New build completion date - roof to completion timeline

MEM62

javp said:
The roof is been tiled this week and the builder assures that it will be completed by the end of March. Does this sound realistic?

No.  Working a lot from home over the past 9 months I have watched a small estate being built where a field once stood at the back of our house.  The roof tiles went on around two months ago, they are still working on the interiors and they are looking far from complete to me.     

anteguardian

javp said:

anteguardian said:

javp said:

Hi,
We reserved a 4 bedroomed detached house last November. Just o give you all an idea of size it's a 4 bed with 2 en suited and main bathroom. On ground floor kitchen diner, dining room, utility, WC,  lounge and study with a searched double garage. The roof is been tiled this week and the builders assures that it will be completed by the end of March. Does this sound realistic as to me it sounds like a very unrealistic timeline. We are getting help to buy so it is important it does get completed for then. The builder assures it will be completed but me and the wife are getting stressed as the date is closing in. Your experience and comments will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Hello OP,

Sounds like your new build is at the same stage ours is at. Same type of house by the sounds of it; 4 bed, 3 bathrooms + 1 WC etc
Ours is a small developer and 12 houses total on the plot and they seem to be really confident that they will be finished before the end of March - pretty much all the buyers want to be in before then for Help to Buy/Stamp duty holiday from what we’ve been told - and they have been quite open and honest with us because we don’t have any move in date deadline due to not needing either of the above.

It probably depends on how many houses they are building concurrently compared with the amount of builders etc. Like @t@theartfullodger  has said; take everything with a pinch of salt, what assurances have they given?

@anteguardian how has your house progressed this week? do you know what has been done?

Hello @javp

Well we actually went to see it this afternoon with the developer and I have to say I’m really impressed so far with the progress.

Back when we went to initially look at the 12 house plot in December the house that was up and having the roof put on (not our house) was the only one in a built state - moving on a couple of months now ALL the houses are up and all have roofs on which I was surprised at. They are just finishing up a few bits but scaffolding is all coming down on Tuesday according to the developer, and they still seem confident that all 12 will be finished before the end of March.

Some here may have concerns about the build quality because of how quick it’s all happened but I’ve learnt so much from this forum (including loads of good tips stuff to check myself or query) and I physically checked all of my concerns today myself and was super happy that they aren’t cutting corners. Everything seems really high spec too (more so than a bigger developer) so I don’t think I could be any happier with our decision to go for this house and this developer. Ive always been a bit cautious too on the run up to today so am quite pleased with everything so far!

A nice little surprise was we got to pick a carpet colour today too which I wasn’t expecting! 

javp

@anteguardian that's great news. I've been to see my house today and they let me in the house for the first time. The staircase was on so I actually got to go upstairs as well. Been told that first fix electrics and plumbing would be done next week.

anteguardian

javp said:

@anteguardian that's great news. I've been to see my house today and they let me in the house for the first time. The staircase was on so I actually got to go upstairs as well. Been told that first fix electrics and plumbing would be done next week.

That’s wonderful - it’s always good when you get to go in and physically see it coming together.

Are you happy with everything so far? Are they still on track? 

javp

anteguardian said:

javp said:

@anteguardian that's great news. I've been to see my house today and they let me in the house for the first time. The staircase was on so I actually got to go upstairs as well. Been told that first fix electrics and plumbing would be done next week.

That’s wonderful - it’s always good when you get to go in and physically see it coming together.

Are you happy with everything so far? Are they still on track? 

Still on track and looking more positive to finish on time now. The site manager actually went through what he was planning to do by when and asked me to pay another visit in 2 weeks. By the time I go in next time all the first fix electrics and plumbing would be done and he said the house will have the windows and doors on as well. also all services are the be connected next week as well as the scaffoldings have come off.

anteguardian

javp said:

anteguardian said:

javp said:

@anteguardian that's great news. I've been to see my house today and they let me in the house for the first time. The staircase was on so I actually got to go upstairs as well. Been told that first fix electrics and plumbing would be done next week.

That’s wonderful - it’s always good when you get to go in and physically see it coming together.

Are you happy with everything so far? Are they still on track? 

Still on track and looking more positive to finish on time now. The site manager actually went through what he was planning to do by when and asked me to pay another visit in 2 weeks. By the time I go in next time all the first fix electrics and plumbing would be done and he said the house will have the windows and doors on as well. also all services are the be connected next week as well as the scaffoldings have come off.

I’m glad things are working out for your build too - it’s nice they have invited you back too to see the progress, that’s a good sign. 

javp

Just give you an update I have just had the contracts through for my house and it does not have a clause to say that I can withdraw from the contract if the 31st of March deadline is not met - which ultimately mean that I can not get HTB which would lead to me not having the funds to buy the house. My solicitor has said that the will request this to be added to the contracts. Does anyone have any experience on anything like this? I might open a new thread as asking a different question on this thread might not reach a wider audience.

anteguardian

Ive just seen on the new this morning that the Help to Buy deadline has been extended until May? Hopefully that means a bit of breathing room for you and the developer and I’m assuming that applies to you now too @javp

javp

@anteguardian
There are also many rumours about the stamp duty holiday been extended for another 6 weeks from the current deadline. But we won't find that out till the budget on the 3rd of March anyway. I will let you know once I have visited on the 25th as if to what they have done by then.

javp

@anteguardian any update on your build? I've been to visit the site today and I was pretty pleased with what they had done in the last couple of weeks. Wall cavity filled, first fix electrics and plumbing done and also all windows and doors were in Including bay window. Plasterers were preparing to start on the property from tomorrow as well. They still think they can complete by the end of march