Negotiate with persimmon???

Rover

Ask the saleswoman in question if she would consider a transfer to my regional Persimmon HQ, in Beverley, East Yorks. It's shutting next month!

plane_boy2000

Terrierlady - no all developers are NOT the same!

Despite my tale of woe with persimmon (and there is far more) I also bought a new house from another national developer shortly before. The snagging list totaled 5 items which were all fixed within 3 weeks of completion, so the product can be well built, and problems can be fixed. Mine and my neighbors experience is that once you have paid persimmon really don't care.

Out of interest do you work for persimmon?

lessonlearned

More tips

Hi there (BTW I'm female - not that it matters)

Abs have a look at my other posting to see my tips about negotiating for a discount. Don't be intimidated. Your age is irrelevant - you are the paying customer.

(Regrettably your experience with your snooty and unreliable negotiator is not uncommon. I've won sales from other competitors by simply being more professional than they are, knowing my stuff, playing fair and simply treating my purchasers with the respect and courtesy they deserve. I've also been treated very badly by one or two purchasers but that's another story!!!)

With regards to the 5% discount they are already offering - it might be easier for you to forget that - these deals are usually linked as part of a deposit scheme and you obviously have more money to put down than that. It simply confuses the issue.

Just go for a straight cash discount - I would normally suggest asking for about 15% as a starting guide with a view to settling for about 10%, which in your case amounts to £20K - pretty good if you can get it.

However, if they really are at the end of the development and have only a few left to sell - and in view of the current gloomy housing market it might be worth having a go for a bit more. You might just get lucky.

However, a caveat here, make sure your sale is cast iron first. Until contracts are exchanged, (from the builder's point of view) you are are not a dead cert. Sorry but that's the truth - roughly 1 in 3 sales fall through.

My advice is protect yourself - when contracts are exchanged you will be in a very strong bargaining position. I know it means you may have to rent or stay with relatives for a while but it will be woth it.

With regards to "snagging" and faults. Once Legal Completion has taken place all matters are removed from the negotiators remit and come under the auspices of the Customer Care. There should be a designated Customer Care Manager for your development and the negotiator should furnish you with contact details, although you probably already have these in your "Welcome Pack".

You should be given a Welcome Pack (a huge envelope or folder given to you at Legal Completion). This should contain your customer care information, all contact details, emergency numbers for crises (ie plumbing leaks, serious electrical faults, boiler problems etc).

I know moving in is busy and stressful but I'm always surprised by how many people never bother to even open this folder.

With regards to standards of customer care, to be frank, they can be variable. I've worked for several builders and to be honest, some are better at fixing things and snagging than others.

I've not worked for Persimmon so can't comment.

terrierlady

plane_boy2000 wrote: »

Terrierlady - no all developers are NOT the same!

Despite my tale of woe with persimmon (and there is far more) I also bought a new house from another national developer shortly before. The snagging list totaled 5 items which were all fixed within 3 weeks of completion, so the product can be well built, and problems can be fixed. Mine and my neighbors experience is that once you have paid persimmon really don't care.

Out of interest do you work for persimmon?

NO, DID at one time about 10 years ago when they took over Beezer Homes I work for a Bespoke Builder now a days.

abs429

Hi everyone thanks to everyone who has posted their views on this especially lesson learned. I now know exactly what to expect Im quite cluedup on house prices and an expert in mortgages (if i say so myself lol)its my job. But when it comes to new builds I dont have a clue dont know any1 that has bought one.
I check rightmove everyday and just in this last week cracks are starting to show, prices being lowered and even rent coming down. Contemplating wether to rent for a bit but would love to settle in a new home with my new baby (just found out today hes a boy) so want a nice nursery for him.But whatever we lose on the new house we would have lost on this one ( thought to self, stop being greedy)

But anyways it would be the icing on the cake if I could get a good deal and crack the icemaiden.lol
Oh I went in with my mam at the weekend she loved the house ( she doesnt havnt a clue about houses so she keeps quiet) and I tell you what the sales woman was nice as pie.

Anyways I feel a lot more confident about negotiating now IM NOT GOING LET THEM TAKE ME FOR A RIDE!!!!!

Thanks again and I will let you know how I get on.:T :j

BettiePage

Hope it all works out for you and your little man!

Wizwoo

We didn't take enough notice of all the advice we were given here (along the lines of Persimmon...run a mile!) the tail end of last year and put a deposit down on a house. The sales women was horrible even hung up on me a couple of times.
Push came to shove when just before Xmas they gave us an ultimatum of "Complete before the end of the year or lose your incentives". Our incentives weren't really that huge although they included having the stamp duty paid. Our buyer wasn't quite ready so we just weren't in a position to move. Persimmon told us "you'll be fine to do it in the new year then minus the incentives" but we said no and pulled out.
To be honest if the sales women had been at least civil to us during the previous month we probably would have gone ahead. When we said that we were already stretching ourselves and couldn't afford the stamp duty she advised us to put it on credit card!

By the way the property was initially on at £289,999. It was completed June last year and by Nov they were desperate to sell and dropped the price to £249,999. They made a big play on this when we asked for stuff to be thrown in (carpets and curtains etc). When it came to the valuation the property was valued at £250K. We even spoke to the surveyor to make sure! So it really wasn't such a bargain that Persimmon made out it was!

Wizwoo

Oops - posted twice.

lethal0r

unfortunately being a salesperson is one of the few jobs you can be very successful in just by being a tw*t.

are you sure you dont want to wait a bit longer and see if prices come down further? (just been looking at the stock market falls this morning).

abs429

Oh well nothing but bad news unfortunately.... went to see the ice maiden on Saturday was not interested in anything we had to say honestly. House up for 199950 would not offer it to us for anything less then 187000 personally think this is a joke and was quite honest with her stating they are overpriced by 5% already so you can offer everyone that. Seems to be quite busy in there really think shes had some young things taking on huge mortagges with no negotiation so didnt need to sell to us. My husband was shocked at how rude she was even worse than before yes she laughed at me again.

SP: How much do you want it for??

Me: Erm 175k ( ask a stupid question get a stupid answer.)

SP:(Laugh laugh) No way you wont get anywhere near.

Didnt offer anything else. I wouldnt dealwith her again see how much bonus she gets in the next few years.(laugh laugh straight back at ya)

Looking at other houses now new developers again George Wimpey seem a lot better sales people that are down to earth and dont expect you to be mr & mrs moneybags. Wish me look.:j