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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New build dilema

48 replies

Newbuilddecider · 13/04/2022 09:34

I need to buy somewhere to live for me and my daughter. I have a mortgage in principle and will be much better off with a mortgage than rent. My only options are new builds because I can take advantage of the help to buy scheme. There are two I need to decide between and I’m really struggling, I don’t want to put the companies because I’ve mentioned it in real life so feel it’s outing. I don’t have time to wait around and they are the same price.

  1. Really good reviews of the builders and company, very positive reviews from people living on the estate already, quite small, an ok area but miles away from where I ideally would like to be. Everything would need me to drive to or taxis.
  2. Not great reviews of the building company, although all reviews are 100 miles away, some complaints of delays moving in and slow fixing of problems, gardens sound horrendous, much bigger house and perfect layout for our lifestyle, extra bathroom, really good area with perfect amenities and near to friends and family.

Which would you pick?
Would house insurance cover any issues with house 2? This is the one that my heart prefers but my head says 1. AIBU to risk house 2?

OP posts:
PostingForTrafficz · 13/04/2022 09:37

I'd go for number 2. You do need to name the companies though because 1)its not outing and 2) you'll get better feedback from us.

Original poster
Newbuilddecider · 13/04/2022 09:38

Company 2 is Avant. I won’t name the first though because it is a local builder so definitely gives the game away!

OP posts:
nicelyneurotic · 13/04/2022 09:43

House 2

Letsrunabath · 13/04/2022 09:44

House 2

AllOfUsAreDead · 13/04/2022 09:45

I'd go with 1. A builder has bad reviews for a reason, I never get why people still buy from bad builders when the reviews are all readily available online.

Avant seem a bit 50/50 really on whether you get a good home or a bad home. Building materials etc have increased now remember, so will they do a quicker and more likely worse job to get the job done and get paid quickly? Who knows. They consider themselves a hbf 5 star developer, for that I'd expect better than a 50/50 outcome.

LondonQueen · 13/04/2022 09:47

Not sure how a house builder can be outing unless you're the builder but I'd go for the local one. They are usually of better quality as they build less houses.

Irritatedmum · 13/04/2022 09:47

Location, location, location. I’d go for 2. And don’t forget with reviews that you will only really hear the negative not the positive, nobody bothers posting a review if things went ok.

Arucanafeather · 13/04/2022 09:48

Definitely house 2. Problems can be fixed even if it takes time and some of your own money. You can’t move your house. Buy where you love, the rest is workable.

Vsirbdo · 13/04/2022 09:50

House 2; I bought with Taylor wimpey which have varying reviews but our experience has been positive and in sorting out any snags we just found we need to be vocal and push quite hard so that we don’t end up at the bottom of the list

Thizizit · 13/04/2022 09:50

I thought when you moved I to a new build there was some sort of snagging list? Ie if you see anything needing repairs it gos onto a snagging list and the builders fix it at no cost to you ?

justfiveminutes · 13/04/2022 09:51

Number 2.

They work hard to get negative reviews removed so the 'good review' company might just be better at that. Also, the reviews are for a different site over 100 miles away.

Choose location every time. If no2 is where you want to be, and bigger too, then that's the one for you.

Read everything, check everything, visit the build often, build up a friendly relationship with the team on site, get professionals in to do the snagging.

Original poster
Newbuilddecider · 13/04/2022 09:52

@Irritatedmum

Location, location, location. I’d go for 2. And don’t forget with reviews that you will only really hear the negative not the positive, nobody bothers posting a review if things went ok.
A lot of the reviews are off of the same housing estate which makes me think their particular builders have messed up. People complain about the gardens being poor quality in terms off grass dying, I would eventually change most of it to not be grass anyway
OP posts:
LoveSpringDaffs · 13/04/2022 09:52

I am sure house 1 will be better built and that's very tempting, especially in the short term, but house 2 is more suited to your lifestyle both the house & location & that matters over many years.

I'd only go for 1 if you have very good reason to believe it'll only be short term.

Max out any wars tees/guaranteed/insurance you can get in case of needing things repaired/replaced.

Best of luck!

ThettaReddast · 13/04/2022 09:52

House 2, location would win it for me

NotTheOW · 13/04/2022 09:52

2

Original poster
Newbuilddecider · 13/04/2022 09:53

@Thizizit

I thought when you moved I to a new build there was some sort of snagging list? Ie if you see anything needing repairs it gos onto a snagging list and the builders fix it at no cost to you ?
The reviews have said this is painfully slow and that they argue some factors. Surely good house insurance can cover my back though because they can argue it if needed?
OP posts:
LoveSpringDaffs · 13/04/2022 09:53

@Thizizit

I thought when you moved I to a new build there was some sort of snagging list? Ie if you see anything needing repairs it gos onto a snagging list and the builders fix it at no cost to you ?
Ah sweet summer child.
LifeBeginsNow · 13/04/2022 09:54

House 2. Can you afford (I think it's about £500) for one of those companies to complete a snagging list for you? I think they push for jobs to be completed prior to you moving in.

If we buy new build again we will definitely do this. Some issues take quite a long time to appear (eg overflow on the bath wasn't connected so flooded through to the kitchen light fitting).

safetyfreak · 13/04/2022 09:56

House 2.

Each building site will have a different site manager anyway. Best step would be to have a chat with the site manager and get a feel.

RitaFires · 13/04/2022 09:58

I would go for House 2. It doesn't matter how nice the house is if there's no amenities and you have to drive everywhere.

JurasicPerks · 13/04/2022 10:00

House 2.
Grass dying isn't the end of the world. Major stuff has the NHBC guarantee.
Location location, location.

Original poster
Newbuilddecider · 13/04/2022 10:02

@JurasicPerks

House 2. Grass dying isn't the end of the world. Major stuff has the NHBC guarantee. Location location, location.
If they clay doesn’t kill it then I probably would anyway!
OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 13/04/2022 10:04
  1. But any problems have to be dealt with by the developer, or under(as so often is the case, when the developer liquidates) the NHBC or other building guarantee insurance. You'll have to do this yourself, your house insurance won't get involved with building defects
PlanBea · 13/04/2022 10:04

No, a house insurance policy won't cover snagging. This would be done through the house builder, or if they drag their feet (like our builder did for some things) then you'd have to do it yourself or pay someone else to do it.

I'd go with house 2 as you can't change the location of the house once you're in but you can fix a leaking pipe/dead garden etc!

Original poster
Newbuilddecider · 13/04/2022 10:09

@PlanBea

No, a house insurance policy won't cover snagging. This would be done through the house builder, or if they drag their feet (like our builder did for some things) then you'd have to do it yourself or pay someone else to do it.

I'd go with house 2 as you can't change the location of the house once you're in but you can fix a leaking pipe/dead garden etc!

But if the roof leaked after 6 months would they cover that?
OP posts:
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