To not buy this house?

[phiaaihp]

My husband wants a new build, I’ve compromised as I don’t.

The one we viewed today the end of the garden is the side of the neighbours house (no fence, the house wall is the boundary) with windows that look directly on to said garden. They are frosted but I find it weird.

Husband said I’m making excuses as it ticks the rest of the boxes and I just don’t want a new build.

A house we viewed had a window that looked over the garden and it was the number 1 reason why we didn’t buy it. I’m sure you’ll find somewhere you both like eventually.

Hell no!!!

I love my newbuild and have been here happily for over 20 years, the rooms aren't small and we have no quality issues
But no way in hell would I consider that one

🤣 no but she did find several other huge issues 🙈

Back in the 90s my dad walked off a job where he was working as an electrician, because they told him to work faster. He said he could work faster or he could do it properly; they said work faster. I would not buy a new build, certainly not from Bovis or one of those. I know a lot of people who have bought new and not one has been hassle free. There’s been problems with every single one- plus my dad’s tales of cost-cutting.

I don’t understand why we don’t expect better from our new housing. They should be top notch on environment, they should be build well not just “we will worry about it in snagging”

I put a hole in my mid 2000’s new build wall moving something. My ex punched a hole in it and actually went through. If it had been my 1930’s rented bungalow he’d have broken his hand. They also never came back to do snagging and the hell we lived with whilst they continued to build.

I wouldn’t not buy one again, but I would be very very picky

@BourbonsAreOverated we had a new build, and it was actually good as new builds go, but we still had our initial issues and niggles, some small leaks, dribbly radiators, various things like that. Plus of course the clay swamp that you need to somehow turn into a garden.

We've moved to a recently-ish built house that was a bespoke one-off (previous owners bought a plot and got it done) and the quality difference is just night and day. It really feels like the best of both worlds as we get the benefit of modern methods and materials, and none of the shonkyness of the mass builds.

Not in the slightest. Either you asked the wrong person or someone has fucked up, because there has to be a fence, it doesn't begin to meet building regs without.
So don't buy it, go find a better new build, of which there are many.

Or continue to talk nonsense about how they're all awful, and lie to your partner about compromising on a new build. Whatever

😂😂 I never said they were awful, I said I prefer older houses. Which I do. I’ve frankly never seen a nice new build. Give me high ceilings, coving and period features over a white box any day.

You’re so butt hurt about other people saying they are awful but you’re directing your tantrum at me. Hilarious.

I've just moved into a new build well its a couple of yrs old .
Never expected to but actually ticked loads of boxes because it's got great things going for it . Literally saw it as an add on when viewing loads one day .Almost didn't bother as was tired . The location on the estate really swung it .But no I wouldn't buy that specific house cos of those windows .But don't exclude new builds in your house search

I wouldn't buy a new build unless I was minted and it was very high end.

The standard of workmanship in them is often very poor, getting snagging done is often a challenge, they tend to be smaller than you realised (my friend nearly bought one that supposedly had 3 double bedrooms, but realised that the 2 smaller "double" bedrooms in the show house only had 4' beds in them, not standard doubles, and teeny-tiny bedside cabinets), noise insulation is rarely good, they often lack usable storage space and rarely have decent sized gardens. And you generally pay a premium for brand new, so should you need to move for any reason in the first couple of years after buying, you often have to sell at a loss.

I'd make an exception for one of builder BIL's one off new-builds, because I've seen the quality of his work, but as the last one he did went for £1.2m, that's never going to happen unless I mysteriously come across a winning lottery ticket.

You'd love Octogon developments....

I love new builds. Mine is fabulous. Light, airy, en suites which I LOVE having, decent garden, garage, loads of parking. But I do not like the look of that one at all! I’d dump it in the dark, dingy, no parking, weird shaped rooms, not fit for purpose old house category!
What is it with posters thinking they can slag off new builds when they have NEVER lived in one!! Loads of us do and surprisingly we love them.

I can assure you that my 1890 house is neither dark or dingy and has ample amounts of parking. And weird shaped rooms? I find the box rooms with low ceilings in new builds very unappealing. I have a fully renovated basement which you’d never get in a new build as it’s not cost effective.

And how are old houses not fit for purpose? I literally feel like crying at the thought of moving into a new build.

That’s absolutely awful imo. I’d have to be desperate to live there.

We're going to be house hunting soon. This will be our third house purchase together.

We've always agreed that both of us have to be 100% happy with a property or its not happening. It's such a huge purchase and life changing decision, anything less isn't right.

Fortunately both of us hate new builds so that's not an option!

Agreed, I love old houses, PIL live in a Georgian farmhouse built circa 1740, it really is lovely especially at Christmas! They've got secret staircases, cellars, DH said it was magical gowing up, but that's not to say I don't like modern houses per se, it's the huge developments I don't like.

That should be normal and expected shouldn’t it.

I loveeee my new build. It's big, feels airy and light. I've always wanted an ensuite and it has not disappointed. And it's so warm in here, barely have to have the heating on, it's glorious. My whole family were super insulting when they found out I was getting a new build - same complaints as others in this thread - changed their tune since I got it and they visited, because its truly a bloody lovely house, and one of them chang3d the tune so much she decided to buy one up the road! She's moved in now and also loves it.

That said, I would not be loving it if there was a wall at the end of the garden like the picture you shared OP. So YANBU to not want that house!