Builder stalling to avoid free turfing if ex. contract by..

Matt83UK_2

I seen a house with Persimmon that I liked. The grass wasn't turfed or levelled and to clinch the deal the reservation (£250) they said they would turf it if I exchanged contract within 28 days (20 working in reality), all noted on reservation form. This was on Saturday 17th. I've moved as fast as I can, should be receiving mortgage offer on Friday (valuation is on wednesday), but I'm beginning to suspect that this deadline is unrealistic, and that perhaps the builder is stalling to avoid the turfing (fair size lawn and levelling needed so will cost them a bit I imagine), it's been a week since made reservation and my solicitor still hasn't received the contract from Persimmon.

Is this normal? Or I'm I being paranoid yet again?

terrierlady

yes timescale is achievable and normal, your solicitor should contact the legal department and YOU should inform the sales negotiator on site that no contract received, they may know as they should have done their weekly chase up and noted no contract and chased up, the reservation form will ensure that garden is turfted and it will be done, keep chasing make sure the F>A> makes the valuer aware that they need to fax details direct on Wednesday to mortgage company, some valuers may take time to get the report typed up. get the mortgage offer faxed to the sales/legal department at developers so that they are aware the offer has been made etc, make sure you sign it and get it returned, book the appointment to sign up with your solicitor make the deposit funds available before its needed and cleared with your solicitor. keep chasing them as they sometimes hold things up by saying they haven't received this/that, keep the sales negotiator informed, ring them daily on site for any outstanding items your solicitor requires.

TJMD

I have recently moved into my new build house and we had to exchange contracts within 28 days in order to get the stated discounts and incentives. Everything went smoothly and was all sorted ahead of schedule, except exchange which we held off until as late as poss. I even managed to go on hol for a week to Gran Canaria in the 28 days and left it up to my Solicitor to deal with.

If you're worried, get your solicitor to chase Persimmon's solicitor.

charlesh

I'm in exactly the same situation as you. 28 days to exchange but the contracts haven't been issued to my solicitor (after a week since the purchase was agreed and we paid our part-ex fee). I'm informed by a colleague well up on these matters that in reality the clock starts ticking the moment your solicitor receives the proof of title and contract. Without these you can't instigate the local authority searches.

Best approach in my opinion is to put the ball in Persimmons court and talk to the sales negotiator so that they chase their solicitor and are made aware of the situation. For peace of mind make a note of the date & time when you spoke to the sales negotiator in case of any come back. But they can't expect you to do anything until you get the proof of title and the contract.

The levelling & turfing won't cost that much as the contractors have probably got the job of doing the whole development, so I doubt any delay will result in Persimmon withdrawing this incentive.

terrierlady

as stated we on site speak to all solicitors weekly and write down date and time who we spoke to etc so they should be aware of the contract situation, plus the area sales manager gets weekly report to show sales director at what stage each plot sale is at. Have no fear the incentives will be available and the sales team will do everything in their power to sort this, just speak to them and keep talking during the whole of the 28 day period thats what we are there for and how we earn our commission!!!!

Hunnymonster

They're probably stalling while they bury every last bit of rubble from the development under your potential new turf and sowing weeds - at least it's what most builders seem to do with gardens when they 'landscape'

socks_uk

I watched a 'Ground Force' type of gardening programme once and they advised to not have a new build turfed by the builders because you would only have to remove it and start all over again.

I'm not a gardener and I don't live in a new build so maybe someone else can offer more advice.

Jill

mike_the_bike_2

Had to smile at this one...Been in my house a while and spent a fortune on weed and feed and laying grass seed ovrer the years and the front lawn has always looked horrible...I found out today when i dug it up...Roofing tiles/bricks paint pots etc ..you name it..it was there, left by Bovis homes!!
I'm replacing the soil and returfing..So like the above poster says its unlikely it will be done properly on the new home anyway!

terrierlady

have to agree on this one the site agent controls the type of top soil that goes down and needs eyes up his backside as a lot of contractors will lay the first few homes with grade 1 then revert to less, good site management is the key but still some gets past, my site has had to have top soil removed twice now because the agent was on holiday and the under manager wasn't alert enough to notice the difference.

socks_uk

Any update on your problem Matt??

Jill

Matt83UK_2

Yep all sorted now, due to exchange this week and incentives have been confirmed by their solicitor.