Restrictions from builder on new house

asherid

Hi All,

I've recently bought a new house in the first phase of a new development in Maynooth, Co Kildare and the house is due for completion in February 2006. My problem is with the builders working on the development and the restrictions they have put on additional work being carried out on the house.
Basically we wanted to add some 'extras' to the house, mainly electical work, extra sockets, lights and wiring for an electric shower. Our estate agent has told us that there are no extras allowed on the houses and the site office refuse to give us the electricians details to get in contact with him directly.
I know many people who have bought houses in other developments who have been able to get extra work done as a nixer through the builders electrician or plumber etc. There are 2 different building contractors on the site and we were able to get in contact with the other builders electrician who was happy to do the extra work until he realised that our house was being built by the other builders..
My boyfriend has tried calling to the site to try find out who the electrician is but was escorted off by the foreman who again told us there were no extras allowed.
Is there anything that can be done about this? I don't see why the builder would have a problem with the electician doing the job as a nixer in his own time, and it would save us a fortune in time and energy to get these jobs done now reather than when the house is completed....
Any ideas where I stand??

Lex Luthor

Do you have the name of the builders that are building your house?
Can you get in touch with them directly?

It can happen your boyfirend getting escorted off site, especially with all the safety restrictions imposed these days.

Try to get the name of the electricians who are working on your house and get in touch with their foreman.

Which estate in Maynooth? I know someone who has just bought in Maynooth in a new estate...he might have details.

Victor

I really annoys developers when (a) people want to change things (b) complain the changes aren't quite what they want.

If you want to change something, offer to them that they not do work that you would need to undo.

Would you go into a shop and demand a 600 gramme loaf of bread? Or a slice pan with only 6 slices?

skibum

Victor wrote:

I really annoys developers when (a) people want to change things (b) complain the changes aren't quite what they want.

If you want to change something, offer to them that they not do work that you would need to undo.

Would you go into a shop and demand a 600 gramme loaf of bread? Or a slice pan with only 6 slices?

Slight bit of difference between a sliced pan for 1.50 that will be gone in 2 days and a house costing a 250 -300,000 that you will be spending a significant amount of time, money and effort on over the next few years.

Poor developers, if the buyer is prepared to pay for this extra bit of work and sign a disclaimer to exclude the "extras" from the snag list, whats the big deal.

cormie

Well wont all these houses be inspected by architechts before completion? Things likes extras that aren't in the plans could end up costing more and causing confusion and extra time being spent. Bit of pain alright.

Victor

It delays overall completion of the project and diverts resources that the builder may need for something else.

skibum

I can understand if people are asking for wall's to be moved, different window sizes, take out the rads and install under floor heating etc, thats major time consuming work. What I'm talking about is running some cable and fitting some sockets.
The brother in law did this when their house was being built and once he had a talk with the builder there was no problem. And his was not the only one on the estate that had similar work done.

with regard to delaying completion and having a knock on effect, how many new developments are completed on time?

Eurorunner

slight bit of difference between a sliced pan for 1.50 that will be gone in 2 days and a house costing a 250 -300,000 that you will be spending a significant amount of time, money and effort on over the next few years.

Thats it in a nutshell. If theyre not playing ball, find a way to be equally non-cooperative. Whilst it seems that builders always hold all the cards these days, there may well be an angle you can use to get what you want. In my case it was waiting them out (it suited me to do so - although the opposite is usually the case and builders play on that fact).

If you let this go, it will cost you a shítload of money to put right - never mind the disruption tearing down walls would take to get cable runs in.

Check over the contract carefully. Download the building regs. Find an angle to hang them on and then maybe you will get your way.

By the way, a builder who cant be bothered to fit a few extra sockets must be truely useless and doesnt give a féck about the customer. Theres going to be more problems ahead if thats the case..

stag39

push comes to shove...you bought a house with the spec detailed...extras' are only done if time constraints are too tight...in your purchasing contract there would have been some options laid out...ie. sunroom, conservetory, attic conversion facilitys....with being 2 main contractors on the site may mean the main/first builder may have had to sub-contract out some plots to allow completion on time..

Lex Luthor

Jees Victor, comparing a loaf of bread to a house costing at least 300k is too entirely different matters.

Its no time at all to run the cables for extra sockets when they are there doing the others. This is the first I have ever heard of it not being offered.
Architects, as far as I know don't check the house over before it is sold....it is up to the buyer to commission a surveyor to snag the property.

I would pursue this as Eurorunner says as its a pian & cost after to get it changed.

muffler

In fairness the developer is probably right in legal terms (subject to the T & C of the contract). Where do you put an end to people looking for extras - like the old saying "how long is a piece of string"

I will go a bit dearer than the loaf of bread. If you go to buy a car its there to be viewed and bought if you want to buy it. If you want extras such as electric windows etc then you have to move up to a dearer model.

Having said that I think it needs to made clear to prospective buyers at an early date that no extras will be included so as to avoid any hassle later.

If I was in this situation myself I would certainly approach the developer and explain my case in an amicable way and let him know that you will kick up a fuss if the ramp at the front door is a little steep or if a fan is missing from the utility room or if draught proofing has not been applied to the trap door etc.

As mentioned above have a look at the building regs or if you know someone who is familiar with same talk to them as I can assure you that there are very few, if any, houses built and completed in compliance with the building regs. Anyone familiar with the regs should be able to give you some sort of a bargaining tool so to speak.

If you can get someone to point out something that would be in non compliance and then tell your developer that you are aware of this and that the same matter would be evident in every house of the scheme if people were made aware of it then you may get his attention at that stage.

Good luck with it.