To ask how to negotiate price on a new build?

[AnxiousWreck]

We made an offer on a gorgeous house two weeks ago... the EA "forgot" to pass it on, and it's now SSTC. They've said that they'll tell the vendor that there was an asking price offer, but I don't want to gazump anyone...

About five minutes walk away, there's a new build estate that has two houses left. They're already built, ready to move in to, and it's the end of the final phase of building. I'm not sure when they were finished, but the one that we're interested in has been on Rightmove since early March at least, and was listed on Zoopla last week.

The new house is on for 30% more than the four-year-old house that we viewed. They're pretty similar other than that. We're currently negotiating the sale of our place to a cash buyer, which should be finalised today...

Realistically, can we negotiate? Houses are selling pretty well overall, but these have been listed for a month, presumably because they're not in a majorly convenient location and they're quite expensive!

We'd need at least 15% off to be able to move, really. My instinct is to view it, see if we like it, and then offer 20% off and hope they'll negotiate? The house is totally finished, so we couldn't do any other negotiating around fixtures/fittings/gardens etc; and our buyer is keen to move in, so we'd be able to move relatively fast...

But we've just missed the end of the quarter, and I believe their end of year is January; so they're not close to that either.

X-post, good luck!

He said they'd rather it stood empty for a year then reduce it by more than that, and that he's moving on as of Tuesday to the next new development.

I hope you laughed at him for that one

I hope you laughed at him for that one

Oh I did. And then he was adamant we’d lose it to someone who had viewed it three times and was coming to sign the paperwork on Friday, but it appears to still be on sale; and I’ve had an email saying they really can’t reduce the price but could pay our stamp duty

Offer accepted on the new house!! So just got to hope our buyer is all set tomorrow. Eek.

Were just in the process of reserving a new build. It's a plot they've struggled to shift and it's due to be completed in June with the rest of the development finishing later this year and most already reserved. Think this one has struggled to shift because it's too much to be purchased with Help to Buy now so rules alot of potentials out.

We've tried to negotiate on the price with every arguement we could think of. Like we haven't been able to chose the tiling like you normally would can you nock some off. But they weren't for budging.

However. We have had upgrades that would normally come at a cost. So spotlights in the kitchen, en suite and bathroom. Upgraded Belfast style sink in the kitchen. Outside light next to the front door. A shower over the bath and a shower screen (cos they aren't as standard), an outside electric point. Carpeting in the bedrooms and living room and vinyl in the kitchen, bathroom, dstairs toilet and en suit. That mounts up.

Useful to know thismwans - how exactly did you go about negotiating? Do you literally just sit there and say “so what can you offer”?

DH and I both a bit wet blanket when it comes to things like this!

I know in my head we ideally want to try and get amtico flooring downstairs and carpet upstairs al thrown in but no clue how to actually ask for it!

Glad you've found a house you like more OP!

We're wanting to get a new build that is built next year but want it under the help to buy price (they had agreed to that on one of the already built ones and it sold a few days before we got the go ahead to reserve)
Not expecting they'll let us early bird with a discount though 😔

hottoddy we literally just asked and took it from there. We first asked if there was wiggle room on price and that was an outright flat no. So then we were like, well in that case.......and then just see where it takes you. You can only ask. I think the closer the plot is to being completed you have more chance of getting stuff thrown in as they just want to get rid . If there's not even a brick in the ground there's plenty of chance for other people to come and just pay for a shell of a house.

.
Update - we reserved ours today and it's ready middle of June. Just spent all afternoon picking out our kitchen and bathroom

I have worked in New Home Sales for 30+ years (now retired) and I can assure you that 20% is available on all new builds,all the builders want to do is get the development finished asap and not have any empty units left to sell when the Sales Cabin/Garage has moved off,once all are sold the retainer the Builder had to pay at the start of building is released back to them from Local Council concerned this retainer is so all Services are correctly in order and building regs adhered to.
As to leaving a house for 12mths empty as said by Sales Manager he is talking through his a--- as the builder would have to pay Council Tax/Service Charges for meters etc/and couldn't register the development as complete.

@jimmyhill

flooring throughout would usually cost approximately 2-4K million of the deal

trying to imagine a £4 billion carpet

@jimmyhill I'm trying to imagine a £4 billion carpet

Congrats on getting an offer accepted OP sounds like you will be moving in a couple of months

Haha! Rather it stood empty for a year! Brilliant!
We bought a new build pre Covid - agreed no stamp duty (which seemed something they would give up quite easily), a decent discount and goodies like the carpets and other fittings. It was handy bumping into the savvy neighbours and hearing what extras they had got the builders to include.