AIBU to ask for a discount on a new house?

[Sweetpea302]

We're looking to buy a new build house in the first phase of building on a new development in our town. We've accepted an offer on our house and are in a good position with great buyers. The development that we're looking to buy on is so new that they don't even have a show home - we're taking a huge leap of faith that it will be as nice as its being sold as. People that we've spoken to (parents, friends etc) seem to think that you always pay asking price for a new build house and that they won't accept offers, but the woman in the development office has indicated that there might be a deal to be done.

So - AIBU to go in and negotiate hard, or am I wasting everyone's time and risking rubbing people up the wrong way? My logic is that it's a new development, with no show home and they must just want to get people in at this stage. We're in a strong position and prepared to work within their (ridiculously) short deadlines (as are our buyers). Has anyone done this? Has anyone got any advice on what to do and say?

Thanks!

Also as well as asking for a discount make sure they include flooring and grass (as they often don't!!)

Also depends on the house builder :) smaller privately owned building companies are more likely to do a discount on houses off plan, especially the first couple of houses on a development as it assists them massively with cash flow. Larger national builders would tend to be the ones to negotiate the "extras" with instead.

We got a massive discount and extras and £1000 cash back. Definitely haggle hard and know what extras you would like when you start, integrated appliances, carpets, turf, shower over family bath, alarm, electric in garage, a bigger terrace, tv points in all bedrooms and extra cupboards in utility room were what we got.

Don't ask, don't get. We got £30k off the asking price for our new build recently

YANBU to negotiate and they will likely expect it. A friend bought a new build and they got upgraded kitchen and carpeting. Not sure about money off but the upgrade is lovely. There's nothing wrong with trying and the worst they can say is no. Watch their body language and offers when negotiating price to see how hard you want to push.

Be super super cheeky! You'll feel really awkward but go for it- things like carpets, white goods, kitchens are good places to save yourself some cash. Maybe ask around your new neighbours if you can and see whether they tried too?

You can negotiate, sure.

I think buying off the plan is a bad idea though.

We did it. We bought the house when it was half-completed and told it would be finished 8 weeks later. 14 months later it was still incomplete, and we were thousands and thousands of dollars out of pocket due to rent expenses.

I have and had several friends in the same position. One of my friend's bought their place off the plan 10 months ago and all they have so far is a slab of concrete.

So yeah, it might be cheap, but what's the trade off? They don't include a lot of things on these houses either. If it's not on the list of fixtures and fittings, don't expect it to be in the house.

Pluto has touched on something that has always intrigued me about new builds.
If you buy an unbuilt one, are there penalty clauses in the contract ? If they don't reach certain milestones in time.
Even if a new build is finished the roads and paths are normally in a shit state for ages , do they give a timescale for when they will be finished or face a fine ?

We bought the second to last house on the development and had 30k knocked off, lawn laid and all flooring. We also had a good deal on white goods and furniture.

Definitely worth asking.

Absolutely there is room for negotiation. We got a lot of extras & discount. What's the worst they can say?

I don't really understand Pluto30, if the property isn't finished or in your friends case, just a slab of concrete why would you have exchanged contracts and moved to complete the sale?

Buying off plan is fine (we did it) but we certainly wouldn't have paid out any big money until the property was ready for occupation. Your risk should only be a small reservation deposit & liability for your legal fees until you formally exchange contracts via your solicitor.

Always worth asking. My DD and her DP got a good discount on their new build, but that was one of the last houses and someone had backed out of buying it. It also meant they got all the extras included that the previous people had asked for.

I also bought a new build a couple of years ago and got £10,000 worth of extras - not one of the last house - which I was a bit surprised by as in the sales office they old me the company never gave more than £5,000, but I pushed it and they let me have what I wanted, although they wouldn't drop the actual price. It enabled me to completely equip the house with good quality flooring and carpet, integrated kitchen equipment etc - very little was supplied apart from the basics.

Definitely worth a try.

Can you actually legally exchange on a house before it's habitable?

If I remember correctly I had to hand over something like £28,000 when I exchanged and then had 6 weeks to complete. Wouldn't be shelling out that sort of money on something that was still in the planning stage. And I'd be very suspicious of a company that was asking me to do so.

As CremeBrulee says you should only be paying a reservation deposit until exchange, can't remember what it was on the house I'm in now, but on the previous new build I bought it was £500.