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Original poster

Buying a new build, any regrets?

18 replies

MoiraNotRuby · 18/08/2021 08:17

I'm separating from my husband and looking forward to living in a cheaper but peaceful home with teenagers. I am tempted to get a new home even though I know they are tight on room size (in my budget anyway). Its the newness that is appealing. Really feels like a proper fresh start. And I do not have the energy for anything that needs work doing.

The Internet is full of new build horror stories and people saying they are shoddy/soulless etc. Has anyone been in a similar situation to me, did you go for a new build and do you have any regrets?

OP posts:

rubyandbel · 18/08/2021 08:27

Iv lived in 2 rented new builds and the work was shoddy unfortunately. Iv just bought a not new house but did view a new build and fell in love with it. Wide hallway, wide doors, very bright due to large windows, loads of storage. I didnt like how overlooked they were.

I would definitely buy one for the newness and ease. Just choose your plot wisely. Also read all reviews on the builders. Some builders are better than others. Good luck.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 18/08/2021 08:43

We’ve lived in three new builds- one for twenty years. There are usually snagging issues, but then there are if you have work done on an older house.

Our house is spacious, has a decent sized garden and came with flooring, carpets and white goods. Snagging was sorted out promptly.

It very much depends on the developer though and there are some I wouldn’t touch with the proverbial barge pole. This is the second house we’ve bought from our developer and I would again.

I like the fact that it’s no one else has lived in it before, that it’s low maintenance and you can easily make it your own.

Original poster

MoiraNotRuby · 18/08/2021 10:38

Thank you both, really glad to read your comments. The development I'm looking at is from a 5 star builder which I would hope is a good thing. Unless that's 5 out of 10!

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Aroundtheworldin80moves · 18/08/2021 10:42

When we were looking to buy recently, it was the room size that put us off. They can be sneaky about it too, using short beds etc.

Lemonlemon88 · 18/08/2021 10:46

I would love a new build but I wouldn't buy a house and land package, I would buy a plot and then get my house designed and built.

Ponkypig282 · 18/08/2021 10:48

We bought out new build 10 years ago. It was great for us as money was tight and we moved in knowing we wouldn't need to replace the bathroom/kitchen/roof etc anytime soon. We also didn't need to decorate or buy flooring.

Everything's still going strong. Our rooms are a really decent size and we have 3 bathrooms which is fantastic now the DC are older. The down side is being over looked in the garden which didn't bother me at first but does now. When we downsize a private garden will be high up on our list.

If you do buy a new build you'll be able to do a snagging list and you'll have a 10 year builders guarantee on the property.

mistermagpie · 18/08/2021 11:07

I've been in our new build for 6 years, we didn't really have a lot of snagging stuff at all but I know people who did. We also got all the flooring, turf, patio and fences included too which seems to be less common now and is something you may need to budget for. Friends of mine didn't even get plug sockets and things without paying extra.

Our house is fine, room sizes are small but it's a small house. It hasn't required any upkeep or anything. I like it and might buy another if we move.

mistermagpie · 18/08/2021 11:11

@Ponkypig282

If you do buy a new build you'll be able to do a snagging list and you'll have a 10 year builders guarantee on the property.

Yes, being overlooked is my only complaint too. The alternative plot we could have had was on the opposite side of the road and wasn't overlooked at all, but it had a north facing garden so we sacrificed privacy for the sunshine!

Original poster

MoiraNotRuby · 18/08/2021 11:15

Thanks all. I'm thinking we would just buy smaller furniture ourselves e.g. not king size beds, that sort of thing. Heating bills must be quite a bit lower the smaller the rooms are...

OP posts:

waltzingparrot · 18/08/2021 11:19

We've been in our new build for 20 years now. Pretty much within the first couple of years nearly everyone had added a conservatory for 'extra space'. Like many, we've now taken the conservatory down and put on a larger, proper extension. Most people have dug up their front lawns and added extra driveway space as teens get cars.

The newness is nice for a bit though.

Mindyourbusiness22 · 18/08/2021 11:21

We have a new build, no regrets here.

waltzingparrot · 18/08/2021 11:24

Oh, and every other house had a tree planted in their front garden to make the area nice and green. That was 16 trees on a smallish estate. All, bar two, were removed when all the new driveways went down.

QforCucumber · 18/08/2021 11:28

We are in our 2nd new build, love it - yes there were a few snags but sorted promptly, and tbf Brother and his wife have just bought a 17 yr old house and have had a number of issues - needing new boiler, fascia boards, window frames have been left to rot etc so have had a big outlay there too.

LushHeaven · 18/08/2021 11:30

Why not consider a house that's almost new? Still get the 'newness', but area is established and you know what you are going to get. Any snagging should have been sorted too.
Have plenty of friends in new builds, unfortunately those that have moved in the last two years seem to have the most issues as there is so much building going on here, developments are going up as soon as possible. Also, my friend bought one recently that she had chosen her plot carefully, but the final plans changed and now she's overlooked much more than she originally was going to and the amount of house dramatically increased from what was originally planned. The whole estate is not very nice looking now, lack of green space and parking a nightmare. The amount of social housing also increased by about 30% (I assume how the developer managed to get the extra houses approved), and unfortunately there has been quite a lot of anti social behaviour from some of these families.

lastqueenofscotland · 18/08/2021 12:14

Who is the builder OP…

Littleroundone · 18/08/2021 12:53

I have a new build , been here 3 years and whilst we had some snagging, we are happy with it. Choose your plot carefully, don't fall for any of the guff the sales people come away with and do your research. Our estate has its own Facebook resident's page so might be worth checking if there is something similar to get a feel for the place.

MistySkiesAfterRain · 18/08/2021 13:01

New build. Mine won a new build award, didn't know at the time but developer was very good. I viewed the show room and the plot I was buying part way through. Look for space (to grow into), light, storage, direction it faces (huge glass doors and south facing not always best- mine is sooooo hot). I was fortunate and had minimal snags. 10 year warranty on build. German kitchen and oven. Low heating and electric costs.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 18/08/2021 13:17

The room sizes in my house are good. Kitchen/diner is 20ftx15ft.
We have a super king size bed, with room for bedside tables each side and room to spare.

We have a FB residents page too.

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