Start of negotiations or lucky escape?

[Thwing1]

Hi,

I've joined to understand if I've found my new home or need to run a mile. 

I signed up for a fab new house with Avant homes - everything I was looking for, if a lot of money.  Having agreed on a part exchange deal & paid the reservation fee they broke the agreement & refused to pay the agreed contribution to solicitors fees unless I used their chosen firm.  I've pulled out of the deal and am waiting for the return of the deposit.

Truth be known I'd still like the house & could possibly buy without the part exchange (if the price is right) but I'm not backing down on using my solicitor, snagging help & all the tools you suggest to get the house right.

My real question is understanding if they are likely to come back with another offer?  The house if still unsold but nearing completion.  They want to be off the site by September.  Am I likely to hear from them or am I marked as too difficult a customer?  Are there any specialist who negotiate these sorts of deals for people...I feel I'm too emotionally involved to do a good job (but pleased to have walked away at the initial stage).

Fingers crossed this forum can help!

Thanks

[New Home Expert]

As I told you when you contacted me, you have, in my honest opinion,  had a very lucky escape with Avant!

They were the only large house builder I know of that reported a LOSS in their financial accounts last year.
In addition,  they are the ONLY house builder to be rated TWO STARS by their own customers in the HBF survey in 2015 (results published 2016). They have lots a star every year since 2013 and clearly seem to have problems.

Whatever the deal, price etc. I would strongly advise you NOT to buy a new home from any Avant company.
As you say, it is not even good value either!

My advice would be not to buy any new home, but if you want to, buy one from a five star rated house builder such as Miller or Barratt whose site managers also win NHBC Quality Awards.
Even then, be careful and protect yourself!

[indyjukebox]

To the OP; I have never heard a builder agree to pay/contribute to solicitors fees unless you agree to use the one recommended by them (usually around £500). I mean why would they? Is that the only reason you are walking away?

I have no idea about the builder itself, so cannot comment.
However I do not recommend Barratt or David Wilson homes.
They charge a huge premium even higher than other builders in the area.
Mortgage valuations often are significantly less than the asking price (unless you use their recommended IFA, how convenient). Build quality on their show homes are awful. We went into a Barratt showhome and it was dirty, poorly finished, with a wonky boiler. The sales woman looked at us expecting us to be impressed, but could clearly see the look of horror in our faces. Nothing is included, everything is an over-priced extra. We looked at a David Wilson Homes development Heathwood Park in West Sussex. We then visited a different David Wilson site and it was more of the same.

I would not recommend them despite how many ever stars they have.

[New Home Expert]

Thank you for your feedback on Barratt David Wilson.
All new homes, in my opinion, are overpriced.
And 93% of buyers report defects to their builder within a few weeks no matter how many "Stars" they end up with in the industry's own survey!

[EBS]

5 Star!!
Sounds ok until you become aware that the STAR rating is out from 100 with 100 being at the top of the scale.

[New Home Expert]

The HBF star rating is not "out of a 100" at all.
Whilst not perfect, it does gives some indication to separate the 'bad' house builders from the 'very bad' and 'appalling'.
Please click on the link above and find out more!