On Channel 4,Tuesday 8:00 pm there was a programme about people's problems with houses. The first item concerned numerous defects with a new Persimmon house. Basically, the house was considered not up to standard, although one of the presenters tried to play down the owners' concerns somewhat.
I am planning to buy a new home! And I can do without horror stories like this. And this is not the first time I've watched programmes like this, where some brand new houses are shown to be of dubious quality or even structurally unsound (anyone remember that house with the massive cracks in the walls?).
How can I pick a builder with some kind of reputation to maintain and some concept of quality work? Where are all the lists of recommended builders, and the lists of builders whose products one wouldn't touch with a bargepole?
I have brochures from about a dozen builders, one of which is Persimmon. But I also have my eye on Morris Homes, Bryant, and Chestnut Homes.
Any advice to avoid a dud? This is a dream of a lifetime and while the couple portrayed on tonight's programme were angry, they were fairly resigned to the situation and just wanted out. Apparently they have negotiated some kind of confidential deal with the builder. But if this happened to me, I would be absolutely livid. Surely it must be possible to avoid jerry building in 2003/4?
MM