What are the Problems with New Build Homes and Why are People Preferring to Buy Older Properties?
Looking for the perfect home can be difficult and time consuming – you have so much to consider and it is such a big purchase it is certainly not something that you want to get wrong – it’s not like buying the wrong size top from a shop that you can just take back if it isn’t suitable for you!
Something that many people consider when they are deciding on a suitable property to buy is the age of the property. There are pros and cons to various ages of properties and in the UK, there are a vast range of homes, from those that are centuries old to new builds.
New builds have plenty of appeal – a brand-new home that nobody has lived in before, better energy efficiency and a modern style that is ready for you move straight into are some of the reasons why they can be appealing – however there are plenty of people that will not consider buying one at all. There are many reasons why lots of people are opting for older properties and asking local estate agents like this Gloucester estate agents to find them something that is on the older side – here are some of the problems that put people off a new build…
One of the biggest issues that people find with new properties compared to their older counterparts, is the fact that they tend to be smaller. House builders are under more pressure to fit more properties onto a plot, and this often leads to less desirable features, such as houses that have smaller bedrooms and also smaller gardens.
Parking can also be much more of a problem with less places to park on modern estates and even when driveways are provided many new build homes will feature a drive that two cars can park on front to back rather than side by side, which can be annoying as one person will often have to move their car so that the other one can get out.
Living areas can also be more compact – although an open plan layout can give sense of space, it might not be suitable for everyone, as having separate rooms can be beneficial for some families.
A lack of storage space is another commonly raised issue that comes with many new build homes. In older properties, you often have loft space, as well as roomy cupboards under the stairs and other built in storage areas, but these are much less common in new builds and storage space tends to be reduced in more modern homes.
Something that comes up a lot and you may have seen articles in the media about, is the poor workmanship and structural problems that many people have experienced in their new build home.
Although the home may look perfect on the day that you move in, it can be hiding all sorts of problems, including leaking roofs, faulty plumbing and drainage issues to name but a few. This has led to a rise in people going to independent snagging companies to get this all checked before they move in.
This is particularly frustrating, as one of the perks of buying a new build should be that it is ready for you to move straight into. You also shouldn’t feel that you have to pay extra to another company to make sure that the work is completed to a suitable standard.
These problems can occur due to many reasons, including a shortage of skilled workers, as well as the tight deadlines put on the builders to complete the build, often leading to corners being cut.
Another thing that puts a lot of people off buying a new build home is the new build premium – this is the fact that the price of a new build tends to be higher than a second hand property of similar size and location due to the fact that you are getting a home that is brand new and has lots of modern features as well as things like flooring included, all brand new.
However, this means that the value of the property will go down once you live there as it is no longer a new build. This means that it may be difficult to get the same price or more for it when selling, putting the buyer in a difficult position financially.
Of course this is not always the case, however it is not advised that buyers of a new build home assume that it will gain value as an older property would do.
Saying this there are of course many reasons why some people do prefer a new build, and there are lots of fantastic new build homes out there – it is just a good idea to do plenty of research and really look into what is best for you before you are wooed by a beautiful show home and a sales pitch on a new build estate!
