David Wilson Homes - My thoughts

New Build Inspections

khakilad

New Member
We have just moved into a new DWH in the Southern region. We initially had a few issues with the build on the outside which to David Wilson's credit they fixed before we moved into the property.

I know there are countless reviews saying that house builders are poor etc, however are personal experience of David Wilson Homes has been completely the opposite with their on site customer service team being in constant contact, informing us all the way of the small snags that are being rectified.

We employed a snagger to check over the house and he was extremely impressed with the build and said that the house was one of the best he had come across.

Things I would do different when buying a new house:

1) Do not use their solicitor
2) ensure that a snagging appointment is written into the contract before completion
3) A clause in the contract to stop Completion should there be any large faults founds (thankfully none found on our build)
4)Insist on a copy of the plans to the house with the specification before exchange.

Just wanted to share my thoughts as there are good house builders out there in certain regions!

I have to say the only part that we weren't impressed with was the sloppy shoulders sales team (one in particular) but that is to be expected.
 

Rayygun

New Member
I moved into aDWH just before Christmas. Coalville area of Leicestershire.

Again I cannot express how pleased we are with it. I visited this forum lurking prior to the move and was very nervous reading people's experiences.

Snags have been fixed in a timely manner. We had plumbing issues with heating and hot water and both were fixed withnin a few days.

Our negative I guess is the quality of the windows.
The vents in them reduce any sound proofing and increased draughts. But all in all we're pleased with the decision.

Cheers
We have just moved into a new DWH in the Southern region. We initially had a few issues with the build on the outside which to David Wilson's credit they fixed before we moved into the property.

I know there are countless reviews saying that house builders are poor etc, however are personal experience of David Wilson Homes has been completely the opposite with their on site customer service team being in constant contact, informing us all the way of the small snags that are being rectified.

We employed a snagger to check over the house and he was extremely impressed with the build and said that the house was one of the best he had come across.

Things I would do different when buying a new house:

1) Do not use their solicitor
2) ensure that a snagging appointment is written into the contract before completion
3) A clause in the contract to stop Completion should there be any large faults founds (thankfully none found on our build)
4)Insist on a copy of the plans to the house with the specification before exchange.

Just wanted to share my thoughts as there are good house builders out there in certain regions!

I have to say the only part that we weren't impressed with was the sloppy shoulders sales team (one in particular) but that is to be expected.
 

flatwebb

New Member
I moved into aDWH just before Christmas. Coalville area of Leicestershire.

Again I cannot express how pleased we are with it. I visited this forum lurking prior to the move and was very nervous reading people's experiences.

Snags have been fixed in a timely manner. We had plumbing issues with heating and hot water and both were fixed withnin a few days.

Our negative I guess is the quality of the windows.
The vents in them reduce any sound proofing and increased draughts. But all in all we're pleased with the decision.

Cheers

They'll fix snags if they think you aren't a mug and will give them a headache otherwise in my experience.

Three DWH developments in my town, patently obvious the buying experience and quality of work varies from site to site...
 

indyjukebox

New Member
We went to two DWH sites. Both had pompous sales reps. One seemed to think that they were doing us a favour by selling us a house. The other was so disinterested, that he was too busy to fit us in for 2 weeks. We were proudly shown the show homes, which were the worst we had seen in a few months of looking around new build sites. Poor paint finishing, rough edges, gaps in the finish. The icing on the cake was the wonky boiler in the show home. Prices were 10-12% higher than other developers. Actual square footage was smaller and gardens were tiny compared to competitors. White goods were not included, whilst competitors were including them in their significantly cheaper price. Final nail in the coffin was the so called premium 600k home surrounded by social housing. You can guess which way we walked.
 

Fenman48

New Member
I do not believe David Wilson Homes are any different in building new houses than any other company. However you can only go by limited experience. In my opinion they can all be tarred with the same brush and like British cars in the 1970's you can get good and bad from the same manufacture. You have to remember that problems you pick up on snagging and living within the property are inspection failures. These have been missed by the sub contractor, DWH and NHBC. The more important the defect the bigger the problem.
Where in my experience DWH (Bristol) may differ is their reaction to a problem. In our own case it took them 1 year before a representative from the office visited to see the problem inside the property and 18 months before they supplied a consultant who had the qualifications to investigate. This company is run by accountants who once they have your money, do not want to know.

In respect to the quote from flattwebb. Just what is your experience as a junior member of DWH staff.
 

indyjukebox

New Member
I moved into aDWH just before Christmas. Coalville area of Leicestershire.

Again I cannot express how pleased we are with it. I visited this forum lurking prior to the move and was very nervous reading people's experiences.

Snags have been fixed in a timely manner. We had plumbing issues with heating and hot water and both were fixed withnin a few days.

Our negative I guess is the quality of the windows.
The vents in them reduce any sound proofing and increased draughts. But all in all we're pleased with the decision.

Cheers

I do not find it acceptable that you have had to move into a brand new home with plumbing issues and hot water issues. Those are quite basic things that need to be addressed before labeling the house complete and selling it to someone. You are lucky they fixed it quickly, the general consensus is that it takes months. I am sorry, but that actually makes DWH sound incompetent! You wouldn't drive a car off the forecourt without working headlights would you? Heating and hot water are just as critical to the home owners.
 

Pulse

New Member
well I think you're lucky.

We moved on to a site in Gloucester last sept and have nothing but issues and still most of them are outstanding. I know that many houses on the site have simular issues and to be honest, they don't seem to have a clue. some of our issues are basic but not what you want when you move into a new home.

things like doors not painted, stairs partly painted etc etc..
 

indyjukebox

New Member
well I think you're lucky.

We moved on to a site in Gloucester last sept and have nothing but issues and still most of them are outstanding. I know that many houses on the site have simular issues and to be honest, they don't seem to have a clue. some of our issues are basic but not what you want when you move into a new home.

things like doors not painted, stairs partly painted etc etc..

Which was my observation as well. Cracks, mal-aligned edges, missing tiles/caps/covers, paint splashes, rough finishing and a wonky boiler! And all of this at a significant premium to other houses in the same area.
 

NewHomeExpert

Well-Known Member
Things I would do different when buying a new house:

1) Do not use their solicitor
2) ensure that a snagging appointment is written into the contract before completion
3) A clause in the contract to stop Completion should there be any large faults founds (thankfully none found on our build)
4)Insist on a copy of the plans to the house with the specification before exchange.

Just wanted to share my thoughts as there are good house builders out there in certain regions!

I have to say the only part that we weren't impressed with was the sloppy shoulders sales team (one in particular) but that is to be expected.

I am pleased it worked out for you. Not so sure you will feel the same in a few months after you have given Barratt a glowing response in thre 8 week survey. All they care about is their 5 star rating.

All of the things you would do differently are advised on my website.
Guide To Buying a Home - Do's And Don'ts
 

Fenman48

New Member
DWH problems

Hi Pulse,

I am not sure if your Gloucester home falls into Bristol SW. However they currently have no MD and again seem to have lost key staff.
I would suggest you all keep everything in writing and masses of pictures. I would not try to handle this over the tel.

The problem with this company is by the time you get anything moving they change staff again.

If you buy from DWH you must expect lengthy correspondence and hope you get somebody in place long enough who has any building knowledge.
 

flatwebb

New Member
In respect to the quote from flattwebb. Just what is your experience as a junior member of DWH staff.

DWH staff, their sub-contractors, or both? Assuming both, I recall noting the following during our 3 years of exposure to their methodologies:

1. The entire business is geared around getting the sale, so if you have any ideas that customer service sits higher on the priority list than quarterly sales figures you're in for a shock.

2. There is often very high turnover of Site Manager and Deputy SMs, either because they fire them frequently or because they get re-directed to other sites in order to resolve whatever crisis is occurring elsewhere. This causes mayhem with unfinished builds.

3. I observed instances of two Site Managers pinching materials from each others' sites so they could get builds finished by deadlines promised by sales staff.

4. The time pressures put on sub-contractors to complete work, and in non-sensical order, is insane. It's little wonder most look like they stopped caring years ago. I can only assume it's lucrative for them or they wouldn't be there.

5. Once the last home on a site is finished there is a mass exodus of workers. Remaining groundworks or landscaping etc take forever and are seemingly an afterthought.
 
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Fattyowl

New Member
My family recently bought a Dwh home in Milton Keynes. The process was quite stressful as Dwh were late to complete and we had really an awful solicitor. Dwh did however own their problems and did their best to support for which I am most grateful and was actually very pleased.

The real issues began with the builders in site though. They had made some quite major errors that needed to be corrected before we moved in that was all agreed and sorted out but it seems our being assertive about having the home that was specified may have created some upset for the site personell and the site management. I feel they have not been upfront about this but have instead taken every opportunity to make things difficult for us indirectly by getting our neighbors involved and winding up contractors who have had interactions with them. This has created significant upset for the family and has left us feeling we don't want to live on a Dwh development any more.

We we bought a new home last time with no major issues from a smaller reputable builder who when they were not happy were clear and we were able to resolve the challenges that arose.

its a real shame that the company seems good but let down by the site management.
 
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