

Chlorine7

Hi, I'm starting to look into buying a flat (I'm London based so definitely flat) and I've been to see a few new builds, one was very the good the rest were a bit meh but I was shown a two bed place, I'd have to wait a year for the one beds.

I can only really find bad experiences of new builds so does anyone have any good ones? Who is the builder and how long have you lived there?

I have found the CSS Sar ratings but that doesn't cover all builder or housing assocs e.g. I saw two Home Group flats and those were awful imo but maybe they are better with other properties.

I'm also going to start looking at existing properties next weekend that aren't new builds.

RelievedSheff

We have been in our new build David Wilson Homes house for six months now and we love it. We are very happy with the build quality. There has been some snagging to sort out but that has been dealt with quickly and effiiciently and we can not complain about the service we have received from the team on site.

You will find that it is only people who are unhappy who tend to write reviews online.

sal_III

Bought a new build flat in London a bit over 1 year ago, after renting on previous phases of the same development, so had pretty good idea of the quality.

Apart from a spike in the service charge (which I was expecting and accounted for) owing to the fact that the quotes from the marketing team are 2-3 years out of date and more or less a made up number. Perfectly happy with it. All the initial snagging was rectified before completion and all of the small issues we have had after that were dealt in a timely manner.

The Developer is a joint venture between Countryside and Taylor Wimpey, but the actual work is subcontracted to Bennett.

BTW there are new build houses in London too, not only flats. A bit pricey, but they are available.

HanPop

We currently live in a Redrow house that we bought from new 6 years ago, I love it and have no complaints and there weren’t many snags either. We have currently reserved a Bellway new build as we need to upsize, don’t live in one yet so can’t comment on that aspect but the sales team have been very good to us as we’ve had some hiccups with our house sale along the way.
I notice only people who want to complain do the house reviews online. I’ve been perfectly happy in my new build but haven’t written a review.

MysteryMe

I have not lived in a new build but many thousands of people buy them every year so it can't be that bad an experience. As others have mentioned, people only tend to speak up when complaining!

The only thing to bear in mind is that you do pay a price premium when buying a brand new home. If it is your intention to live in it for only a 2/3 years you need to think about potential resale value and costs of selling.

If it's a longer term purchase, perhaps a family home, you are still paying a premium against a "used" property but after several years things tend to even out.

pattypan4

I love my new build house, been here for 5 months and the builders could not have been more helpful. Only a small development by an old school time-served builder with his own workforce. I had one snag, just a small leak, nothing else at all. It is cosy, bright, well designed and my garden is big enough. I was very lucky to have found my house

Chlorine7

Totally aware of people more likely to say something online when complaining about something and the premium of a new build, which is why I asked for some positive experiences.

Thank you for this it has been reassuring.

KJB9

Been in our new build for just over a month now and are really happy. Had a list of snags but nothing major - almost all have since been rectified by the developer (Countryside) who have generally been very helpful in the whole process.

Hutch100uk

I bought a Linden Homes new build house. Had lots of snagging issues (as does everyone) but most were rectifed fairly quickly. The quality is as you would expect with a newer house, not as good.

RelievedSheff

Hutch100uk wrote: »

I bought a Linden Homes new build house. Had lots of snagging issues (as does everyone) but most were rectifed fairly quickly. The quality is as you would expect with a newer house, not as good.

A lot of people say that the quality of new builds is not as good as older properties but we have found quite the opposite to be true.

Our 2019 house is far better built and feels a lot more solid than our previous 1937 one was.

Skiddaw1

We're in a 2013 house (we're only the second occupants) and it's fantastic- really well built in every respect. Mind you, the building firm (Story Homes) is a local (Cumbrian) one rather than one of the big national firms.