Barratt Homes New Build - Optional Extras & Advice

cjleigh

Hello! 
This is my first post. My partner and I are looking at a new development coming up and are looking at using the HTB equity loan. We are happy with what we see so far, have got our decision in principle sorted, just have to wait for the new HTB loan to be confirmed by the government for the next tax year as house won't be done til summer 2021. 
We are after advice on the cost of additional extras. We would like to see what a standard kitchen looks like from Barratts, also with the upgrades. Do we get to chose what oven we get? Fridge etc if we went with packages? 
Also, wanted additional things like a towel radiator, outside tap, flooring (vinyl downstairs and carpet upstairs). Also, is the driveway tarmac and do you have to pay for it? Is the loft insulated? Boarded out etc? 

Just after some advice, we've found out some good info, but just want a bit more from real customers. 

Any help appreciated, thanks in advance!

RelievedSheff

We bought a David Wilson Homes house last year who are part of the Barratt Group and Barratt Homes are also building on the same development.

You won't get a choice of oven or hob. They will be standard to the house type that you are buying. But you will get a choice of kitchen cupboards and work surfaces and tiles etc. Our house has the standard white gloss kitchen which we really like. Our kitchen was prewired for under cupboard lighting but it was not fitted by the developers. We installed that ourselves.

You will probably find that the bathrooms are specified with towel radiators. They all are here.

You will probably be able to get the flooring thrown in as part of the deal. I don't think anyone has paid for standard flooring on our development. The standard here has been vinyl to the kitchen and bathrooms and carpet to all other rooms. You will be able to choose the finish of your flooring and the carpets if you reserve early enough.

The outside tap has been standard on all plots here and the driveways here are all tarmac. Some developments have a mixture of block paved and tarmac driveways.

The loft will be insulated but it will not be boarded out. It is recommended that nothing is stored in the loft.

Just beware that some extras are really expensive from the developers. One example is 240v sockets with USB connections. The developers wanted £85 per socket to upgrade these. We did it ourselves for £13 a socket for the same front plates. Same with stuff like outside sockets. You can get them done by a local tradesmen much cheaper than the developers will charge you.

2bFrank

Our first house was a barretts house, bought it about 10 years ago. The drive will be tarmac'ed and the loft insulated, but not boarded. Newer houses dont really have much structural leeway really to hold much in the loft. That being said, storing the xmas tree and decorations shouldn't be an issue, but remember anything on top of the insulation is going to reduce its effectiveness.

Things like outside tap, towel radiator, flooring (apart from vinyl in bathroom and kitchen), landscaping (you have to pay extra for turf) are all extras.

Oven is the cheapest oven available, same with hobs. Unless the fridge is integrated, then you will just get a space to put a fridge, same with washing machine. The whole kitchen will be quite a cheap kitchen.

You can get upgrades, but will be honest they are very overpriced for what you get. Anything structural, then maybe it will be worth it (tiling, tap outside etc). Anything like appliances, carpet etc, I wouldn't bother and just buy from ao or similar when you move in.

You can get some extras thrown in sometimes if you are able to negotiate. They wont do much if you are using a scheme as they know you cannot get the house without it and are stuck, but we managed to get all the flooring sorted and upgrades in the bathroom (better tiling, shower etc). We also managed to get more plug points and spotlights instead of a rose light for free as well.

Ill be honest, we was very disappointed with our barretts house and was glad to see the back of it, the quality of workmanship in the bathroom was atrocious, and had many issues with the plumbing that took many, many visits to resolve, that being said, my mate has a barretts and hes quite happy with it, I think it is a bit hit and miss. All the best OP and hope you are happy in your new home. 

AdrianC

cjleigh said:

We are after advice on the cost of additional extras. We would like to see what a standard kitchen looks like from Barratts, also with the upgrades. Do we get to chose what oven we get? Fridge etc if we went with packages? 
Also, wanted additional things like a towel radiator, outside tap, flooring (vinyl downstairs and carpet upstairs). Also, is the driveway tarmac and do you have to pay for it? Is the loft insulated? Boarded out etc? 

Just after some advice, we've found out some good info, but just want a bit more from real customers. 

Surely the best people to answer what the choices are, and what's included, on that particular property on that particular development are the sales people on that development...?

cjleigh

AdrianC said:

cjleigh said:

We are after advice on the cost of additional extras. We would like to see what a standard kitchen looks like from Barratts, also with the upgrades. Do we get to chose what oven we get? Fridge etc if we went with packages? 
Also, wanted additional things like a towel radiator, outside tap, flooring (vinyl downstairs and carpet upstairs). Also, is the driveway tarmac and do you have to pay for it? Is the loft insulated? Boarded out etc? 

Just after some advice, we've found out some good info, but just want a bit more from real customers. 

Surely the best people to answer what the choices are, and what's included, on that particular property on that particular development are the sales people on that development...?

Thanks for your comment. We are simply at the interest stage. It will depend on prices once the plots we are interested in comes up. They don't think the houses will be ready til next year so was after a bit of real advice rather than sales advice if you get me. Thanks anyway 😊

MysteryMe

Nothing wrong with getting the views of people who have been there before you.  

robatwork

I have no idea what your development is/will be like.

I bought a Barratts house once.

I never would again. Stressful and shoddy.

If you do proceed, try to watch the build at least weekly, and make sure it's being built to plan.

RelievedSheff

robatwork said:

I have no idea what your development is/will be like.

I bought a Barratts house once.

I never would again. Stressful and shoddy.

If you do proceed, try to watch the build at least weekly, and make sure it's being built to plan.

I think it is pot luck as to how good the site manager is on a development. 

Both the Barratt and David Wilson site managers are on the ball where we are and it shows in the finish of the houses.

We had possibly the smoothest house sale ever. We part exchanged our old house for a completed plot and from reservation to moving in was just 3.5 weeks. It could not have gone any better.

isplumm

2bFrank said:

Things like outside tap, towel radiator, flooring (apart from vinyl in bathroom and kitchen), landscaping (you have to pay extra for turf) are all extras.

Oven is the cheapest oven available, same with hobs. Unless the fridge is integrated, then you will just get a space to put a fridge, same with washing machine. The whole kitchen will be quite a cheap kitchen.

You can get upgrades, but will be honest they are very overpriced for what you get. Anything structural, then maybe it will be worth it (tiling, tap outside etc). Anything like appliances, carpet etc, I wouldn't bother and just buy from ao or similar when you move in.

We bought a Bloor new build a few years ago - very happy with it - once the snagging had been resolved.
To the OP - remember that if you don't get carpets etc fitted by the developer, you most likely will have to wait till you actually own the property before you can measure up - so you'll end up having to have bare floors for a while.
For us, the whole point of buying a new build, was that it was all done for me - I didn't want to move and then have to lay carpets, or change electrics. Otherwise I may as well have bought a 2nd hand house.
Mark

brownn

Ask the sales advisor for a copy of the "BARRATT BASE SPECIFICATION OF FINISHES - ENGLAND, SCOTLAND & WALES" document and to which spec the plot you're interested in is being built to. It will list absolutely everything, the make/model/supplier of the taps, bath panel, kitchen cabinets, appliances, you name it.

cjleigh

RelievedSheff said:

We bought a David Wilson Homes house last year who are part of the Barratt Group and Barratt Homes are also building on the same development.

You won't get a choice of oven or hob. They will be standard to the house type that you are buying. But you will get a choice of kitchen cupboards and work surfaces and tiles etc. Our house has the standard white gloss kitchen which we really like. Our kitchen was prewired for under cupboard lighting but it was not fitted by the developers. We installed that ourselves.

You will probably find that the bathrooms are specified with towel radiators. They all are here.

You will probably be able to get the flooring thrown in as part of the deal. I don't think anyone has paid for standard flooring on our development. The standard here has been vinyl to the kitchen and bathrooms and carpet to all other rooms. You will be able to choose the finish of your flooring and the carpets if you reserve early enough.

The outside tap has been standard on all plots here and the driveways here are all tarmac. Some developments have a mixture of block paved and tarmac driveways.

The loft will be insulated but it will not be boarded out. It is recommended that nothing is stored in the loft.

Just beware that some extras are really expensive from the developers. One example is 240v sockets with USB connections. The developers wanted £85 per socket to upgrade these. We did it ourselves for £13 a socket for the same front plates. Same with stuff like outside sockets. You can get them done by a local tradesmen much cheaper than the developers will charge you.

Thank you so much for your comment. That gives me much more information that is required! 
We haven't reserved the plot yet as it hasnt come up. Will try and go for free flooring. Don't want all fitted wardrobes, only the bedroom 1 (our room). 
Thanks again! Hope you enjoy your home!