Would you buy a new build house?

[Cowsontheloose]

Just that really. Would you buy a new build house?
We bought one 5.5 years ago and I love the fact that everything was new and we didn't have to worry.
My mum told us we were making a huge mistake and that we should never have bought it.
She has since come round and now likes it but says she would never buy one for herself.
I was just wondering peoples opinions.

I wouldn't because...

They are usually 10% above value because they are new.

Because new houses usually have awful soil and I'm a dedicated gardener.

Because two siblings have bought new houses. In one, the kitchen had to be ripped out and refitted within six weeks of taking possession. The other, the council surveyor hadn't signed off the build, and since it had been built on the site of an old tannery and the soil was full of heavy metals, the whole family had to move out while they remove a metre of soil over the whole site, put down a membrane and replaced with clean soil.

Because I don't like housing estates.

Because I do like renovating old houses to former glory.

No. Never.
We've looked at a few and the rooms are ridiculously small, the sound proofing between rooms - never mind houses if it’s a semi- is non existent.
Endless row upon row of matching characterless boxes.

I DO quite fancy the idea of moving in and not having to replace kitchens/bathrooms etc and everything being ok, although there are plenty of new builds that do have multiple problems- but I’d rather have a good, solid, quality older house with a bit of character and big rooms any day.

Depends.

Our first home was a new build on an estate. It served a purpose but I'd never have another - too many people, too closely packed, too little sound proofing (and we were detached so should have been fine), too little parking are just a few reasons.

New house is also a new build but a standalone property built by a local developer rather than on an estate by one of the big house developers. Totally different prospect - individual, big garden, good quality build, well considered, plenty of space and with all the benefits of good insulation, up to date and modern etc. I'd certainly have another like our current house.

I bought a new build years ago because there was a good scheme available from the builders to help me get on the ladder. So they can be good in that respect - the deals like shared equity available if you’d struggle otherwise.

But agree they are over-valued, so I would avoid otherwise.

The only reason I’d consider it in the future for my next move is for technology infrastructure/future proofing. Eg if a house had an air source heat pump rather than a gas boiler, whereas it might be an expensive hassle to change to new technology in an older house.

Surely you'd decide based on the actual house "a new build house" isn't a thing

I wouldn't base it on my or anyone else's mum's opinion

Depends on the builder and also what position you are in. My parents bought a new build years ago and are still in it, is a lovely house and no problems.
We looked at one but it's more a problem with logistics as we'd have to sell our current home and move somewhere until the house was ready which is not feasible.
Also have heard of a lot of issues with certain newbuilds and the difficulty in getting them rectified.

My first place was a new built studio flat. I now wistfully think of it as the nicest place I shall ever have lived in. I do not enjoy renovation, much rather have everything done at move in (and in an old house even if it looks good at least 50% will be shonky DIY behind the scenes).

My views may be negatively affected by the 1930's dump I currently live in and can't afford to do up.

Yes

People have been saying "new builds are shit" for years, my whole life. But those "shit" houses might be 30 years old now and those same people will tell you to buy an 80s house instead of a new one. I'm reading the road to Wigan pier and Orwell is even in their bemoaning the rubbish new builds, which are all 1930s builds, and much beloved on MN.

I think there are good houses and bad houses, but age alone won't tell you which is which.

A good quality modern new build is fantastic, especially as it will be built with the latest energy saving techniques.

The question really is figuring out which ones are good quality and which aren't.

My issue isn't that they're newly built as such but the way new build is mostly approached in Britain, with developments where all the houses look the same and there is incredibly little variation. But then people probably said the same about the rows of Victorian terraces near me when they were first built...

I personally prefer a bit of variety where I live; our street has a combination of early Victorian cottages, late Victorian terraces, some 1920s semis and a postwar block of flats.

I'd consider a new build if it was within an existing community or if we had more of a self build culture in this country (where you buy a block on a development but then choose the sort of house you want on it so there's at least some visual interest and variation.) Services on some of the new build estates often look quite thin as well.

There are loads of new builds which have the type of problems associated with 'quality shaved to the bone' housing developers, and loads of old houses with the type of problems associated with 'badly insulated hard to retrofit to modern standards of lifestyle'.
Finding the gems in either group is where luck and money comes in.
Just wish that our planning system required better of all new builds not the blessed few, because new builds should be exemplars of newer materials and technology because finite land resources means we should do the best with what we have. Big developers do have too much power and land hoarding is a thing they use to lean on local authorities to make allowances they shouldn't make. Our planning system is too weak in many ways.
But yes, I would buy a new build but would aim to avoid the thin walled, minimal storage and room sizes, corners cut during construction type.
UK housing stock is dire in general and too many people have to choose sub standard for the lack of options.

I'm a bit put off by the number of people I know who've bought a new build and then it's been subject to serious subsidence or something similar. It's always been fixable, but the hassle of months of repairs would drive me mad.

Also the new builds near us seem to be very small for the price, with tiny windows and built very close together. If I found one I liked, I'd consider it, though.

As pp'ss have said, there is a huge variety in quakiry, style ammenities etc. We love having nothing to do in terms of maintenance as that really suits our lifestyles and happy to pay for that. We alsl waited to findone with large rooms and garden

I’ve bought three. I love my current ones, lovely high ceilings, beautiful bay windows, amazing massive en-suites with windows, a really wide staircase, solar panels, tiny fuel bills, nice double garage and drive (brilliant for charging my electric car). We’ve been here 10 years and apart from changing the carpet after 8 years and getting some rooms decorated we haven’t had to spend out on it.

We are in our third new build (as in reserved plot before build each time) so yes, have done in the past and will do again provided the style, size, layout and location is right. So many factors to consider beyond the usual ‘all new builds’ are rubbish /have problems mantra.

Our current house is large, has plenty of natural light, is well insulated and with the right layout to suit us. We also have plenty of cupboard space and good outdoor space. We did had some snags when we moved in like some of our radiators not being plumbed in properly but once we reported them, they were sorted promptly by Charles Church and it didn’t cost us anything.

Build quality can and do vary, you just need to do your homework and have your wits about you. It’s no different to buying an older house I’d say.

I think if you’ve bought more than one then you really know what to look for. Getting in early and picking a good plot is great if you are able to do it. I also negotiated so many extras that I didn’t know where on option when I first bought.
I have found my new builds have increased in value quickly too. My first house rise in value from by 40% in the three years I lived there.

It depends on the property and area.

New build estate with nowhere near the level of parking for the number of occupants? Not a chance in hell.

Single new build with decent garden and proper driveway? Possibly

We bought our house as a new build in 2006 and it has been fine. I wouldn't hesitate to buy new again.

I got one as it was the only way I could afford a house as we got that government deposit help to buy thing (not the ISA, the other one you pay back after so many years). The new build was offering that option but I don’t think buying an old house off a person would have allowed us this option and we would never have afforded the mortgage otherwise

I do agree the soil (and drainage) is awful and a garden renovation is still on my list of things to do

Not unless i ever had the money to get a decent sized home and plot...houses and gardens are built ridiculously small nowadays, and often right on top of each other.Also I think areas of newbuilds look abit 'sterile' for those first few years.

All new builds are not built equal.
Personally I would not consider a timber frame simply because they usually only have stud walls.

No, I like a bit of history in a house.

Ideally I would go Victorian or earlier however locally that is in very short supply so we ended up buying something from the 1960s.

I suppose my current house was a new build when I bought it 35 years ago. It was a one off barn conversion by a local builder.
We are planning to move and I am torn.
I like the idea of everything a blank slate.
I have no wish to replace or renovate anything so wouldn't take on anything needing a new kitchen or other work.
I need less garden and would enjoy starting one from scratch.
I want parking for at least three, preferably four cars.
I don't like close proximity to neighbours.

So the holy grail is a one off small development by a reputable local builder. Not an estate by Barratts or the like.

I'm on my 4th new build and never had any real issues. Yes snagging was a faff and there were bits and bobs I could have done without in the initial weeks but I'd do it again and again..current house is a 4 bed detached on a lovely estate bought 8 years ago. We lucked out with a huge garden (something to do with sewage pipes under the ground and space required to distance them from the house) so we've been able to extend and build a garden office. The house is warm and we've hardly had to spend any money on issues - any money spent has been our choice to upgrade.

Yes detached one a bigger one. I don't like very old houses they turn into money pits and I don't like massive gardens with high maintenance. The lay outs are very good better than old houses.