New build mistakes, what should we expect?

[magneticmoon]

We just completed and got keys this weekend, for a new build. The house 'looks' structurally ok but we're no experts so hiring a professional snagger to take a look. However -

We can see the builder has made several interior mistakes. Along the lines of e.g. wrong flooring, tiling, placement of things. We have pointed these out and the builder hasn't tried to argue, in fact has said they will change them to how they should be. The problem is this will take at least a month, possibly more as they need to bring in decor, contractors and such. And we will be living in the house so it will be disruptive.

We're inclined to tell them not to bother with some of the mistakes, as they are cosmetic and we think it will just be too much hassle. They could just refund us costs we paid for a couple of features they didn't fulfil. Two of them we definitely want put right.

Has anyone been in this position, what should we be expecting from the builders. Should they be offering any compensation for things they have messed up on, what have you done in any similar situation? TIA

“the builder hasn't tried to argue, in fact has said they will change them to how they should be.”

I have never seen a 'perfect' new build. As long as the builder is willing to follow up, I think it is a good result

I don't think you can ask for compensation if they are agreeing to put everything right.

That's what has happened in both new build I lived in anyway - provide snagging list, snagging put right.

Fair enough to ask for a refund on anything you paid for but didn't receive, and now would rather not have due to mess/inconvenience.

I think also fine to ask for something in exchange for mistakes you are willing to 'let go' but I think you'd be more successful asking for them to do something than asking for compensation.

In our new build they'd put the fence too far back, by about 2' . They didn't notice for 6 months and they asked us for access to our garden so they could fix it. By then we had built a huge shed to use as a work room and planted trees where the new fence would be.

so we said no, stuck to our guns and in the end they had to back down and we got the land added to the plans (and a new plan from land registry).. They'd done this to other houses too.

In your case I would ask for something else to be done free of charge to compensate you. We did this and got a free tap fitted outside and outside power. We also got a free skip for a couple of weeks which was very useful.