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Author Topic: Taylor Wimpey Options Meetings  (Read 41882 times)

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vineetpanicker

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Taylor Wimpey Options Meetings
« on: May 19, 2014, 01:22:29 pm »
Has anyone who has gone through an options meeting with Taylor Wimpey share their experience please.
I felt the options were overpriced and we seem to be told these are the prices we get from head office. If you have a problem talk to the head office.

An electric shaver socket £90, spot lights £60  - not a single given in the living room as standard, towel rail £270  - I could go on and on.

I understand it's a seller's market now and the buyer has little to argue but I felt some of the prices are unfair.



TaylorWimpeyDidThis

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Re: Taylor Wimpey Options Meetings
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2014, 10:42:47 pm »
Welcome to the world of "optional extras" the gift that keeps on giving (for Taylor Wimpey's profits that is!)

Stick to the absolute bare minimum. Steer clear of optional extras - the quality of the materials is often poor, of very generic bulk-buy standard and fitted by the cheapest labour available.

If they offer you a "voucher" say no and ask for a discount off the sale price instead.

Their mark-ups  / profit margins are obscene and you may think you are paying for the convenience of having it all installed before you move in, but the reality is very different. Mass purchased items, minimal choices (despite what the sales team will tell you) and installed by people that are not necessarily qualified or experienced in the various area of expertise; electrical, plumbing, tiling, appliances, lighting, turfing, flooring etc etc. As an example - we had Taylor Wimpey's top of the range flooring installed by someone who didn't have a clue what they were doing - Taylor Wimpey couldn't care less despite a professional report confirming it.

At the point you realise you've been ripped off, they will already have your money and simply pass the issue on for you to manage with the subcontractor. The subcontractor doesn't care because their relationship is with Taylor Wimpey and not you - so you have nowhere to go.

Work out what you want, get it all priced up by local trustworthy tradesman who can give you customer recommendations. They will be genuinely interested in exactly what you want rather than off a "set options menu" which is geared around profit margins and sales quotas instead of your satisfaction. It also means if something goes wrong you only have to deal with one person directly and not the convoluted round-the-houses set up between the sales office, customer service team and the subcontractor themselves. You also have better consumer protection in the event you need to challenge the workmanship. If you use Taylor Wimpey subcontractors, it's between you, the contractor and the NHBC - and again Taylor Wimpey already have your cash so they can simply sit back and let you battle on. A Taylor Wimpey house may have around 15 different subcontracted companies involved in the build and finish - the more options you buy the more companies you will have to deal with if things go wrong.

Example: The surface sockets, switches, faceplates etc are very cheap wholesale quality - an outside floodlight fitting might cost you £90 as an optional extra, but you will be able to buy the fitting retail for less than a tenner (it will rust within 12 months). You're better off settling in then getting a professional trustworthy electrician in. You will need to redecorate anyway within a year as the paint finish is very cheap and poor quality - so don't worry about having to drill holes for rewiring or plumbing at a later date! You may be charged £35 for a dimmer switch that would cost you a fiver from Screwfix.

Get the basics and upgrade later in your own time when you know exactly what you are paying for, with no pressure from a salesperson and with a much better choice of quality and finish from somewhere other than Taylor Wimpey's somewhat misleading "options" catalogue. Don't forget the sales team are professionally trained to sell, selling the house is the easy bit for them, their focus is on ladling on options whilst you're a 'captive' buyer. Masking from you what the true cost of buying a house will be from them.

Don't get drawn in by the "shiny shiny" sales tactics, this is after all where they get commission, it's in their interests to lull you into their "top quality" spiel and "personalising your home with your own finishing touches" - so go for bare minimum - then personalise it once you've moved in. You will not regret it.

You could also insist that they grant you access to your own tradesmen (electrician  / plumber / tiler etc) during the week before completion to quote you for work - they will try and fob you off saying that there are insurance implications or something about health and safety - simply tell them you will sign a disclaimer and then ask them how much they want you to buy the house!  It will also be an opportunity for you to have independent trades cast their eyes over the property before you sign on the dotted line. But I'd still recommend a professional snagging inspection before you complete on the sale. You are under NO obligation to buy options or buy one of their houses for that matter.

If they try and argue - walk away and spend your money elsewhere with a company that really is interested in giving you "options"

If you think the prices of their options and upgrades are unfair have a closer look at the terms and conditions of the contract you're about to sign on purchase!

As for it being a sellers' market - you're the one with the money, if you don't like their prices, walk away - we did like their prices, but on the basis that all the extras were top quality and installed by people who knew what they were doing - but then that's what the sales team are paid to make you think.....!


New Home Expert

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Re: Taylor Wimpey Options Meetings
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2014, 08:08:18 am »
Its all been said before,  all house builder "optional extras" are very poor value.
They do give builders great profit margins.  The site sales and site manager often get 5% each as commission for a start.  House builders easily clear 20%-30% profit on so-called extras.

It's not even as if the "standard houses" are good value either!

Please read this for more on house builders optional extras and be very wary.
You are better off  employing your own tradesmen but of course you won't be able to add their costs to your mortgage.
New Home Blog - New Home Expert is committed to providing help and advice for people having issues with their new homes and difficulties with house builders as well as helping potential buyers reduce the risk of possible problems if they do buy.

vineetpanicker

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Re: Taylor Wimpey Options Meetings
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2014, 09:30:43 am »
Really great information all around guys. So glad I am on this forum.

TWE10

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Re: Taylor Wimpey Options Meetings
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2014, 09:58:49 pm »
Our options through Taylor Wimpey were fairly reasonable, there were some that seemed expensive but we didn't get those, we instead got the numbers of the tradesmen that did the work for Taylor Wimpey, as these often end up being much cheaper, I'd suggest doing that.

New Home Expert

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Re: Taylor Wimpey Options Meetings
« Reply #5 on: June 07, 2014, 10:32:25 am »
That's what I always recommend.
Any house builder's optional extra is never "reasonable" though!
New Home Blog - New Home Expert is committed to providing help and advice for people having issues with their new homes and difficulties with house builders as well as helping potential buyers reduce the risk of possible problems if they do buy.