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Original poster

New build houses.... what are the advantages??

49 replies

Toothache · 26/07/2005 12:31

We are looking to buy a 3 or 4 bedroomed detached or semi-detached house in the Falkirk area.

There are LOADS of new build developments around here: Bett, Bellway, Persimmon and Walker being the most predominant.

I have looked at some of the developments and the houses look amazing BUT they have NO front garden and only a tiny strip of a back garden!!

So what are the advantages? A garden is really important to me (albeit a slabbed one that I don't have to maintain ). So I'm now thinking I'd be as welll buying an older property.... but wanted to hear peoples views on new builds.

TIA

OP posts:
roosmum · 26/07/2005 22:25

furball that's quite good going for a newbuild. on our pricey estate you end up with a pathetic boxroom for bed 4

2 reasonable ones & a box was all we cd afford!!

Milliways · 26/07/2005 22:28

My DS moved from 6'x7' bedroom to new (old) house bedroom of 19'9 x 11'! He very quickly learned to fill this space with trains, cars, scalectrix, knex, etc....... .

I really miss the third loo though now kids are older & teenage girl in house

QueenOfQuotes · 26/07/2005 22:31

our smallest bedroom (the box room) in this house (victorian - but upstairs 'average' height) is 12x10 - I couldn't cope with anything smaller than this - and it's not a 'huge' house (I wish LOL)

QueenOfQuotes · 26/07/2005 22:32

"i do envy the utility rooms and second loos however......"

I've got a utility room and a 2nd loo too (and massive bathroom - my pride and joy )

roosmum · 26/07/2005 22:41

qoq

good sized period house, with modcons of extra bogs, is my dreeeeeam!

(mutters...one day, one day)

QueenOfQuotes · 26/07/2005 22:45

ahh - but roosmum - I've have an even bigger 3rd bedroom if they hadn't put a wall up and put the toilet upstairs . And it's a downstairs bathroom, in an extension built in the early 1970's (we think) - but it's huge, and it's gorgeous and I love it lol

It's honestly not 'that' big, it's just a end of terraced Victorian house, only got a little garden too (cause it's nestled behind the primary school .

roosmum · 26/07/2005 22:49

yeah, & i bet said huge bathroom has clawfooted bath, & period radiators etc etc
again

& my newbuild doesn't have a right-angle in the entire place, & the ensuite shower leaks so we can't use it, & we've got plastic wooden floors (detest laminate!)...and...and

but dh is happy cos we now have a garage/mancave

QueenOfQuotes · 26/07/2005 22:50

no - modern radiators and 'standard' bath

It was 'refitted' by the previous owners, was obviously their 'main' project in the house.

Frizbe · 26/07/2005 22:51

Just watch the walls in new builds, we currently have one, and they are pants, can't hang anything on the interior walls, as even with the right plugs, stuff doesn't stay up.....sob.....

roosmum · 26/07/2005 22:54

yeah, agree with frizbe, bought a lovely new big habitat frame, hung on wall, turned back - CRASH, end of brand new frame

QueenOfQuotes · 26/07/2005 22:55

Frizbe - was tempted to list some of the problems close friends have had with new builds......but am resisting in case I get into trouble (what's new LOL)

roosmum · 26/07/2005 22:56

qoq, i could be here all night, suffice to say dh & i have agreed NEVER to buy another newbuild if we can help it - & to avoid persimmon like the plague (tho bil had barrett & they seem just as pants).

QueenOfQuotes · 26/07/2005 22:58

Have to say DH "always" wanted a new build......until he met people who had them, and saw a few programmes with problems.

He loves our house.....and he's even agreed when we are eventually in a position to move to a 'long term' house (ie one we'd hope to stay in once the boys have left home etc etc) we'll go for an old one ........I'm still working on the thatched roof bit though LOL

Hulababy · 27/07/2005 16:48

Frizbe - you need to get the really long long plugs, not just the standard ones they say for new build studded walls. We have never had anything fall off a wall yet, whilst always living in new builds. And we have had alsorts hanging on walls from pictures and mirrors to shelves (with plenty of books on) and big speakers. They do leave a mess to the wall if you take them down though.

I do think it is all personal preference still though.

I just still can't get excited by period properties.

And the thought of doing any DIY or refurbs - argh! I tend to move house well before even my new builds need that

QueenOfQuotes · 27/07/2005 17:02

"And the thought of doing any DIY or refurbs - argh! "

None of that needed here either - apart from 'optional' extras (a few shelves etc etc)

Hulababy · 27/07/2005 17:06

Still not convinced at moment, sorry. Spent best part of last year looking and looking at so many properties. In our price range the lder houses were just not exciting me at all. The new build we have just bought does make me feel happy to be moving.

fqueenzebra · 27/07/2005 18:34

do your kids actually need big bedrooms, QoQ? I don't mind small bedrooms for the kids...

I prefer older houses, but the one we are in now (11 yrs old) was the only one on right side of town (for the better school in town).

The biggest advantages over our last house (build 1930s): no major DIY projects for DH (he gets lost in them); a nice clean loft that doesn't rain down grotty debris on whatever boxes we have stored up there; good insulation.

geekgrrl · 27/07/2005 18:42

mh, we lived in a new-built once and I didn't like it tbh. What was nice was the kitchen (but the options weren't great really) and having everything new and virginal. The central heating system was the best I've ever had.
What was really poor was the sound insulation - it was just awful, you could hear everything everywhere it seemed, and all the stuff the builders had done badly and were dragging their heels to sort out - faulty wiring, plumbing, the turf had been laid terribly and basically needed to be replaced fully, etc, etc! Everything was so light and flimsy, too. And the low ceilings... not great for tall people.

QueenOfQuotes · 28/07/2005 09:43

"do your kids actually need big bedrooms, QoQ? I don't mind small bedrooms for the kids... "

Well our smallest bedroom is 12 x 10 , and once you've got a bed, wardrobe, bookcase and toys in there - not much room for anything else.

OF course while they're still small they don't need big bedrooms, but once I was about 7 or 8 I used to love going up to my room to play with friends, and I'd like my boys to be able to do the same if they want to.

(Besides, they're not kids forever, and if you intend to stay in the same house for a long time it's nice to have rooms big enough for double beds once you're a grandparent and your child+ spouse/partner is visiting)

sparklymieow · 28/07/2005 16:16

AT the moment we have a 11x11ft bedroom, a 10x11 (but its not square, in a L-shape, and can only fit a bunkbed wardrode and drawers in) and a 6x11, so really small rooms, the new house has a 12ftx13ft, a 12x10ft, a 10x7 and a 10ftx7ft4, so I am happy!!

AlexandraEUA · 14/08/2017 11:45

This reply has been deleted

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bananafanana1 · 14/09/2017 07:28

I love my new build. Decorating is really easy (no wood work to do or someone else's wallpaper to strip).

As soon as you put your furniture in a room it looks 'done'.

In comparison my sister bought a similar house but a lot olde...boiler needs replacing, decorating throughout, new carpets, new bathrooms and kitchen. Lots of work whereas we don't have to think about that for ages Grin

Bluntness100 · 14/09/2017 07:38

I like the fact that it is MY house; not a second hand one

I love this concept, makes me chuckle every time. A second hand house. Grin

NewDaddie · 14/09/2017 07:42

I don't normally mind zombie threads but this one...

What house did OP choose? Does anyone have the link to the other thread she created. I want to know but probably never will Sad

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