New house - advice

GingerLily

So we've put a deposit down on a new build and the contracts will go out in the next week. Firsty time buyers too.

Any general advice on what to plan for and expect?

Westwood

As a matter of interest did you buy off plans when will it be ready to move in?
did you pay booking deposit, what documentation did they look for when booking?
Will you pay full difference between mortgage amount , unit price less booking deposit at contracts stage?

GingerLily

Westwood wrote: »

As a matter of interest did you buy off plans when will it be ready to move in?
did you pay booking deposit, what documentation did they look for when booking?
Will you pay full difference between mortgage amount , unit price less booking deposit at contracts stage?

We bought off plans and paid a booking deposit. We didn't bring documentation.

We haven't signed contracts yet, but we assume we'll pay the full amount less the deposit paid.

Any tips from posters who have been through this themselves?

PhoenixParker

Look at the planning permission in detail.
Look at any other planning permissions around the area.
Look up the local area plan for the area.
Look up the overall council plan for the wider area.

Dearg81

GingerLily wrote:

So we've put a deposit down on a new build and the contracts will go out in the next week. Firsty time buyers too.

GingerLily wrote:

Any general advice on what to plan for and expect?

Don't bother asking estate agents for updates. Get the foremans number asap and go directly to him. You'll get better updates on progress from the builders.

Peatys

Take your time over your snag, take a break half way through.
Go up into the attic.
Don't do the snag before there's power as you want to check the heating and any appliances that may be included.

Hassle the bank. Get the names of who you're dealing with in the completions dept. Hassle the valuers. Ring them yourself and ask when the report will go in.
Hassle your solicitor. Ask for details on when things are being sent.


Remember all these work for you. Don't rely on them to move your case on. Their queue system drove us bananas on our first house. Knew better second time round.

GingerLily

PhoenixParker wrote: »

Look at the planning permission in detail.
Look at any other planning permissions around the area.
Look up the local area plan for the area.
Look up the overall council plan for the wider area.

Is there anything in particular you think I need to look out for?

GingerLily

Dearg81 wrote: »

Don't bother asking estate agents for updates. Get the foremans number asap and go directly to him. You'll get better updates on progress from the builders.

That's good advice - thanks!

In your experience is the foreman very helpful? We're hoping to negotiate on the painting (I don't want white walls!)

Dearg81

My foreman was good, we had massive delays so we got in touch with him before the foundations were in place and he even let us change the position of the kitchen. He did ask us about paint and tile colours but only gave us the option of cream or white for the paint.

The best advice I got was don't be shy in asking them for anything. It's the biggest investment you'll ever make and you'll only get 1 shot at it and the worst they can say is no.

PhoenixParker

GingerLily wrote: »

Is there anything in particular you think I need to look out for?

That the house the estate agent describes matches the planning permission. That the overall development matches the estate agents description. That you're happy with the overall plans for the area.

For instance I've seem a number of people swearing there are no apartments in their new build development, the estate agent told them. The apartments are clearly visible on the planning application.

People in boom time were shocked to discover that the "park" promised by the estate agent was merely the final phase of the development and was built over with houses.

The council may have decided to build a landfill in the field next door.

The development plan may outline future schools and commercial centres. Maybe the road in front of your house is designated to be one of the main roads.

Everything the estate agent tells you has no requirement to be true. The planning permission is what the builders have a legal right to build. That and the contract is what you rely on.

(Not withstanding that planning permission can be reapplied for/changed if a process is followed)

GingerLily

PhoenixParker wrote: »

That the house the estate agent describes matches the planning permission. That the overall development matches the estate agents description. That you're happy with the overall plans for the area.

For instance I've seem a number of people swearing there are no apartments in their new build development, the estate agent told them. The apartments are clearly visible on the planning application.

People in boom time were shocked to discover that the "park" promised by the estate agent was merely the final phase of the development and was built over with houses.

The council may have decided to build a landfill in the field next door.

The development plan may outline future schools and commercial centres. Maybe the road in front of your house is designated to be one of the main roads.

Everything the estate agent tells you has no requirement to be true. The planning permission is what the builders have a legal right to build. That and the contract is what you rely on.

(Not withstanding that planning permission can be reapplied for/changed if a process is followed)

Thanks

We will definitely have a good bit of research to do.

The contracts are meant to go out this week and if we sign within 21 days they'll include kitchen appliances, which would be great, but obviously we want to be 100% happy with the property first, so we'll need to get moving on the research!

GingerLily

Dearg81 wrote: »

My foreman was good, we had massive delays so we got in touch with him before the foundations were in place and he even let us change the position of the kitchen. He did ask us about paint and tile colours but only gave us the option of cream or white for the paint.

The best advice I got was don't be shy in asking them for anything. It's the biggest investment you'll ever make and you'll only get 1 shot at it and the worst they can say is no.

Thanks, I'm gonna need to get a bit braver I think!
How soon before completion did they let you into the build? We've not seen a show house of our house type yet as none have been completed, so really want to get a better idea of the space etc.

granturismo

PhoenixParker wrote: »

That the house the estate agent describes matches the planning permission. ...

This. We booked off plans. We booked #20 off the plan and ended up getting the house two doors up with a smaller garden because the estate agents site map was wrong. We didnt find out until we visited the site when construction was up to roof level and the foreman pointed out we were looking at the wrong house.

All our contracts stated we purchased #20, several solicitor letters sent but to no avail. After we moved in, the house we booked off plan had serious sewage problems so.

Dearg81

GingerLily wrote: »

Thanks, I'm gonna need to get a bit braver I think!
How soon before completion did they let you into the build? We've not seen a show house of our house type yet as none have been completed, so really want to get a better idea of the space etc.

They let us in to see the site as the foundations were going in beacuse I asked to see the garden size, that was around 4 months before completion I guess.

Yea you need to be quite assertive with the builders as they more than likely will probably try and fob you off cos they're so busy. You also need to not p!ss them off though with all your requests so there's politics involved in dealing with them.

Peatys

GingerLily wrote: »

Thanks

We will definitely have a good bit of research to do.

The contracts are meant to go out this week and if we sign within 21 days they'll include kitchen appliances, which would be great, but obviously we want to be 100% happy with the property first, so we'll need to get moving on the research!

Ashfield, Swords?

GingerLily

Peatys wrote: »

Ashfield, Swords?

No, I don't want to disclose the location either, which I'm sure you can understand.

JimmyMW

GingerLily wrote: »

So we've put a deposit down on a new build and the contracts will go out in the next week. Firsty time buyers too.

Any general advice on what to plan for and expect?

Agree the price of extras up front, ie extra sockets, switches, spot lights, built ins etc. Also you mention free kitchen appliances if you sign quickly, be sure you know what you are getting.

If you are at pre construction stage, query if you can alter internal layouts, if so consider this and hire someone to review the internal layouts for you. Opening up rooms with sliding doors etc can make a massive difference.

carleigh

Be prepared for delays. We are after finding out this morning it will be another month until our house is ready. This is the third time we have been told this, so we are figuring we will be lucky to be in it for Christmas! Also, dealing with the bank at this stage is proving very stressful.