2012 New Buyer at Leighton Buzzard (Worries)

[newhomebuyer2012]

Hello everyone,

I am buying a 4 bedroom detached property with a single garage and additional two parking spaces at Leighton Buzzard through Persimmon. The house is under the construction and it will be completed in May 2012. I have paid 500 pounds to reserve the house on 4 Feb 2012.

However, after reading reviews about Persimmon Homes on the forum link, I'm really worried, such as no cavity wall insulation, the bathroom floor is sinking, leaking, problem of pipes burst, roof and other issues. I worry that the house will have all sorts of problems.

Also one question, although I have sighed the reservation agreement and paid 500 pounds, can I still ask them to the following incentives:

- All rooms fully carpeted
- Kitchen floored
- Bathroom floored
- Stainless steel oven/hob upgrade
- Integrated washer & dryer
- Integrated dishwasher

I am meeting the sale representative on 9 Feb 2012.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Tom

[NewHomeExpert]

Fisrt of all you are only likely to lose £500 if you back out now. Do it after exchange of contracts and you will lose 10% of the purchase price.

Persimmon do not have a very good reputation for building good quality new homes. They are only 3 star house builders in the HBF customer satsifaction survey and win fewer NHBC Quality awards than most other national housebuilders. In 2011 Persimmon built 335 new homes per award, where as Miller built 37 new homes per award.

You should always do your research before buying a new home. Most new homes have some prioblems it is how they are dealt with that is important.

It is never too late for house builder's optional extras. The site manager and sales negoitiator get paid commission on these. However convenient, they nearly always represent poor value for money. The carpets (and underlay) are normally poor qulaity too.

Final advice would be to have ANY new home professionally snagged.
Tell Persimmon you are going to do this -you may even get a better built home, especially if you say you will be sending the snaglist to Mike Farley Persimmon's CEO.

[newhomebuyer2012]

I think I am going to employ a qualified snagging inspector to have the house fully checked. Does anyone know where I can find a suitable or best rated snagging inspector?

Many thanks.

[bettsybabe4]

non of my perimeters have been sealed, drafty in every room of my apartment. The windows are cheap and not of a good fit around seals. Persimmon will not put things right, i have the NHBC on the case now. I am thinking of selling. Dont buy a persimmon home

[NewHomeExpert]

non of my perimeters have been sealed, drafty in every room of my apartment. The windows are cheap and not of a good fit around seals. Persimmon will not put things right, i have the NHBC on the case now. I am thinking of selling. Dont buy a persimmon home

Seems to be a theme with Persimmon.
All you can do is keep complaining.
Good idea to get the NHBC involved too.

[NewHomeExpert]

I think I am going to employ a qualified snagging inspector to have the house fully checked. Does anyone know where I can find a suitable or best rated snagging inspector?

Many thanks.

This forum is owned and run by a snagging inspection company.
Type "professional snagging service" in google and the top three are OK.

[newhome]

Hi,

I've seen your message on the forum and I went to visit this site last week. I tried to view the property you're talking about, but it was very late and I was not able to see it.

I saw the "Juniper" showroom and I liked it and I'm coming back to see the 4 bed detached on sunday. Which are your thoughts? I liked the first house that I've seen, but not sure about "Persimmon Homes" and the reviews/comments about them on the internet.

thanks

Hello everyone,

I am buying a 4 bedroom detached property with a single garage and additional two parking spaces at Leighton Buzzard through Persimmon. The house is under the construction and it will be completed in May 2012. I have paid 500 pounds to reserve the house on 4 Feb 2012.

However, after reading reviews about Persimmon Homes on the forum link, I'm really worried, such as no cavity wall insulation, the bathroom floor is sinking, leaking, problem of pipes burst, roof and other issues. I worry that the house will have all sorts of problems.

Also one question, although I have sighed the reservation agreement and paid 500 pounds, can I still ask them to the following incentives:

- All rooms fully carpeted
- Kitchen floored
- Bathroom floored
- Stainless steel oven/hob upgrade
- Integrated washer & dryer
- Integrated dishwasher

I am meeting the sale representative on 9 Feb 2012.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Tom

[NewHomeExpert]

My advice would be:
1) Be aware the show home is just that and housebuilders use tricks like mirrors, leaving the lights on, doors off and small furniture to make it look bigger than it is.
2) Show homes are always imaculately presented. Your home may not received the same amount of attention.
3) You should always pay attention to reviews and problems others may be having with particular house builders.

New homes have many disadvantages over older homes. In fact new homes are too small and studies show they may adversely affect your health!

Like everything in life you should do a lot of research to make sure a new home is right for you and the builder has a good reputation. Those who don't are the ones that have regrets!

[Firsttimebuyer2011]

Hi,

We brought our first house in May 2011 and have regretted every second of it. The walls are cracking severely, I can not even tell you about the parking nightmare on our Street and area.

When we moved in our house which is in a Cul De Sac or top end was used as a dumping ground, JCB's parked constantly and leaving large concrete blocks, bricks, crates etc every day this continued for 6 months straight, never been able to get our car out the drive as there would be one hurdle or another! The flooring was awful we had gaps under our doors which you could get your whole hand through!

They have still till this date not done our 1 month inspection and we have chased and chased them...Absolute nightmare!

The builders do not care about the residents and leave the streets in a complete mess where they are laying pipes.

I honestly would not waste your money, we regret buying this as a young couple and being our first home and desperate to get on the property ladder now looking backing thinking we wish we would have waited and brought an older home. Cheap materials used all over the house the plastic pipes can not handle hot water being turned on and rattle so loud...

Sorry to burst your bubble but dont do it.

[NewHomeExpert]

Sorry to hear of your problems.
Regarding the parking if others have similar problems TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS!
They will help with a claim for compensation from Persimmon.

No one should have to suffer like this. House builders should not leave ANY materials where the public have access. Apart from the nuisance, it is a Heath & Safety hazard. What if some children broke a pack of bricks or blocks and got injured under them?
Come on Persimmon this just isn't good enough!

You now need to write to Mike Farley, Persimmon CEO at their head office in York. I am sure he would be horrified to learn of your experience as a customer of his company. The monthly inspection is company policy.

Regarding your defects, some cracking is to be expected. It is caused by materials drying out. However, if they were soaked during construction due to an overall lack of care then the cracking may be more excessive.

You should not have more than a 20mm gap under your internal doors. This is large enough to allow for floor finishing or carpets.
The plastic pipes should not bang when water is turned on either although now, this would be hard to rectify without taking up floors and making holes in walls.