Can I have my en-suite removed in a New Build?

Visha2905

I have recently reserved a plot on a development for a 3 bed house in Colchester.  I recently went to view a similar type of house for the same developer elsewhere in the UK to get an idea of room sizes (I am not great with measurements) and was really disappointed as the rooms are so much more smaller than I had imagined they would be.
The master bedroom is about 13" x 9" with a small en-suite attached, which I feel I will struggle to get a double bed, wardrobe and probably chest of drawers to fit.
I am one of the first to reserve on this development and I believe the foundations have not been laid yet and they hope to have finished building by end of December. 
Do you think I can ask to have the ensuite not included in order to gain more space?

unforeseen

The only people who can answer that question would be the developers

RelievedSheff

They are unlikely to accept that request as they build to the plans and are always very reluctant to stray away from them. Everything will already be ordered with the suppliers and the fitters will already be booked to do the job.

13x9ft does seem very small for a master bedroom even by new build standards!

We bought a modest 3 bed new build detached last year and our second bedroom is bigger than that!

London50

The master bedroom is about 13" x 9" 

  I have seen bigger dollhouse bedrooms larger than that {lol}

grumbler

One person I know asked the developer to lay laminate flooring instead of carpets or even leave the floor boards uncovered, and the developer refused.

So, he had to rip out the new carpets first before laying laminate.

Needless to say that underfloor heating in the kitchen was rejected as well - and it wasn't a question of extra cost.

TELLIT01

Ask the developer.  If construction hasn't started yet they may be willing to make adjustments, particularly those which save them money.

Jumblebumble

RelievedSheff said:

 Everything will already be ordered with the suppliers and the fitters will already be booked to do the job.

How do you know ?

Mistral001

Ask the developer.  Also ask for a reduction in price as it will certaily cost them less to build. If they cannot change their plans to omit  an en-suite, they are not much of a builder,  so do not listen to any sales-speak about how it will cost them a lot to change the plans- it will not.   Most developments take several years to build and they will not be ordering all the fittings at once.

Bear in mind many people expect en-suites in a house these days and you might be reducing the resale price by quite a bit. 

scottishblondie

You can only ask.  But will removing the en-suite actually give you more usable bedroom space.  Can you post the floor plan?
Another thing to consider is that they are building according to the plans approved by the council when they got planning permission.  A change like removing a bathroom might require them to go back to the council to amend the PP, which is probably not something they will want to do.

warby68

You can ask but if its early stages in the development, the builder will probably want to sell 'as seen'. Ensuites are expected by most so the removal may create a less popular property which will be a problem if your purchase falls through. 
Sometimes on bespoke developments the purchaser can play a bigger part in the design but not usually the more 'off the shelf' properties. Just see what they say. I wouldn't count on a reduction either - no ensuite might save a bit in fitting and kit but the bigger picture of having to manage an 'extra' project will likely outweigh already established protocols etc. Its just more complexity for them.

stragglebod

What was the reservation fee? Even if they're able to consider this due to planning requirements and prepared to do so, it's going to add to their project costs which will be added to the price you pay. And I bet that'll be more than your reservation fee.

I expect it'll also be conditional on you exchanging contracts immediately. They aren't going to do this unless the sale is guaranteed.

You might consider that the cost of walking away now is less than the cost of paying several hundred grand for a house you aren't going to like.