Do I have to trust them?

newtothis · 2nd April 2008, 15:16

I wonder if anyone on here could give me some advice. My partner and I are currently buying a new build house and are having some issues regarding snagging. Our solicitor is useless and to be honest appears to be on the side of the developer and is pushing us to exchange. We are being told that only once we have exchanged will the site manager walk through the house with us and get the snagging done and they say that usually this would be completed before we move in (our expected completion date is 4 weeks after we've exchanged.) However I'm worried that because once we've exchanged we're contracted to the purchase, what is there to say that the developer will ever do the snagging? - surely once they know the money is definitely coming they're not going to be bothered doing the work. Are we protected for this at all? I just feel worried about signing to exchange because as the house stands there are things that need doing to it - does it mean once we've signed we've lost all our cards so to speak? Our parents are saying we should not sign anything until all snagging has been completed to our satisfaction but the developer is standing firm that they will only do it once we have exchanged. I'd really welcome any advice anyone has for us.

Tony · 2nd April 2008, 20:29

Quote:

Our solicitor is useless and to be honest appears to be on the side of the developer and is pushing us to exchange.

Where they recommended by the builder? They should be impartial but sometimes they are more worried about future referrals.

Quote:

We are being told that only once we have exchanged will the site manager walk through the house with us and get the snagging done

Rubbish, although this is usually what happens. Savvy buyers will do the snagging before exchange and have the snagging items built into the contract with a retention clause - 5% value. It is difficult to pull this off though, especially with a dodgy solicitor and advice.

The risk is they will walk away and refuse to sell to you. This is unlikely in the current market.

Quote:

Does it mean once we've signed we've lost all our cards so to speak?

No, assumming you have a warranty snagging issues are covered for the first two years. However, the developers are often slow to respond etc. etc. read the rest of the site... :evil:

I hope this helps. Do tell us how you get on? So many people come, ask a question and vanish

Tony

zednine · 3rd April 2008, 17:19

looks like they have vanished

Techie · 15th May 2008, 18:50

I spent four years in a co-ownership that needed snagging done, but it never got done because the housing group lost the snagging report. I moved into another property a year ago and still waiting for the defects to be done. However, because of their incompetence I sent a letter to the NHBC on the 1st May 2008 and I am still waiting to hear on what they have to say.

Tony · 7th June 2008, 13:14

Always send these letters by recorded delivery/registered post or use e-mail and always state a date you expect a response by. Two weeks should be long enough.

Tony