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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New build house

71 replies

Avocadoandlemons · 28/01/2022 22:26

Am considering one.... is this a mistake?

Higher end one off build, not part of a bigger development. 2 storey house.

10 year guarantee

What do I need to be wary of?

Is it reasonable to consider or avoid at all costs?!

OP posts:
anothersmahedmug · 28/01/2022 22:27

Depends on the builder

Original poster
Avocadoandlemons · 28/01/2022 22:27

I mean I am considering buying one. (NOT building one myself)

Build completed 2021

OP posts:
Original poster
Avocadoandlemons · 28/01/2022 22:28

Built by a private couple

OP posts:
WalkingOnSonshine · 28/01/2022 22:28

Love our new build.

Hot in winter, cool in summer but cheap to heat. Hardly any snagging but sorted quickly what there was. We’re in a great location too, so will be in demand once we do sell - we’ve had three notes through the door in less than 3 years asking if we’d consider selling.

Elaine2468 · 28/01/2022 22:29

Do you like the house?
Is it within your budget?
Does it have enough parking for you?
Have you checked out the area?
Does it for with work/school/family locations?
These are more important than what year it was built.

WeAreTheHeroes · 28/01/2022 22:32

Of course it's reasonable to consider. Yes, it depends on the builder. What is the quality of the finish like as that's a rough guide to whether it's been built well. Why hasn't it sold yet? I.e. is it overpriced, does the developer have a bad reputation? Has it actually been connected to all the services?

PurpleCarpets · 28/01/2022 22:32

I'm not sure you can generalise really. Some people love them. Some people hate them. Some are good. Some are bad!

Teenytinyratsass · 28/01/2022 22:33

We’re on our second new build. First was a persimmon built box and I wouldn’t go near one again. This one is a small development of 10 houses by a local company, it’s done to a completely different standard and I love it. I would ask about snagging, what’s the timeframe they offer for this?

5keletor · 28/01/2022 22:33

The only issue we found with a new build is heat retention, especially in the upper level(s) - we've heard from others it's quite common. It's fantastic in winter, but boiling hot during a heatwave. 🥵

SituationCritical · 28/01/2022 22:34

I wouldn't personally. Ten years experience working on new build estates overseeing. Build quality is on the whole dreadful. Cheap materials, badly built and usually as many houses crammed onto a plot as possible leaving little space for parking/guest parking. I've been on two sites built on areas that flood and consequently now flood even more into the houses. Currently a new estate nearby is being built on an old tip (Victorian) filled with lead.
I'm absolutely not against new build houses. Just be very careful what you pick and do you research. Don't be taken in by shiny brochures and sales patter.

Waddlegoose · 28/01/2022 22:37

Can second the heat retention on a new build, great in the winter but the summer heat wave was a new level.

I would ask about snagging and how long your covered / what’s covered. Ours was 2 years and really good / very responsive. With a smaller build not sure how quickly they will respond.

Look at the finish and if you can personalise?

Homerenonovice · 28/01/2022 22:39

One thing to add to what has already been said. You mention the 10 year warranty, this is about large build defects only. Lots of people don’t realise this and think anything and everything is covered for 10 years.

Isthisprivate · 28/01/2022 22:48

Did the couple build it to live in? If so, why are they moving out so soon?

Original poster
Avocadoandlemons · 28/01/2022 22:48

It's already completed and the couple who built it are living there but relocating (according to estate ahent so am not certain of this!).

It's not on the market yet hence not sold - I have contact at estate agent so got early viewing.

It's a one off house, not part of a bigger development although the people who built it are in the property business.

It looks nice and is the right size and price for us. Area good.

Level of finish looks good structurally to me (but am novice!). Interiors look nice for photos but did recognise that eg used topps tiles in bathrooms, bathstore loos etc rather than high end finishes. However is a big house with 3 bathroom 1 toilet room so could understand this as that stuff gets expensive!

They have obtained a labc warranty for 10 years.

Not sure who actually builder/ contractors were though

Just only ever lived in victorians houses etc before so worried I'll miss something / make a mistake.

OP posts:
Original poster
Avocadoandlemons · 28/01/2022 22:51

www.labcwarranty.co.uk/

This is warranty company. Think they had to buy this

OP posts:
RussianSpy101 · 28/01/2022 22:54

The level of warranty will depend on what LA it is.
I would be very wary of self build owners selling within a year

Original poster
Avocadoandlemons · 28/01/2022 22:59

@RussianSpy101

The level of warranty will depend on what LA it is. I would be very wary of self build owners selling within a year
Yes I'm wary too. I think they are just trying to cash in on the "hot" Market conditions , necessarily have the expertise to spot something that could be an issue later down the line if its been covered up.

Trying to educate myself!

OP posts:
Original poster
Avocadoandlemons · 28/01/2022 23:00

@RussianSpy101

The level of warranty will depend on what LA it is. I would be very wary of self build owners selling within a year
What do you mean re "the level of warranty will depend on what LA it is"
OP posts:
Original poster
Avocadoandlemons · 28/01/2022 23:01

Agent details just say "LAB warranty "

OP posts:
Original poster
Avocadoandlemons · 28/01/2022 23:02

It's mains water and electric. Private drainage with new tank- this is normal for the area

OP posts:
MatildaTheCat · 28/01/2022 23:04

Are they purely developers or people who develop and move on? I think it’s a bit different. My friend develops houses- usually massive rebuilds of existing properties but essentially producing a beautiful new home which they live in for a few years until she does it again.

She would absolutely use the odd Topp tiles and cheaper loo if they matched her ‘look’. It would be blended with some much more expensive finishes and the overall spec would be good.

You can only get the place surveyed to a high level, research the area and be sure you love it. All house have issues even top spec ones.

Original poster
Avocadoandlemons · 28/01/2022 23:08

Thanks yes good advice.

i know all houses will have issues just feel completely naive to new build ones! (Fairly comfortable with period property issues sadly GrinSad)

OP posts:
mummabubs · 28/01/2022 23:13

In this specific case I'd also be cautious of people who presumably spent a lot of time and money building a house, lived in it and then wanted to sell it so soon.

We've recently left our new build for an older house, in our experience of new builds:

Pros

  • In the 8 years we were there nothing went wrong, don't think we ever had to call out any tradesmen. (Unlike where we live now that needs literally everything doing to it(!)).
  • Good heating retention (probably aided by being a terraced house). Meant much lower energy bills.
  • Modern feel

Cons

  • Good heating retention in winter but unbearable on the top floor in the summer. Affected our sleep quite badly, and I usually love the heat.
  • Tend to be very "boxy" and characterless, with very little overall living space. Before living in our new build I thought all I wanted was open plan living, our house had one main room that served as a living room, play room and dining room... I hated it. Garden was also tiny and overlooked by 13 other properties on the development. This tends to be common as developers try to cram as many houses onto plots as possible. It really has surprised me how small most new builds are. Local developments that are going up by us now are offering the same number of bedrooms as we have for the same rough price that we paid for here but the internal space is only 50-75% of what we have. (and we don't exactly live in a Palace now!)
Original poster
Avocadoandlemons · 29/01/2022 03:21

Thank you

OP posts:
Homerenonovice · 29/01/2022 06:50

Is there a tax break from living there for a year?

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