To think people can be really snobby/rude about new build houses?

[TheSubtleKnifeAndFork]

Just that really... I know they're not to everyone's taste but since we bought ours we've had some really rude comments about it. One person even asked me outright (with a real sneer) "Why on earth would anyone ever buy a new build?"... We're happy with it, which I know is all that matters, but I'm a bit gobsmacked by some of the outright rudeness about our new home. For example I've never particularly fancied living in a bungalow, but I wouldn't say that to someone who lived in one, or was thinking of buying one!

Don't get me wrong, I love character properties too (our first home was an older house which we renovated) but equally I don't get why buying a new build is so frowned upon? Or is is just my circle of acquaintance where people seem to have an issue with them?

I wouldn’t touch a new build but I wouldn’t say anything to anyone who bought one. Some look quite nice! I just hate how close they often are to other houses.

By the way, these are 4-5 bed detached houses in our village. There is no shortage of similar for sale in our area, in fact there is a new-build jungle in the town where you can get a 4 bed for less than people paid for them 10 years ago.

Chocolate

"People don't care?" No I don't suppose when someone is buying a house whether it being built upset the villagers, seriously, would you not buy a house because it's presence annoyed someone in the vicinity? Unless you own the view you have no right to it, we've bought next to open fields with a lovely view, understanding full well it may be built on. I kind of hope it is and alleviate the housing crisis around here (kinda, it is a lovely view ha)

Diddums. You don't own the village. Pretty silly thing to get worked up about. Plenty of people don't care about a lifestyle, just how they can meet their mortgage

People are funny about them. But my apartment is in a block of only 4, I have a private garden, can't hear neighbours at all and it's less new now I've been here 11 years!
Slowly redecorating at the minute. It has a big kitchen for an apartment which was the selling point for me

Chocolatedeficitdisorder you can be as bitter as you like about it, but the fact is planning was approved, the houses have been built and people are inevitably going to buy them, regardless of whether you feel they’re worthy of living in your village. Would you rather they all stood empty?

New build was great for us starting out and when kids small. But the trouble is no garden, neighbours overlooking everywhere, appalling parking and once they’ve let one estate go up it’s easier to let it carry on.

We got to the point of tearing our hair out from living like rabbits so close together and moved out to the middle of nowhere with neighbours nicely spread and AIR!

I think it’s horses for courses, I’m super proud of our country retreat but acknowledge the convenience that comes with new builds (new boiler next week, windows shortly after in a bid to combat huge bills for oil fired heating and water!)

We're all breaking out the violins here, Chocolate

I'm amazed people think there is a choice.

Round my way on the market at 300k ( entry level) are labourers cottages fit only for Lilipudians or a two bed new build. That's it.

Plus what kind of lifestyle can you really strive for in a village that doesn't even have a school? Surely jumping in the car is inevitable...? There's only so many country walks and jam making one can do, sorry I lost my copy of villagers 101, not sure what else we're supposed to do.

I just think a lot of people have firm views on it, some wouldn't have anything but a new build & would hate an older house, some the opposite.

It's very rude to make those comments though!

True about choice as well, some areas you really don't have much choice depending on the stock around

DaysOfCurlySpencer You'd hate my house, I live in a new build in Milton Keynes

We are quite happy with it. The sound insulation is actually better than anywhere I've lived before - we share one wall with the neighbours but have never heard a peep out of one another. Bills are low and we benefit from fibre internet right into the house.

I will admit it doesn't quite feel homely yet - still needs a lot of painting/decorating that we haven't got round to. Plain white walls everywhere. And I might have thought grey carpet was fine two years ago when we were picking the colours, but it's got a bit samey

I can see why some people would object to a new development nearby, but when your fabulous village school is down to 15 children in total and will be closing at the end of next terms, or your PO shuts its doors for the last time, you might be glad to have had a new estate built, say, 5 years ago so your young people who all grew up there can stay, send their children to the school, use the PO and the village shop etc.

My town is surrounded by dying villages. Villages which fought hard to stop building happening. Many of the residents are regretting it now.

There is a housing company near me that builds amazing new houses. The rooms are all big, easily double bedrooms, even when it's a 3 bedroom all 3 fit double beds comfortably, it's not like a box room. They are well built, well spaced out from each other and the gardens are decent sizes, although I don't care about a garden. Even the houses with garages have garages that could actually fit a car. So many garages you could only put a tiny car in. All bedrooms have fitted wardrobes too which are huge. I have a lot of clothes and I haven't filled it.

However, they are the most expensive in the area, but I love them. I want one of their 3 bedroom bungalows so badly, totally fell in live with it. The kitchen is massive with a separate utility room and joint living room. But it also has a separate living room, 3 big bedrooms, big bathroom and master bedroom has ensuite.

We currently only rent, but I so want to buy one. There are other housing companies though in the area that don't build homes as nice, they are close together and not as roomy. Wouldnt buy one of them. But I don't blame you for wanting new, I don't want an old house now I've lived in one of these.

I prefer old houses, would never choose to live in a new build. But I certainly wouldn't tell you that if you'd just bought one!

I also think 4x4s are vulgar and unnecessary, and people who buy brand new cars are foolish and flash, but lots of people I know do, so I keep that to myself too.

I once temped at Bovis homes in their customer services (that's a laugh) - I would never buy a new build, I know all the corners cut. Houses with over 200 faults. Nope. Not on your proverbial nelly!

Edwardian and Victorian houses do look lovely but are expensive to get to the level of insulation that my lovely and warm new build has. Warmth over draughts any day!

New builds are not my cup of tea, but then again not everyone is crazy about terraced Victorians or Georgians.

It's not really a big deal.

We’re currently in a 1960’s semi detached and I could honestly happily go either way. A rambling farmhouse with land for animals or a smart 5/6 bedroom like the ones that are being built nearby. We’re doing five years of overpaying and saving and then we’ll see what we think. Right now, after scraping several layers of gloss paints from skirting boards in my daughters bedroom I’m leaning towards the smart, untouched new build!
Don’t listen to people being snarky, just jealous innit hun

Shenanagins.

Tbh, I'd swop my droughty Edwardian semi for a new build or more modern, but I like the character and the space has been amazing for the kids. They are great for families, but now ours are mostly gone, we are looking to downsize to a 3 bed bungalow.
So, maybe more modern but not new.

It's fairly standard where we live to buy or build your own house. It's pretty unusual for anyone to buy an old house. Mainly richer people from other countries buying up older houses. Very few with proper charm either.

Surely the quality of new builds depends on the builders, they can't all be cramped and full of faults so it seems a bit silly to write them all off?

I'm about to move into a new build myself but not in the UK. It will be the first home I've owned and I can't wait. I don't think people look down on them here, in fact they are desirable because you can customise everything to how you want from a selection of included finishes or upgraded higher end ones depending on your budget.

I've cleaned in a few new builds and have always been appalled by how badly finished off they are. One house was only two years old, but already layers of paint were coming off the walls and the sink was one of those horrid black granite one, but in a hard water area!
Recipe for disaster.
Prefer older houses, they can get away with cracks and peeling.
New houses don't feel nice enough for the money you have to spend on them.

Each to their own.
It's very rude to criticise someone's home to their face.
I met an old friend over the summer, I haven't seen her for years. She asked where I was living and when I told her she pulled a face and said is it near x estate yuck! It must be a right dump!
I was renting the house my options were limited at the time as I wanted to remain reasonable close to dcs school and I needed large bedrooms.
The house was huge, so big I bought furniture to make it seem more cosy, with an enormous gardens and not a dump.
I told her it wasn't part of x estate and I had no idea if that estate was a dump. All I knew was that x estate was a council estate and so if that made it a dump then what could I say.
She then got all huffy because her parents still lived in their council house and not all council houses are rough. We both grew up in council houses!

Some people don't know when to keep quiet.