New Builds - Are 'Ad-Ons' Competitively Priced?

[Invisibabe]

Hi folks, (apologies in advance if I've posted this in the wrong place)

I'm seriously considering buying a new build property and am looking at ones by two different builders. I know that new builds can often be of poorer quality than older homes, but I'm in a particularly stressful period of my life, whilst also working full time and studying part time, so I like the idea of moving into somewhere which isn't immediately going to need additional time and money spent on decorating and maintenance.

It seems that the price offered for a new build doesn't include a lot of things, e.g. kitchen appliances. It seems that it would be cheaper for me to source these myself and then either pay someone to plumb them in/hook them up, or try and do it myself, with my so-so DIY skills.

There's also options like upgrading a double plug socket to one which has also has USB. That would be £35 each if it comes with the house, but I know I could buy one for £10-£15 and manage to fit it myself.

There are a lot of other things which I'd be less confident in doing myself, and I'm wondering whether the price the builders are quoting is competitive. For example:

Extra double plug socket - £145
Extra TV point- £85
Add a single Lounge Ethernet Port connected to single port (1 Outlets) - £185
Add a twin F satellite outlet at rear of TV position within lounge - £130
Add a low energy LED down lighter in polished White (each) - £80
Add an external LED security light with PIR sensor - £195
Add 2 door essentia sliding wardrobes - £1,380
Add a single external socket (including internally mounted switched fused spur isolation switch) - £195
Add a tap to your garden, complete with isolator valve - £190

I'm be very grateful for any feedback on whether these are reasonable prices, or whether I could potentially save a good amount of money if I had a local tradesperson carry out the work after I've got the keys.

Thank you in advance

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Like extras on a car, you'll pay a premium for them, you'd not pay much different for a tradesman to fit some of them afterwards but some of them would be need you to rip parts of your new build apart to be installed properly so I can't see you saving much unless you DIY. Consider whether you really need them and you'll certainly not get your money back when you come to sell. And yes, the diehards will be along to tell you how bad new builds are whilst there are plenty of dodgy ones there are also plenty of OK ones and lets not forget that there are millions of old houses that are crap and falling apart and made of old rubbish and built by money grabbing developers of old, the smaller local developers tend to better but not always. Watch out for the new build rent charge scandal, if you're not that savvy consider paying for one of these new-build snagging surveys but make sure they have some qualifications behind them to back them up.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

USB sockets are a bit silly. They're fundamentally a USB charger that's plugged in and switched on all the time. They will use some power all the time (probably negligible) and could just stop working, as all active electronics will do one day.

Plus they probably won't support fast charging and if they're USB-A you'll need an old-fashioned cable.

Who knows what charging technology will be in 5 or 10 years' time - are you going to rewire your sockets every time standards get updated?

As for the rest, they look like high prices to me, but you're paying a premium for having the work done while it's being built. You'd probably pay the same to add them later - you'll be paying less per hour but you'll need more hours for replastering, painting, etc.

 

[Murdochcat]

I would say those prices are not unreasonable

As for USB sockets. Just use a decent plug in adapter

 

[Nintendofan]

I had quite a few extra double sockets installed in my new build, as an electrician I could have done them myself after but as all the walls where dot and dab and the floors glued then it would have been a massive task to do myself. I was a little disappointed though that every extra socket I'd paid for was just spurred of the ring rather than wired as part of it.

 

[Invisibabe]

Thank you everyone for your replies, there's some really good points there. Very helpful indeed. I really appreciate it