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How much wiggle room is there on the price of a new build?

14 replies

gridplan · 18/03/2026 18:49

We are looking at new builds, we would be cash buyers once our house has sold. Max budget is £300k but the houses we like are between £300k up to £325k. Ideally we’d like to spend more around £280k as we are downsizing and would like to release some cash towards retirement.
Is there much in the way of scope to negotiate on a new build? Is there a good time to try - maybe when the estate is nearly finished? Never bought a new build before so have no idea how much movement there is on price. I suppose they would be more inclined to throw extras in? Any advice or thoughts gratefully appreciated

OP posts:
Batties · 18/03/2026 18:50

Not at all because it then devalues the rest of the properties on the development. You will have more luck asking for upgrades etc.

Starhaf · 18/03/2026 19:08

Yes, always worth a cheeky offer! I’ve been in my new build for a year now. Did some negotiation on price and achieved a discounted price, flooring throughout and installation of a bespoke kitchen. Always worth a shot!

Orchidgrower · 18/03/2026 19:11

It is probably likely to depend on the particular builder, how the particular site is selling and whether they are approaching one of their quarter/year end dates with lower than expected sales. A site that has completed houses or nearly completed houses that are not sold is more likely to need to secure a sale than one where they are selling houses that are still at an early stage of build.

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ForAmusedHazelQuoter · 18/03/2026 19:12

More chance of them including some extras such as granite worktops, landscaped garden etc.

ElizabethsTailor · 18/03/2026 19:14

It depends on how they are doing in the estate, but the larger builders don’t like to discount the headline price because it affects their investors. They get Artois it by offering “incentives”, so on a £300k house they might offer free flooring and turf and a 5% deposit contribution (ie equivalent to £25k off, but they can still claim it dild for £300k).

LargeAmericanoQuick · 18/03/2026 19:18

There's usually a house or three that's a year or so old selling cheaper than they paid for it on these estates.

Might that be an option? Bonus is you get a house with the blinds/ toilet roll holder etc already up 😂.

samantha9 · 18/03/2026 19:21

They often pay your stamp duty and throw in flooring, upgrade kitchen fittings etc. They can’t sell second phase for less then first and so on, so you may get a better deal earlier on.

Buscobel · 18/03/2026 21:42

What stage is the build? If the house is already built, they won’t do upgrades, but might negotiate on stamp duty or fees.

If the house isn’t yet built, they might upgrade kitchen, bathrooms, landscaping. They’re less likely to drop the price if the same style of house has several sold, because those people won’t be very happy that they paid more.

ExperiencedTeacher · 18/03/2026 22:03

Absolutely no wiggle room on my new build and wouldn’t agree any upgrades either. It was a very small development in an established area though and they sold quickly.

SisyphusDad · 18/03/2026 22:15

Many years ago we were looking to buy a New Build. My late wife went in to the Estate Agents and said that she was ready to write a cheque for the deposit there and then, but she wanted another couple of grand off. She got it.

Jean24601Valjean · 18/03/2026 22:18

We just had an offer accepted £15k under asking price on a new build. It is one of the last few on the estate, so that might be a reason. My parents have also just moved and they got a discount on stamp duty rather than a reduced price.

SummerFeverVenice · 18/03/2026 22:22

The wars are already affecting the cost of building materials.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/general/travis-perkins-warns-over-cost-rises-for-building-materials-amid-iran-war/ar-AA1YOX30

So I would only expect prices to go up if you wait around.

Cakewon · 19/03/2026 07:07

None when we looked at a well known builder a few years ago but did include flooring/turf.

ThatGreenFawn · 19/03/2026 07:10

It depends on the development and how many properties are left to sell. We bought the last new build on a very small development and they reduced the price by 50k turfed front and back garden and included furniture from the show home (ours was not show home but was used as storage once show home had sold)

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