AIBU to ask would you buy a new build home?

[velveteenwabbit]

DH and I are looking to buy our first home at the moment we are in a rented flat. We have a daughter and need more space. I have always said I don't like new builds for he following reasons:

Don't like the look from the outside
Think they could be difficult to sell as lots the same
I love character in a home
Low ceilings
A bit boxy

However - over the past couple of days I've been searching Rightmove and have been tempted by a development of Taylor Wimpet homes in the area we are looking in. It just looks so easy. The homes are more affordable (about 50k cheaper than something not a new build for the equivalent) and I like the idea of having a high spec kitchen/ bathroom and being able to move straight into something immaculate.

Am I just being lazy though? Has anyone bought one of these homes and what do you think of it?

We brought the last plot on a medium size development, we didn't have a choice of fixtures as it was all ready to go, but we negotiated 70k off the asking price as they just wanted it sold. I would keep a close eye on the development to see if you can get a property when they are nearly at the end of building the site and put in a cheeky offer .

Having previously lived in a delightful 300+ yr old period property, i bloody love my soulless newbuild.

It has: non leaking windows, a rainproof roof, an actual damp course and heating that does way more than make a funny noise and cost money.

I like these features.

The leasehold situation would put me off. Also the fact they tend to use engineered joists consisting of osb stapled to lightweight battens would really worry me. When it's dry and true it's OK but a leak from a bath could result in having to rip out floors and ceilings. I wonder what these will be like after 50 years.

I don’t pay any maintenance charge even though it’s a private firm that tends to the grass.

New builds are not all built equal, so some developments will be better than others and some plots will be better than others within a development.

Our first house purchase was in 2002, the house was not quite 2 years old. It was actually pretty good - garage, double drive, sizeable garden and 3 good sized bedrooms. I was never happy there (not because it was a new build though)

We moved last year, the older property market was a bit slow so we did start to look at new builds, we viewed one 4 bed detached that had a smaller footprint than our 3 bed detached, the garage was detached so there was more space downstairs, but upstairs instead of our 3 bedrooms there was 4 (in less space) both the bathroom and ensuite were windowless boxes. A lot of our local developments are going up very close (spitting distance) from the main dual carriageways and are really not holding their value.

In the end we bought a 1960's build and I am so happy.

I do have to smile though when people say that new build estates are all the same, my old road had more variety and styles of houses then there is around here, the maturity shows the difference, but the actual house styles are all very similar.

Take each development on its own merits and go from there.

And it’s not leasehold either

They lose value when you come to sell them. As soon as you sign the papers it loses value cause it’s not new. Best to buy an ex new build. Preferably something still in the warranty period. So you’re the 2nd owner on the House.

Like you said, plenty of reasons not to buy but also new builds are so shoddy these days I wouldn't want to risk it.

Each to their own though.

In my area all new estates are fleeceholds, you are better off buying a house on estate that is at least 3 years old, so one part of my area the council pay the costs and another homeowners pay, which seems madness, the council have sold our city short 😡

We bought a new build cottage last year. Non estate, just a few houses in a tiny village. Independent builder and we could change it entirely to suit us. No catalogue of extras-completely bespoke.
It’s perfect!

We have been in our new build (bought off plan) for 21yrs now. It's such easy living. Everything works, we have recently upgraded the kitchen and bathrooms but by choice not necessity. It's light, bright and airy and not small or box like at all. It's well insulated and the utility bills are pretty reasonable. All the houses here are slightly different, and most are sold within weeks.

Prior to this we lived in a 250yr old cottage which was beautiful, but it was small, dark and the cost of ongoing expenses were huge.

I've bought two homes that where complete rip outs, needed everything doing full re wire the lot, although I'm happy with the result now would definitely go for a new build, apart from costing tens of thousands to do up the last one nearly broke us financially and physically. It was so stressful and I've come to the realisation that as it's over 100 years old it's never going to be completely finished as the upkeep is costly and time consuming. We could have been just as happy in a new build without all the stress. Saying that the area I wanted to live didn't have new builds so we had no choice really.

Our garden is lovely, especially now it's matured. There is (or was till teens started driving) plenty of parking space, and my storage is enviable 😁

I think it very much depends on the area and the developer. When we lived on the south coast the new builds were tiny but now we’re in the midlands the new builds are a good size. I also took notice of the fact that’s there’s only 5 other houses the same as ours in the development/town so I’m not worried about reselling. It’s worth thinking about parking though as some new builds only allow for one car and if that’s not realistic in the area you live in then it’s going to cause a lot of issues.

Also the street I lived on previously was significantly older yet the layout of the houses was all the same so I think that happens with any housing development

Whoever said “buy an ex-new build”... THIS!

• the first buyer has borne the instant depreciation of a new build, not you, so you will get a lot more house for your money
• the first buyer has had all the hassle of resolving snagging issues (sadly not all new builds are “immaculate” when you move in)
• the first buyer has taken the pain of the game of chicken when you aren’t sure when the property will be finished in time and you risk not having anywhere to live....

If you are fine with the other oft-perceived drawbacks of new builds (thin walls, tiny gardens, boxy rooms, very little storage, sometimes rushed/shoddy construction) then buying an ex-new build is the way to go - just make sure you get a really good survey done...

I used to think the same as you until we almost completed on a Victorian semi that was found to have thousands of pounds worth of work needed to floors, roofs, chimneys etc. We then started looking at newer houses and found a lovely 3 bed semi detached house on a mid 2000s built estate. It was cheaper than the brand new estate near us, with much bigger rooms and three storage cupboards! It definitely seems to be sturdier than the more modern builds we've viewed.

A 21 year-old 'new build' isn't new!

And those of you in 4+ beds with parking for numerous cars are probably getting what you pay for too. (at £3/4 million plus no doubt)

But not too far from me are two huge developments (bigger than my village) no doctor, no school, no community hub, no corner shop and I'd struggle to live in a 2-bed on my own as there is nowhere to put anything. Especially as they're perfectly square without a nook or cranny to help. Lovely fixtures and fittings but tiny.

Nanny I agree - there was a stark difference between our (then) 18 yr old 'new-build' and the new builds going up. On our estate all the detached houses had a double drive (and some of the semis) the newer new build had a single drive and the 2nd parking 'space' was the garage.

Still no storage though in the old house.

£3/4million?! Bloody hell, I live in Wales, I could buy a town for that.

We built our own house. It's nice, but I still find myself dreaming about a period property

Our large 3 bed new build (equiv to most 4 beds) has a gated drive with parking for 6 cars plus my horse trailer. Not all new builds are the same! And we paid under £300k.

Well mine has parking for 8 cars and room for a modestly sized giraffe enclosure.

We bought a new build last year. It was my 2 years old almost. If you walked into my house and the semi next door they are very different in the design. Next door is open plan tiny kitchen area with fitted closet like cupboard ours is more separated. As first time buyers we got our house at 75%of market cost. Buying an older house for our budget would have required years of saving to carry out the work it would have needed like new kitchen and bathroom etc.

We've lived in a 17th C cottage, 1930's detached, 1970's semi, Victorian flat and Victorian detached. Now in our second new build.

We are in a small development of houses built in a variety of styles and materials. It's a large detached hone with a double garage and drive to fit 4 cars. Real chimney and wood burner, large garden and lots of style features inside. The house is insulated to an unbelievable standard and many energy saving devices ensure energy costs are low. It's a large house but bills are tiny.

Never again will I buy old - I reckon we sunk thousands in to repairs that simply maintained the property. I've never been warmer in a house than I am now, and maintenance is low.

I'm sure their are boxy new builds and squashed up developments where parking provision is poor. However, not all new builds are like this - and not all 'character properties' provide great parking, great soundproofing or low energy bills.