New builds - Cala homes

[cantagree]

Anyone bought a Cala home and give some feedback please? I've never bought a new build before. Can you haggle on price? Are there promotions like covering stamp duty etc genuine seems too good to be true. What's the quality of build like? Garden size? Sorry for all the questions!

They’re a reputable builder with good quality build and aftercare. I do t think then go in for promotions much as they generally choose sites with a high demand. Often, there are overnight queues and waiting lists (in central Scotland, at least)

Totally off topic in some ways but I'd never buy from Cala. They are the subject of so much litigation and planning appeals due to their practise of trying to build on the green belt and ruining small villages in order to build estates totally out of character.

We bought a Cala home which is ten years old so can’t advise on the purchasing process, but I love it! It’s the most practical house I’ve ever lived in, good storage, spacious hallways, good use of light Wells /
Windows etc. Ours is a townhouse and the bottom floor which has integral garage is quite chilly - some people who bought off plan got under floor heating which would have great. So consider that if it’s a three story. I think it’s aged well.

Cala are one of the better ones. Whether you can haggle successfully depends on a lot of things. If they have properties built and not sold they will do a deal. Or if they are selling slowly. The downside is, once they get to a certain build point you lose the chance to pick your own fittings ( and the sales staff who get to choose sometimes have terrible taste!)

What deals are available also depends on how well they are selling and will vary from site to site.

Never bought from them so no idea of aftercare but of all we've visited they are one of the few who get their show homes right, which is a good indicator.

I do find their sales people pushy though. I had to block their number as the local sales office kept calling even though we kept telling them we weren't ready to move.

@JinglingHellsBells
That's not Cala's fault. All developers do it and any failure is down to the planning legislation.