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FTBs looking at new build - how to get a deal on optional extras?

2»

Comments

  • AdrianC wrote: »
    Seriously...?

    "Shocked", "essential"?

    excuse me?
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 19,071 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Since when was an outside tap "essential"? I've lived in 8 different properties and apart from current house, none had an outside tap. Similarly, grass. It is not "essential", in fact we don't have any lawn, patios and flower beds, vegetable and herb plots
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • nik_k
    nik_k Posts: 301 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Incentives really do vary between developers. Barratt were quite keen to chuck various incentives at us, whilst Redrow were a lot more guarded. Quality/finish were poorer in Barratt though, which in a way swayed the decision to go with Redrow. On paper we lost out in terms of £, as we ended up with 'only' Stamp Duty and Legal Fees included. However, these were the things that mattered to us in our situation. The lost 'value' of not having turfed back garden/outside tap and soft close toilet seats to all wetrooms wasn't something that we lost sleep over!
  • AdrianC wrote: »
    Seriously...?

    "Shocked", "essential"?


    I'm with Adrian on this one.
    Health Warning: I am happy to occasionally comment on building matters on the forum. However it is simply not possible to give comprehensive professional technical advice on an internet forum. Any comments made are therefore only of a general nature to point you in what is hopefully the right direction.
  • foxy-stoat
    foxy-stoat Posts: 6,879 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Think people need to grasp that buying a house that has just been built by big developers is different to buying a house that has been built for many years.
  • eidand
    eidand Posts: 1,023 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    OP, do you know about the maintenance charges, fleecehold and all the "wonderful" surprises that come with new builds?
  • Marvel1
    Marvel1 Posts: 7,461 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    When I looked into new builds I was shocked at what was deemed to be 'optional' extras - flooring, grass, an outside tap! Things you'd imagine are essential to a home all came at an extra cost. Was one of the main reasons I was put off new builds.

    I don't have an outside tap or grass, so don't see the essential.
  • Marvel1 wrote: »
    I don't have an outside tap or grass, so don't see the essential.


    I bought a riddle, a rake, and grass seed at my first house. Seemed to work quite well. And ify ou buy your own floor coverings at least you can get the quality you want instead of what the developer can get cheaply.



    The problem seems to be expectation management. Many new home buildings do believe that such things as thrown in "free" to sweeten the deal, but of course like all incentives the developer has costed a certain amount beforehand.


    If the deal isn't right for OP then they should shop around for something better.
    Health Warning: I am happy to occasionally comment on building matters on the forum. However it is simply not possible to give comprehensive professional technical advice on an internet forum. Any comments made are therefore only of a general nature to point you in what is hopefully the right direction.
  • ethank
    ethank Posts: 2,197 Forumite
    Holiday Haggler I've been Money Tipped!
    Generally a lot of sites are moving towards to inclusive pricing now as Help to Buy is driving the sales - it also helps them to keep the house sale price high.
  • Didn't get anywhere when we asked for the £15k decor contribution as advertised.

    Will respond back to them asking for flooring, garden turf and fitted wardrobes to be included. If they say no we'll walk away.
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