New build - negotiate on options?

[Deleted User]

New builds are horrible. They try and sell the property like it's a luxury but in reality everything is basic, basic bathroom, basic kitchen, cheap thin carpets, all fittings are the cheapest, and those crap single width flag stone paths that they put around that sink and slope after 18 months. Would never buy one.  

jennifernil

I would concentrate on spending money on things that are very difficult to do afterwards.....in this order......
additional sockets, they never fit enough, especially in the kitchen and lounge
lighting, especially if you want additional downlights or outlets
telephone sockets
TV sockets
shower if you need an additional one
bathroom tiling, and ask for a box of spare tiles for each bathroom
kitchen upgrades......can you upgrade to a door front you prefer, and choose your worktops? .....additional units......drawers instead of cupboards....is there a choice of sinks, taps and door handles?
can you choose your own appliances?.......
on this.......get a cooker hood that extracts to outside
can you move radiators to suit how you want to use the room?....

Things I would not have them do.....
.flooring.....better to choose your own
turfing and slabs if they cost  extra

Smithy5000

It'd do no harm to try and knock some money off the "extras" but once you're about to move in check the house thoroughly for any defects because you'll only have a certain number of days before they'll just send you away. Scratches on ei does, loose ironmongery, doors not closing, all holes sealed externally, go around everywhere 

HanPop

I’d agree with what some other people have said and have them put spotlights in , we’ve got them in the kitchen/bathroom and en suites and they are great and would be a pain to do afterwards. My friend bought a Miller Homes stock plot and she didn’t get electric in her garage, do you get this? I’m with Bellway and they put it in all of the garages on our estate but on my old Redrow estate they didn’t. Integrated appliances are worth it too. I’d have your own turf put in as it’s usually rubbish stuff that the builders put in.

Carl2510

I purchased one in October ready for March this year, I got £2000 towards Deposit £1000 towards legal fees. L+R Fencing and Integrated Dishwasher.

RelievedSheff

Deleted_User said:

New builds are horrible. They try and sell the property like it's a luxury but in reality everything is basic, basic bathroom, basic kitchen, cheap thin carpets, all fittings are the cheapest, and those crap single width flag stone paths that they put around that sink and slope after 18 months. Would never buy one.  

Not all new builds are the same.

We bought a David Wilson new build and it was really quite well specified as standard. We will have been in it for two years in April and have found it to be a very well built house. The fixtures and fittings are far from the cheapest they could have got away with installing. This is a far more solidly built house than our previous 1930's semi.

It is disappointing that some developers still don't include fencing, turf to gardens and small bits like outside taps and power to garages as standard. In my view these are not "optional extras" and should be included as standard.

GDB2222

Power to an 'en suite' garage is usually trivially easy to install. Where there’s a detached garage, it involves significant work to dig a trench and install armoured cable. If a developer does not automatically include it for an en suite garage, I can only wonder at the penny pinching that must be going on.