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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To offer on a new build?

29 replies

twominutesmore · 19/02/2022 08:51

I've never bought a new build property before but, after an old and chilly home for the past decade, the new build estate in the next town is looking appealing.

I went to have a look and liked them. I know you pay a premium for them being brand new, like a new car, but they are still really pricey compared to similar properties in the area.

AIBU to put a lower offer in? Would they consider it or laugh in my face? The sales staff talked at length about how fast they were selling and how they might begrudgingly throw in a free light socket - or something - to secure a sale but no talk of negotiating on price.

Anyone managed to secure a good discount? Would love advice on how to go about this - or AIBU to consider it?

OP posts:

tobedtoMN · 19/02/2022 08:58

It can't harm to offer. If you don't you'll never know.

That said the only person I know who this has worked for was a conveyancing solicitor who would/could time the completion for the end of a financial period. Building company wanted money through before the end of the quarter, which he could guarantee, hence the lower price agreed.

jeaux90 · 19/02/2022 09:01

Research the developer first. Some have better reputations than others. Snagging was minimal on mine.

Also some margin the hell out of the house where others leave the opportunity to still expand. I am about to extend after owning it for 5 years.

I bought a new build and the price was set per plot. I accepted that it would be 3-5 years before the price I paid would be over taken by the market. It's now worth 100k more than I paid 5 years ago.

Findahouse21 · 19/02/2022 09:04

It really will depend on how well they are selling but when we purchased ours, then the price was non negotiable. What we did manage to negotiate on was flooring, solicitors fees and turfing in the garden, which was worth a fair bit added together as it's a sizeable garden

MajorCarolDanvers · 19/02/2022 09:05

We bought a show house and did part exchange which meant

They sold our house for us so not only did we not have that hassle they met all the costs.

We got every single piece of furniture in the shoe house.

Top end spec on everything.

They paid our stamp duty £9000

They paid £5000 to get us out of our mortgage early as they wanted us to move on a specific date.

It was really quick. 6 weeks from viewing to moving in.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 19/02/2022 09:07

We negotiated with the developer when we bought ours eight years ago. The stamp duty was reduced considerably. If it’s the end of a quarter, or the last in a particular style, or the end of the build, they might look more favourably.

Some developers offer only a basic finish and upgrades can be costly. You could try for improvements to the basic spec. Depends who is the builder.

GeneLovesJezebel · 19/02/2022 09:08

We didn’t pay the full price.

Kbyodjs · 19/02/2022 09:14

We asked what deal they could offer us and they gave us 5k off the price and paid the stamp duty of nearly 10k plus couple of extras in the house.
The other option was no money off the price but more extras in the home.
Most people I’ve spoken to got a similar deal in our area

Kbyodjs · 19/02/2022 09:15

Also £500 off solicitor fees

Original poster

twominutesmore · 19/02/2022 09:18

Some of you got great deals.

I am rubbish at negotiating. I will probably start it with 'Terribly sorry to ask...' or 'I expect you'll say no but....'

It is great to hear that it is possible to get something back though and the sorts of things I can ask for.

I'm a single parent and this is where I wish I lived with another adult who can share the responsibility!

OP posts:

MoiraNotRuby · 19/02/2022 09:24

Its all down to supply and demand. I'm a single parent buying a new build. I was not in strong position as there is a shortage of houses where I needed to buy. So I just worked out what I could afford and got on with it tbh. I am glad I did because if I had waited I would have missed out.

You can say 'when I move in am I going to find out all my neighbours got a discount/free carpet etc, everyone I know says there are great deals on new builds but I have to ask what you can offer me?' This got me £1k off.

Good luck and I totally and utterly understand that feeling of being the only grown up. You can do this, I am willing you on.

Metallicalover · 19/02/2022 09:25

9 years ago we were buying before Christmas and the house was nearly built with a higher end kitchen. It was in an 'upcoming area'
I asked for £15k off, we have 10% deposit and got a 5% builders gift, flooring included and fence.

The sales person told us... ask and see what you get.
Ours is from a good/reputable builder. The prices they are selling for atm is £50k more.
Do your research into the builder and area etc as some new-builds getting built now around my area are going £100k more than what I paid for smaller houses!

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 19/02/2022 09:29

Depends on how big the demand really is and how close it is to target time.
Friends were first house on a new estate and got a great deal. 2 years later they found out that one of the last houses on the estate had got x free & negotiated for builders to come and upgrade theirs for free. In fairness they had endless delays/living in super expensive temp accommodation etc to also deal with and all the building going on around them, but they got a great deal.
I would be rubbish at negotiating though....

AllOfUsAreDead · 19/02/2022 09:35

Might as well try. Sales people will say they are flying out, but the ones in my area aren't. Mind you, that's not helped by the fact they are asking a LOT more for a new build which is smaller than an 'old' house in the same area. I think after 6 months of few sales except to people who don't have brains that they dropped the prices a bit, but still not selling. Idiots.

SweetPotatoDumpling · 19/02/2022 09:41

@twominutesmore

Some of you got great deals.

I am rubbish at negotiating. I will probably start it with 'Terribly sorry to ask...' or 'I expect you'll say no but....'

It is great to hear that it is possible to get something back though and the sorts of things I can ask for.

I'm a single parent and this is where I wish I lived with another adult who can share the responsibility!

Really...do not start negotiations like this OP!! Never apologise when negotiating!! They'll laugh you right out of the door 🤦‍♀️

Put your game face on and state professionally what you'd like to offer (or receive from them).

Then sit back and wait...leave if you have to, and ask them to come back to you once they've had time to consider your offer! But NEVER sound weak or apologetic for heavens sake!

SweetPotatoDumpling · 19/02/2022 09:46

Remember also...end of the tax year is coming up, so they 'may' wish to do a deal by the end of March to get some final sales in for this year...you never know, if you can proceed quickly you might just bag yourself a good deal 🤷‍♀️(I did this with a new car in the second week of March last year...not sure if it's the same with houses 🤣🤣)

lurkingattheback · 19/02/2022 09:51

Dependant on the builder, they often don't want to lower the house price, as that can have a knock on effect on others they are selling so they prefer to negotiate on the optional extras, stamp duty, carpets, upgraded appliances, turf, outside lights that kind of thing. We had our stamp duty paid, the garden turfed, spotlights throughout, outside taps and lights etc. neighbours had carpets and flooring, fitted wardrobes. The sold price still looks the same and that may help with reselling but we didn't need to find a bulk of cash or to find trades to complete some of the other jobs. Always worth asking.

jeaux90 · 19/02/2022 09:55

I'm also a single parent OP I posted earlier but what I wanted to add is that buying new build from a reputable developer has been the best decision I've made.

Because everything falls to you,
having a house you don't need to do anything with for a few years is such a relief.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 19/02/2022 09:57

@twominutesmore wondering if you're my mum based on your technique can you watch some YouTube videos on how to haggle/negotiate before you contact them?

VickyEadieofThigh · 19/02/2022 10:05

@jeaux90

Research the developer first. Some have better reputations than others. Snagging was minimal on mine.

Also some margin the hell out of the house where others leave the opportunity to still expand. I am about to extend after owning it for 5 years.

I bought a new build and the price was set per plot. I accepted that it would be 3-5 years before the price I paid would be over taken by the market. It's now worth 100k more than I paid 5 years ago.

THIS, for definite.

There have been documentaries about the horror houses some people have been left with after buying a new build.

Do your research.

Original poster

twominutesmore · 19/02/2022 15:04

[quote JesusInTheCabbageVan]@twominutesmore wondering if you're my mum based on your technique can you watch some YouTube videos on how to haggle/negotiate before you contact them?[/quote]
Haha this made me laugh. Maybe!

Thank you for the advice everyone. I do think it would be a good move for me so I'll try to channel you all and negotiate without being apologetic and pathetic about it!

OP posts:

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 19/02/2022 16:56

Imagine you're getting paid up to £5000 per hour depending on the standard of your haggling (because to all intents and purposes, you are).

MintyFreshBreath · 19/02/2022 17:03

We bought the biggest house on our estate and moved in two months ago. We negotiated £5K off the house price and £10k in incentives which we spent on things like upgrading the kitchen, extra shower over the bath. We love our house and all the things we chose for it. We ended up spending about another £2.5K of our own money on extras for the property but it could have been a lot more had we not negotiated hard and got the incentives that we did.

StoneofDestiny · 19/02/2022 17:14

I bought a new build after a lifetime of living in character properties, 18th century cottage, 1930's house, Victorian house, victorian terrace, 1960's semi. Never been warmer with tiny energy bills and no repairs. We did buy on a small development with lots of parking, space between homes and big gardens. We had a 2 year snagging too and grade A energy listing.
Wild horses won't shift me back into a 'character' house.
Yes you can ask for discounts, depends on the demands for the house. Our property value has also soared - something we hadn't expected from a new house.
Good luck.

StoneofDestiny · 19/02/2022 17:19

Agree, research your developer. New builds can get a bad press, sometimes justified. Having said that - 'old builds' were all once 'new builds', but build without all the new technology and innovations that make life easier - like the insulation and energy saving features.

InFiveMins · 19/02/2022 17:45

I've owned a new build before and I didn't ask for a discount but just wanted to hijack the thread slightly to say I loved that new build! It was well built, well designed, well insulated etc. Never had a single issue with it. Bought in 2015 and sold 5 years later as relocated but would not hesitate to buy one again.

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