Buying off plan - Bellway. Any tips?

[poddige]

We currently have our house on the market and after much searching near and far, we are now thinking of going down the new build route.

The development we are looking at only has 4 & 5 bed houses on it and is closer to DC school than we are now. They are not yet on site and are looking to have either the development (unlikely?) or the specific style house we are looking at ready by end of summer.

We are going to see the show home around 20 miles from us next week and discuss all
Options.

Has anyone bought with them off plan? Any hints or tips? Things to avoid?

Also considering taking our house off the market and putting back on with their preferred estate agent so they pay our fees. Again - any tips?

Did anyone move into rented before hand? We plan to port or mortgage over - don't want it to lapse and have the stress of reapplying.

We've only ever had old (Victorian and older) houses before. This winter has pushed us from wanting something similar, to wanting something low maintenance with open plan living, and most importantly - warmth!

Any advice would be gratefully received good or bad. Would like to have some more info before we go meet with them.

Thank you!

Bump!

Years ago (12 or so) we looked to buy with Bellamy.
They showed us round the show house, talked about choosing the kitchen etc, and it all sounded great. But when we went back to pay the deposit and see the actual site then as the roof had started going on (the day before), we suddenly couldn’t choose anything as it had all been chosen. We went away and I complained to head office (when we’d been the W/end before we’d said we wanted to go away and do our sums, but would be back the following weekend, and no mention had been made if the roof thing). Anyway head office backtracked and said it was just the sales staff usually ordered the kitchen etc at around the time the roof went on, and as h/o hadn’t received any order yet, of course we could still pick. Then when we went back to pay our deposit (again), they refused to accept our check unless we said we would go through their preferred mortgage advisors. As we were porting most of our mortgage, and just topping up and had all of this agreed with our bank, we weren’t keen to do that. So we just walked away (again). Our solicitor had never come across that before, and was fairly pissed off with them, and iirc, he rang to confirm we hadn’t misunderstood.
So not a great experience, BUT, I think we were just dealing with rogue sales staff tbh, and I don’t think that is indicative of the company as a whole. The house was lovely too. So I’d check v carefully dates and terms of deposit paying / choosing kitchens! Good luck!

I had a new build Bellway in the late 90s. We got to choose all fixtures, and paid extra for wool carpets over synthetic ones.
It was made of cardboard - you could hear someone chopping in the kitchen from the furthest bedroom, and could hear toilet noise as well. Their standard of construction may have improved but I certainly wouldn't go near them again.

Be very careful! Check the TP1 thoroughly; even if it's not leasehold you'll often find management fees and onerous covenants. Get a very good solicitor - not the one who's recommended by them - who is prepared to fight your corner!
Eg covenants - we have a covenant that for all external alterations (eg adding solar panels, converting the garage etc) we need to request permission - which we have to pay for! Join the National Leasehold Campaign group and Home Owners Rights Network group on facebook, they have plenty of knowledgeable members.

Make sure you get everything to discuss with the sales office in writing to cover yourselves. Ask if you're allowed access to follow up on the build.

Last but not least get an independent newbuild survey. We're completing in a couple of weeks and will be using one which was recommended to us. They check everything so you get a full list of snags incl. eg. missed insulation, wonky tiles etc - stuff you wouldn't necessarily notice yourself until it's too late.

Lastly I'd knock on the door of some of the people who have already moved in on the estate to see if they'd recommend it before you decide to go ahead.

There is an estate of Bellway in the next village.

I woudn't live in one if you paid me.

Utterly shit in every way.

Stick with old.

Def get independent pre completion snag list done. Won’t cost that much compared to how much you will save. And check out state of Garden....mate bought one and 4 inches beneath top soil it was just builders rubble!

A friend bought off plan 6 months ago I didn’t think it was a good idea.

However I have been proved wrong the finish was excellent and the snagging has been prompt and efficient.

As they are still on site it means the correct trades are in place to right any problems.

They did have to be careful if the garden is north facing (totally shaded)
So take care which plot you choose.

The house is beautiful with lovely high ceilings, I would like one but as with any new house the garden is small.

We bought off plan with Bellway. The ceilings are beautifully high and we are in an area with many different new build providers - everybody says the finish is better than Taylor Wimpey, Martin Grant etc.

We have had a LOT of snagging - over 50 different items including a heating system so badly plumbed in, our ceiling had to be removed to rectify. BUT all snagging was completed promptly and cheerfully and was free, whereas if you had bought an older property, you would be putting it right at your own expense.

Make friends with the post-sales staff and they will help you out, would be my tip.

Sold my Bellway property recently. I bought new 3 years old when sold. Door handles were practically rusty- interior doors! Radiators also starting to rust. Really poor quality i am annoyed with myself for getting carried away with the ' new' aspect of it when I bought it. Everything they use is cheap and poor quality. Even in sone of the windows there was hair inside the glass!! And quite a bit of damp- which really shouldn't happen in new build.

Hi Off Plan sales Bellway 2007 Shenstone Road, did anyone else buy one of these flats?