New Build incentives

danniwood86

Hello,
We are looking to reserve a new build home that will be ready in Sept/Oct time. The sales rep had to choose the kitchen and bathroom tiles etc due to the plot not having been reserved. There are a few "extras" already coming with the home turf to the back garden, white andesite sink, chrome trim in bathroom and ensuire and chrome towel rails - quoted to be worth around £2000.
As we were already in the process of selling our home we couldn't use their easymover scheme where they pay for our estate agent fees etc.
Given that options have already been made and we are unable to make any changes to what has been chosen does anyone think asking for a contribution to estate agent fees/stamp duty would be a fair incentive to ask for in order for us to reserve?
If anyone has a similar experience it would be good to hear how you negotiated these.
Many Thanks

taylor86

I definitely would be pushing for stamp duty and agents fees the developer will want this sold quickly so ask, worst they can say is no then you’ll have to decided if your happy with the price as it stands. If it has hung around this long and are prepared to walk away I’m sure they’d give something.

bramptonbrew

It's worth asking - if you don't ask, you don't get. We got £500 towards legal fees as part of our incentives.

danniwood86

thank you. I'll see how it goes. Fingers crossed!

rachel230

bramptonbrew said:

It's worth asking - if you don't ask, you don't get. We got £500 towards legal fees as part of our incentives.

Was that on condition that you used one of their "recommended" solicitors?

RelievedSheff

It is a couple of years ago now but we bought a plot that was built and completed and got quite a lot thrown in. We didn't get to choose the kitchen and bathrooms or flooring as it was all already installed, but we did get a great part exchange price for our old house, £10k deposit contribution, stamp duty paid, legal fees paid, free flooring throughout and moving costs contribution.

They wanted the house off their books. It was sat empty and costing them money. Not sure why this house didn't sell as subsequent plots of the same house type sold very quickly and for more money. But it worked in our favour

TonyJ2021

RelievedSheff said:

It is a couple of years ago now but we bought a plot that was built and completed and got quite a lot thrown in. We didn't get to choose the kitchen and bathrooms or flooring as it was all already installed, but we did get a great part exchange price for our old house, £10k deposit contribution, stamp duty paid, legal fees paid, free flooring throughout and moving costs contribution.

They wanted the house off their books. It was sat empty and costing them money. Not sure why this house didn't sell as subsequent plots of the same house type sold very quickly and for more money. But it worked in our favour

We were very similar to this. We bought our new build in 2013 and also were unable to chose our kitchen due to it already being fitted by the developers (Persimmon). We also had stamp duty / legal fee's paid fully and a 5% deposit contribution (£9,500). At the time we couldn't believe our luck, but as the above states, we later realised this was one of the last houses on Phase 1 of the development which wasn't selling so they were making it as attractive as possible - we were in the right place at the right time. We managed to negotiate on extra's including flooring, but that actually only came by us asking after we'd initially reserved.

When it came to the negotiations, the only thing you can do is ask and they'll say 'no'. Or they may say 'yes' if they're that desperate for it to sell...

knightstyle

If it is not too late make sure sockets and TV points are where you want them.   Plus ask if the downstairs hall light can be switched from upstairs these are typical penny pinching ways builders save money.
Plus do the kitchen tiles go up to the wall units?  If not get some boxes of extra ones included in the sale.

bramptonbrew

rachel230 said:

bramptonbrew said:

It's worth asking - if you don't ask, you don't get. We got £500 towards legal fees as part of our incentives.

Was that on condition that you used one of their "recommended" solicitors?

We did use the recommended solicitors but the offer wasn't tied to that.