What things to look at before buying?

masterboy123

I am wondering what are the things one should look at or ask their builder before signing contracts for a new build home?

PhoenixParker

Read the planning permission.
Read the development plan for the area.
See what other planning permissions are active/granted in the area.

masterboy123

Is there a website to check for other planning permission?

PhoenixParker wrote: »

Read the planning permission.
Read the development plan for the area.
See what other planning permissions are active/granted in the area.

PhoenixParker

The website of whichever council area you're buying in.

Most if not all the council areas in Ireland put their planning permissions up on line.

masterboy123

Seen and read the documents. Says planning permission valid until Dec. 2021.
Saw other attached files also, but nothing significant for my eyes.

PhoenixParker wrote: »

The website of whichever council area you're buying in.

Most if not all the council areas in Ireland put their planning permissions up on line.

tradesman

As phoenixparker said

Read the planning permission.
Read the development plan for the area.
See what other planning permissions are active/granted in the area.
All these things may impact on your future enjoyment of the house & the area.

Get the exact spec for the house you are purchasing. I have snagged houses where the shower doors are fitted in the show house but not in the house my clients have bought. Builders should not get away with leaving the shower doors off. They do so because it is a significant saving on an estate of houses & as there are so many buyers looking for the houses they save money where they can. If you don't like it there is another buyer waiting for a cancellation!

Make sure you get everything in writing. Just because the estate agent / builder says something to you it does not men you will get this. Have a paper trail to follow. Remember the estate agents & builders are not your friends!

masterboy123

I have read the planning permission of our estate, but unable to decipher it's significance.

OK, i will get the exact specs and what's included in the house. Actually we want to change kitchen and bathrooms, we are given a allowance but above that allowance we have to pay extra.

tradesman wrote: »

As phoenixparker said

Read the planning permission.
Read the development plan for the area.
See what other planning permissions are active/granted in the area.
All these things may impact on your future enjoyment of the house & the area.

Get the exact spec for the house you are purchasing. I have snagged houses where the shower doors are fitted in the show house but not in the house my clients have bought. Builders should not get away with leaving the shower doors off. They do so because it is a significant saving on an estate of houses & as there are so many buyers looking for the houses they save money where they can. If you don't like it there is another buyer waiting for a cancellation!

Make sure you get everything in writing. Just because the estate agent / builder says something to you it does not men you will get this. Have a paper trail to follow. Remember the estate agents & builders are not your friends!

robp

masterboy123 wrote: »

I am wondering what are the things one should look at or ask their builder before signing contracts for a new build home?

If you are interested in home energy efficiency be very probing about the house design because BERs don't mean much. If you find design features such as insulated foundation slabs and airtightness membranes it would be reassuring and to a lesser extent heat recovery ventilation.

I suspect a lot of snaggers won't report these details to you by default.

PhoenixParker

The planning permission tells you exactly what you're buying, not what the estate agent and builder tell you.

The lovely park they promise you might turn out to have a plan for a large apartment block in phase 2. It can give you details like handover plans to the council, street lighting layouts, drainage and flood reports, traffic projections. . .
It's usually a mine of useful information.

Looking at planning permissions nearby and the development plan gives you a similar overview and again, gives you an idea of what will be built nearby in the coming years.

Nothing promised by the estate agent and little promised by the builder has legal standing, the planning permission has some.

handlemaster

masterboy123 wrote: »

I am wondering what are the things one should look at or ask their builder before signing contracts for a new build home?

Flooding maps for area
permission thats been granted
issue in the area
builders previous building work
what are you paying for , ground works that are to be completed
Is the road taking in charge by the council
who will be moving in next to you, you might have social tenants
who are purchased in the estate

masterboy123

Thanks,
Checked floodmaps and thankfully no flooding in that area!
County Council taking charge of the road, is that a good thing?

handlemaster wrote: »

Flooding maps for area
permission thats been granted
issue in the area
builders previous building work
what are you paying for , ground works that are to be completed
Is the road taking in charge by the council
who will be moving in next to you, you might have social tenants
who are purchased in the estate

handlemaster

masterboy123 wrote: »

Thanks,
Checked floodmaps and thankfully no flooding in that area!
County Council taking charge of the road, is that a good thing?

Yes less cost to management co if you have one. Water supply any issues in area ? Sewerage also. Internet service. Open areas are they complete

masterboy123

Ok,
How do I check sewerage and water supply?

There is a fiber optic line for Internet already in place.

handlemaster wrote: »

Yes less cost to management co if you have one. Water supply any issues in area ? Sewerage also. Internet service. Open areas are they complete

daithiK1

schools and their entrance policies

masterboy123

Good point.

What about traffic in the mornings and when work finishes?

daithiK1 wrote: »

schools and their entrance policies

handlemaster

interesting I recently found out that in the US the list of sex offenders is freely available to everyone and where they live. I think I might even been on google maps (stand to be corrected on that one)