Hidden Costs with a New Built Home

masterboy123 · 04-06-2019 08:55AM #1

So I am looking for what are the hidden costs associated when you buy a new built ready made home and this may help new potential buyers.

Yesterday I came to know that electric fittings are not included, so it has definitely brought down our budget on furniture.

What I can gather are the following costs so far (minimum to average maximum) :-

1. Solicitors fees and associated legal expenses - 2500 to 3500.

2. 1% stamp duty on total cost of the house.

3. Electric fittings (if not included) - 1500 to 5000.

4. White Goods (washing machine, fridge, dish washer, etc) - 5000 to 20,000.

5. Furniture (depending if wardrobes included) - 3000 to 30,000.

6. Bathroom (shower head and shower door not included in ours) - 1000 to 5000.

7. Tilings and floorings - 2000 to 10,000.

8. Curtains - 600 to 3000.

9. Alarm system (depending on which type) - 300 per year on annual subscription or once off 1500.

10. Snagging cost - 250 to 400. (recommended)

11. Costs with new utility connections - 200 to 500.

12. ? Unexpected costs when moving in - 500 to 2000.

13. Rainy day funds - 5000 to 10,000.

P. S. If you're getting a mortgage, then look for cashback offers. I got 2% cashback deal.

Hope this helps. Any missing points are welcome and will be added to this list.

drunkmonkey · 04-06-2019 09:18AM

Careful with those cashback deals look at the total cost of the loan including interest, some are good deals but keep and eye on the APR as it can make a sizeable difference over the course of the loan. Paying the mortgage twice a month can also have a compuding effect on how quick you get the LTV down.

Your probably over shooting a little on some of those costs but it gives your wiggle room.

Seen as there giving you half a shower, I'd enquire about the option to put in a pressurised water system in the house (basically a pump beside the hot water cylinder) and a larger hot water tank, that'll give you good powerful rain type showers and good pressure from the taps. It's a little luxury but one you'll use every day.
If there supplying toilets and sinks they'll probably just put in cheap ones if you have the option to supply or choose your own take it and pick a good brand, nothing worse than a bad toilet.

You've budgeted just under 100k to get a new house fixed up, shop around and you'll half that or more. It's a huge amount to be spending after buying.
Just buy quality items and you won't have to replace them after a coupe of years.

Amazon warehouse and some of the German household websites are your friend. Massive savings to be made.

awec · 04-06-2019 09:26AM

10k seems optimistic to tile and floor a new house unless it's very small.

No idea how you'd do it for 2k.

masterboy123 · 04-06-2019 09:30AM

Basic floor and tiling are included in most new builts, so it's a top up on existing basic flooring.

Hope this sounds within the range.

awec wrote: »

10k seems optimistic to tile and floor a new house unless it's very small.

No idea how you'd do it for 2k.

drunkmonkey · 04-06-2019 09:52AM

There's a big cost difference between laminate and good wooden or engineerd floor. Big cost difference in laying it as well.
All depends on the size of the house of course, you can save a lot on floors if you shop around as some places might have some left over from a previous job that might suit one of your rooms.

Gumbo · 04-06-2019 09:53AM

Some Figures there are close and some are way off.
I wouldn’t class them as hidden costs either.

Every new build estate in the country comes with sockets, face plates and standard hanging pendants including low energy bulbs. Your case seems to be strange or it’s a one off build that you didn’t price for these items at the start.

Electric fittings : in a new build, it will just be light fittings.
White goods : 20k would be expensive. Your typical 3 bed semi would cost 4Kish and that would be decent appliances but I do appreciate that different tastes can come into play here. I done my full kitchen from power city 2 years ago. Larder fridge, larder freezer, dishwasher, machine, hob, double oven built in and built in microwave for less than 4K.

Furniture : taste comes in again. Also depends if your starting from scratch or moving etc

Bathroom : no shower head is a strange finish by a developer. I have never seen a development without a shower head. Shower doors are normally extra alright.

Flooring : yeah I spent 10k on tiles and flooring for 125 Sq. M fitted so it’s about right. Can be done a lot cheaper but we spent extra on the ground floor tiling.

Did you buy in a. Estate or a one off build?

Hani Kosti · 04-06-2019 09:55AM

What was the cost of the house if nothing was included??? Our house came with electric fittings, tiled bathrooms and utility, shower heads and doors, built-in wardrobes and utility was connected. All of this seems to be standard these days
The main expense for us was
Solicitor fees
Stamp duty
Flors
Furniture
Blinds
Alarm
Shed
We received a voucher upon signing which covered fair amount of appliances

tusk · 04-06-2019 09:56AM

masterboy123 wrote: »

1. Solicitors fees and associated legal expenses - 2500 to 3500.

2. 1% stamp duty on total cost of the house.

Solicitor will get Stamp duty sorted for you. I remember getting my solicitors invoice and not expecting that. Nearly had a heart attack.

masterboy123 wrote: »

7. Tilings and floorings - 2000 to 10,000.

We floored our house with laminate and carpet for about 4.5k, some quotes were coming in at 12k+ (130ish sqm)

masterboy123 wrote: »

9. Alarm system (depending on which type) - 300 per year on annual subscription or once off 1500.

You'll likely have an annual fee for a sim card too if you want texts and alerts to your phone. We also had to pay a few bob for the HKC app to enable us to set alarm remotely etc.

masterboy123 wrote: »

11. Costs with new utility connections - 200 to 500.

New connection fee is generally only if you don't do direct debit afaik.

masterboy123 wrote: »

12. ? Unexpected costs when moving in - 500 to 2000.

There is no max limit to unexpected costs lol. Every extra penny we have goes into unexpected costs!.

Gumbo · 04-06-2019 09:58AM

tusk wrote: »

You'll likely have an annual fee for a sim card too if you want texts and alerts to your phone. We also had to pay a few bob for the HKC app to enable us to set alarm remotely etc.

I have the HKC system as well but I don’t have the app. I just have a PAYG SIM card in there and I top up by €5 every 6 months. I can also control remotely by text message.

awec · 04-06-2019 10:04AM

masterboy123 wrote: »

Basic floor and tiling are included in most new builts, so it's a top up on existing basic flooring.

Hope this sounds within the range.

Are they?

Not sure flooring is usually offered, and there's usually a tiling allowance that doesn't come close to covering the cost.

tusk · 04-06-2019 10:06AM

kceire wrote: »

I have the HKC system as well but I don’t have the app. I just have a PAYG SIM card in there and I top up by €5 every 6 months. I can also control remotely by text message.

Yep, sorry. The app is of course optional. But worth the 10er or whatever it was for me

the_pen_turner · 04-06-2019 10:10AM

I wouldn't call any of those hidden. Most are peitty obvious

Gumbo · 04-06-2019 10:11AM

tusk wrote: »

Yep, sorry. The app is of course optional. But worth the 10er or whatever it was for me

Yeah to be honest if I was doing it again I’d probably go for the app. It’s worth noting that if you go with the sim only option at the start (like I did) then you can’t just opt into the app later as the h it that holds the SIM card has to be swapped out too as you pay the sim fees to hkc.

Sheep Shagger · 04-06-2019 10:12AM

Am about to close on a new build...with the exception of stamp duty you have to shop around. We've had massive variances in quotes on various things.

White goods can be done for well under 5k unless you are going top end (ours are coming as part of the house but we did do research).

We got tiles in the bathrooms but have to do elsewhere, coming in at about €8k for a 179sqm house (wood and carpet).

Alarm coming in at €900 - installed but no ongoing monitoring.

Light fittings will be under a grand (incl splashing out on a fitting from Bo Concept).

Blinds throughout- €1500

Actually have 2k aside for random bits and pieces but we know that is a pure guess and the sky is the limit if you let it.

wench · 04-06-2019 10:15AM

masterboy123 wrote: »

2. 1% stamp duty on total cost of the house.

For a new build, it isn't based on the total house price, you take away the 13.5% VAT first.
So a house costing 227K would pay stamp duty on 200K

masterboy123 · 04-06-2019 10:33AM

@Kceire:

It's a house from a development, they are building 18 houses and we have got one of them.
The competition was high enough when we signed the contracts last Christmas.

Gumbo · 04-06-2019 12:24PM

masterboy123 wrote: »

@Kceire:

It's a house from a development, they are building 18 houses and we have got one of them.
The competition was high enough when we signed the contracts last Christmas.

From a completion and Building Regulation sign off, they have to provide sockets, switches, and lighting pendants (standard drop down white wire with low energy bulbs).

From your other posts, it appears the developer is not providing this.

Something underhand appears to be going on.

masterboy123 · 04-06-2019 02:03PM

Do you think builder is robbing us?

Is there any official document available on this please?

kceire wrote: »

From a completion and Building Regulation sign off, they have to provide sockets, switches, and lighting pendants (standard drop down white wire with low energy bulbs).

From your other posts, it appears the developer is not providing this.

Something underhand appears to be going on.

ted1 · 04-06-2019 02:19PM

awec wrote: »

10k seems optimistic to tile and floor a new house unless it's very small.

No idea how you'd do it for 2k.

4k is. Is very reasonable for an average 90m house avoid expensive wooden floors the mark easily. The likes of kronoswiss are excellent laminate.

No electric fittings sounds dodgy as a sparks can’t sign it off. Double check.

Gumbo · 04-06-2019 02:22PM

masterboy123 wrote: »

Do you think builder is robbing us?

Is there any official document available on this please?

All depends on what you bought.
The houses may be advertised as needing all these extras, which you knew about then your grand if prices have been reflected.

But, in order to sell, the builder has to get a CCC from building control and I know in Dublin, he wont get a validated CCC if theres no sockets etc

masterboy123 · 04-06-2019 02:44PM

It's around 120 m2.

What wooden floor rating would you recommend? AC rating.

I am going to check about the electric fittings.

ted1 wrote: »

4k is. Is very reasonable for an average 90m house avoid expensive wooden floors the mark easily. The likes of kronoswiss are excellent laminate.

No electric fittings sounds dodgy as a sparks can’t sign it off. Double check.

drunkmonkey · 04-06-2019 02:44PM

ted1 wrote: »

4k is. Is very reasonable for an average 90m house avoid expensive wooden floors the mark easily. The likes of kronoswiss are excellent laminate.

Laminate is printed cardboard no comparison under foot and looks. Those marks are memories and a good one shouldn't mark easily and there easy clean. A good engineered floor would add value to a house.

Anything but tiles, your future kids will thank you when they bang their heads.

masterboy123 · 04-06-2019 02:44PM

Yes that's what was written in the contract. I am going to double check with the builder now.

kceire wrote: »

All depends on what you bought.
The houses may be advertised as needing all these extras, which you knew about then your grand if prices have been reflected.

But, in order to sell, the builder has to get a CCC from building control and I know in Dublin, he wont get a validated CCC if theres no sockets etc

ted1 · 04-06-2019 03:07PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Laminate is printed cardboard no comparison under foot and looks. Those marks are memories and a good one shouldn't mark easily and there easy clean. A good engineered floor would add value to a house.

Anything but tiles, your future kids will thank you when they bang their heads.

It far more than cardboard, that’s just an uneducated snobbery remark.

As for memories that’s just rubbish. Ah look isn’t that a lovely memory, the day your sister came over in her high heels to give you back your bag...and left marks all over the place.

I dint know anyone who got a solid wooden floor and dint regret it. They just don’t wear well.

I would suggest you look at krinoswisss
https://www.swisskrono.com/ch-en/products/flooring/#/. They offer 14mm which is thicker than the cheap stuff drunkmonkey is talking about

If you do go a laminate/ wood etc Get hem fitted before the skirting so you dint need to add beading for expansion as they will sit under the skirting

drunkmonkey · 04-06-2019 03:16PM

I didn't regret it, wooden floors throughout including the kitchen and one upstairs bathroom as there was too much flex to put down tiles in it. I use laminate in work and usually tear it up after a few years as it turns into mush in high traffic.
I put down laminate in one room as ran out of budget and it just looks fake compared to all the rest.
It has it's place but isn't comparable to the real thing.
We could go to and fro all day on it as I completely disagree with you based on experience, we've no high heel marks anywhere, we did in one room but I just sanded it down and refinished it, that was after 20yrs of high heels though, now it's good for another 20 or more.

ted1 · 04-06-2019 03:25PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I didn't regret it, wooden floors throughout including the kitchen and one upstairs bathroom as there was too much flex to put down tiles in it. I use laminate in work and usually tear it up after a few years as it turns into mush in high traffic.
I put down laminate in one room as ran out of budget and it just looks fake compared to all the rest.
It has it's place but isn't comparable to the real thing.
We could go to and fro all day on it as I completely disagree with you based on experience, we've no high heel marks anywhere, we did in one room but I just sanded it down and refinished it, that was after 20yrs of high heels though, now it's good for another 20 or more.

Poor quality laminate is different than 14mm stuff like kronoswiss.

I put down the cheap laminate in rental properties as you can change it every few years fir cheap. But I wouldn’t think about putting it in my house.

awec · 04-06-2019 03:52PM

Laminate is a lot better than it used to be. When we bought our floors we went with the intention of getting engineered wood, but we ended up going for Kronoswiss instead.

drunkmonkey · 04-06-2019 03:54PM

I've to do a place in a month or two, I'll take a look at it as an option, preference would still be engineered if you can get it at comparable prices. That's why I was saying to hunt around for some left over from a bigger job, lost or places just have it sitting in their storerooms.

awec · 04-06-2019 04:07PM

Of course engineered wood would be the preference if a similar price, but it's pretty much never the same price or anywhere close.

Also, some engineered floors have ongoing maintenance requirements where they need to be re-treated every 18-24 months I think. Worth asking the floor guys about this.

Muahahaha · 04-06-2019 08:06PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Amazon warehouse and some of the German household websites are your friend. Massive savings to be made.

Can I ask what these German websites are and are they set up to deliver heavy goods like sinks/toilets to Ireland? Any good brands to look out for?

masterboy123 · 04-06-2019 09:55PM

So the flooring has brought up a totally new issue. I have seen Tegola flooring and attached 2 pictures. Is it smiliar to kronoSwiss?

Also what's the approx. price per square meter for a good laminated floor? Such as KronoSwiss.

3rd picture is for carpet flooring for stairs and our bedrooms, prefer a nice carpet in rooms. It's called Sublime and cost is 40 euros per square meter.

Thanks everyone. It's really helping me.

P.S. Apologies the pictures got inverted for some reason. Hope you can view it.

Hidden Costs with a New Built Home

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