Do you think this is a sign?

[dippiedawnie]

One of the things we noticed when looking is the lack of storage in some new homes. When we look round new houses we think about things like where would we keep the hoover etc. 😂 We visited one new build that had no storage at all. What would have been an under stairs cupboard was a downstairs loo you had to duck to get into. We also hated the very narrow roads which meant nowhere for anyone who visits to park their cars. It wasn't as bad as one we looked at where to save space and cram everything in there were no pedestrian paths! Just road and then your garden. Crazy.

[KarenG]

If you want it to be a sign, it’s a sign! Good luck 😉

[Lostbrain]

You do wonder how they sell some developments. We saw one where you couldn't close the bedroom doors because the bed was in the way in the show home.
Other thing to consider is whether the roads will be adopted by the council. Most new developments seem to run them as private estates with no plan for the council to adopt the roads. This is because the councils charge them a lot and demand that the roads, pavements etc are completed to a very high standard. Most developers now set up an estate management company to maintain the estate and residents are charged an annual fee to cover this. Some developers start charging residents for this before they've even completed the estate. Find out and get a break down of costs. One estate near us aren't installing streetlights to reduce costs.

[VeryexcitedH]

Originally Posted by Lostbrain

You do wonder how they sell some developments. We saw one where you couldn't close the bedroom doors because the bed was in the way in the show home.
Other thing to consider is whether the roads will be adopted by the council. Most new developments seem to run them as private estates with no plan for the council to adopt the roads. This is because the councils charge them a lot and demand that the roads, pavements etc are completed to a very high standard. Most developers now set up an estate management company to maintain the estate and residents are charged an annual fee to cover this. Some developers start charging residents for this before they've even completed the estate. Find out and get a break down of costs. One estate near us aren't installing streetlights to reduce costs.

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This is an excellent point. We bought a new build in 2004 which had a management company and the council didn't adopt the roads. Later the management company dissolved but the roads were still an issue. When we sold in 2018 at the 11th hour the buyers solicitor brought the roads up as an issue and in the end we lost (another) amount of money off the price so that (in the future) he could get together with neighbours to, I think, adopt them as a group. Either way, it was a pain on selling.

[smithlane]

Originally Posted by Lostbrain

We are really rubbish at DIY! Quite good at buying stuff, less good at getting stuff done. Didn't even have to put up a curtain rail here! We have had to decorate, it was very blingy.

Do also consider the light, in ours they put up mirrors and grand chandeliers in every room and of course the lights were always on, it's not a very light house, most of the windows are small.

I agree about upgrades, we would have chosen cheap fittings, but obviously buying the show home we didn't get any choices and it was fitted with all the upgrades. I LOVE our Mira shower and Amtico floor. We've also got chrome switches everywhere and they're a bigger to keep clean.

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Good point about the light. We have down lighters all the way through downstairs and upstairs in the hallway. When we moved in they had put one light fitting for a large open plan living room which definitely wasn’t enough!
My OH was going around turning off the lights in the showroom saying it was a waste of electricity 🙈😂.
We have brushed chrome here and even they are a b*gger to keep fingerprint free so think I’ll keep white ones next time!

[smithlane]

Originally Posted by dippiedawnie

One of the things we noticed when looking is the lack of storage in some new homes. When we look round new houses we think about things like where would we keep the hoover etc. 😂 We visited one new build that had no storage at all. What would have been an under stairs cupboard was a downstairs loo you had to duck to get into. We also hated the very narrow roads which meant nowhere for anyone who visits to park their cars. It wasn't as bad as one we looked at where to save space and cram everything in there were no pedestrian paths! Just road and then your garden. Crazy.

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You’re not on your own there. The house we’re in has no storage whatsoever, just an under stairs cupboard that is awkward to get into.
Thankfully as we’re upsizing, most have the holy grail of a Utility room which I think I’m possibly most looking forward to! They also have a floor to ceiling cupboard by the front door to hang coats in. I hate having ours on show, they always look so messy

[smithlane]

Originally Posted by KarenG

If you want it to be a sign, it’s a sign! Good luck 😉

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Thanks Karen! Trying not to get my hopes up but failing miserably 😂. Will keep you posted

[smithlane]

Originally Posted by Lostbrain

You do wonder how they sell some developments. We saw one where you couldn't close the bedroom doors because the bed was in the way in the show home.
Other thing to consider is whether the roads will be adopted by the council. Most new developments seem to run them as private estates with no plan for the council to adopt the roads. This is because the councils charge them a lot and demand that the roads, pavements etc are completed to a very high standard. Most developers now set up an estate management company to maintain the estate and residents are charged an annual fee to cover this. Some developers start charging residents for this before they've even completed the estate. Find out and get a break down of costs. One estate near us aren't installing streetlights to reduce costs.

See more...

This is another good point. Just done some research and this particular development is £329 per year which is cheaper than what we pay now. We don’t mind as such as we’re used to it where we are.
Didn’t even think of streetlights, will check next time!
In our borough they’ve installed fancy new LED streetlights but as our road is still private we’ve still got the old ones as none of us want to pay out to upgrade

[smithlane]

Originally Posted by VeryexcitedH

This is an excellent point. We bought a new build in 2004 which had a management company and the council didn't adopt the roads. Later the management company dissolved but the roads were still an issue. When we sold in 2018 at the 11th hour the buyers solicitor brought the roads up as an issue and in the end we lost (another) amount of money off the price so that (in the future) he could get together with neighbours to, I think, adopt them as a group. Either way, it was a pain on selling.

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That’s not good at all, hoping it won’t be an issue for us when we sell 😳