AIBU to use ALL of my savings on new home?

[whereiscaroline]

I'm buying a new home and due to exchange shortly.

What I didn't realise at the point of reserving was that almost everything in the show home was an "additional extra", so to get the house how I want it, I will need about an extra £23k!

As an example...

Downlights are £90 each.
Heated towel radiators are £400 each.
Shaving points are £80 each.
And so on.

I can just about afford the extras but it will mean using every single penny of my savings which makes me nervous.

The alternative would be to save up and have these items fitted in the future, but if we cause any damage to the house in doing so then could potentially have issues with the NHBC warranty and snag list as the builder could argue it's damage we've caused.

My job is secure and in the event that I did lose my job then I would receive a decent payoff but using ALL my savings makes me really nervous.

WWYD?

@LillianGish

How many extras are there that they add up to £23,000? £7K for a kitchen you like doesn’t sound extortionate - not to mention the convenience of it all being fitted before you move in. Remember you might be able to get all these things more cheaply, but you’ll also have to factor in time off work to supervise workmen etc etc. TBH with a new build I’d be far more keen to have detailed surveys of the plot to be sure it wasn’t built on a flood plain etc since it’s not a tried and tested development in that respect. If you can build up £23,000 in savings again within the next six months it doesn’t sound as if you have too much to worry about - just get the extras you want (especially the kitchen) then you can move in and enjoy it (isn’t that the whole point of buying new when all’s said and done?)

Not all of them are "extras" as such - this does include flooring. Again, though, it's flooring I want rather than the cheap and cheerful option everywhere. This includes getting the flooring done by a local fitter rather than via the builder - via the builder the flooring came to £8k!

It's things like having extra tiling in the bathrooms to half or full height, extra sockets, down lights, and the kitchen upgrade.

I won't be able to save another £23k in six months, that will take me years. But I would be able to build up 3 months of emergency expenses within six months.

We bought a new build apartment a few years ago and everything was included but the dishwasher.How many heated towel rails are we talking about for £400? You can buy an average looking one for £99. One piece of advice; take your time inspecting EVERYTHING and write down even the most insignificant scratch/blemish on the snagging list.It is amazing what the developer won't take responsability for or argue about it if you raise it a few months down the line!

@ivykaty44

Id be tempted to contact a local builder and get a quote for all those things, including a kitchen of your choice to fit

Then go back and state you want the builder to come in and finish off the house, so they can leave those parts and you'll pay the builder separately tp do these works

let them know its going to save you £11k and see what they say

No house builder would ever agree to this . The habitation certificate that is issued on completion of the house before the sale can proceed requires this work to be completed and the safety verified .

They wouldn’t let some random come in and do any work in a house that the housebuilder still owns !
Imagine the issues if there was damage or substandard work or finishes ....
who would be responsible?

OP ... you need to think about what things are critical to you and settle for what you can afford ,,, kitchen and tiling and the rest can follow ?

@windmill26

We bought a new build apartment a few years ago and everything was included but the dishwasher.How many heated towel rails are we talking about for £400? You can buy an average looking one for £99. One piece of advice; take your time inspecting EVERYTHING and write down even the most insignificant scratch/blemish on the snagging list.It is amazing what the developer won't take responsability for or argue about it if you raise it a few months down the line!

That £400 is for precisely one towel rail.

I believe the NHBC warranty only covers issues with the house structure, and not the fittings or decor, etc. We had loads of issues with our new build (looking at you Persimmon homes) and only got assistance from NHBC when problems were found 8 years on with missing fire proofing in the loft space and within the party walls, missing insulation in the roof and inadequate sound proofing. And this was throughout a housing estate of around 90 houses, almost every single one had major structural issues. But anything else - and there were lots of other "elses" - weren't covered by NHBC (leaks, etc).

@whereiscaroline
WOW,made of gold?

I know this is an uncommon perspective these days, but why not get the free flooring on offer and then upgrade over time when you can afford to?

It is not compulsory to move into a perfect home....

7k for the kitchen may be good idea

What you wrote as regards heated towel rail, light - wow I’d the a huge, huge mark up! You could get these done by a tradesman after the fact for a LOT less.

@charlieclown

I know this is an uncommon perspective these days, but why not get the free flooring on offer and then upgrade over time when you can afford to?

It is not compulsory to move into a perfect home....

There is no free flooring on offer.

They offer to install it for you before you move in, at a cost. An example is the (small) master bedroom for £1000 for Amtico, from their small range and laid in straight planks only.

I'd be trying to negotiate based on estimates from local electricians and builders too.

Can I ask who the builder is?

We managed to negotiate with our second new build a few changes/upgrades in our kitchen. Do you need their white good? We didn’t, and wanted an extra cupboard and longer work surface so that did that and a bit of extra tiling.

When looking at flooring as it is a new build, if you use a permanent flooring such a tiling or karndean then you do not need to pay VAT As it will become a permanent fixture. We were told this by a flooring company we got a quote from.

Sockets etc, take the standard, they are so easy to change it’s something you can live with to start and then change them over, we changed our sockets over but that was because we wanted some with the USB ports in.

Are you sure you don’t get a heated towel rail? Every new build we have looked at has a towel rail but if you want a larger floor to ceiling type one then you can upgrade, I would have thought not putting a radiator in a bathroom a bit stante.

Find out who made the tiles you are using. That’s what we did in the family bathroom of our first house so we could extend the tiling to ceiling height.

Hi OP. Could you choose one or two rooms where you won’t have the fittings and cut down the extra costs? I’m confused though, if it’s already been done wont they expect to be paid anyway? If so, I’d maybe explain you didn’t realise and plead poverty. Say you have 15k that’s it or something. See what they say.

I don’t think it’s the end of the world though if you only need six months to save 20k! Tbh I don’t see that as a risky move and you’re getting the house you want

Oh sorry just seen you could get an emergency fund not 20k. I would negotiate this 23k. Explain you don’t have it. They won’t want to lose the sale.

You can get a shaver adaptor to use on a normal plug. Just find an unused plug in the bedroom and charge the toothbrush there.