We bought a new build for our first home... but here are the FIVE reasons why we regret it and sold it five years later
- Rima complained about the 'strict' warranty clauses and low ceilings
- READ MORE: Interior designers reveal five biggest home renovation regrets
One woman has revealed she disliked her first new-build property so much she sold it only five years later.
Rima, also known as @healthxcel on TikTok, explained to her following the five main reasons why she did not like her first home.
The pharmacist warned her followers about the pitfalls of buying a new-build.
From low ceilings, to 'strict' warranty clauses, here are the five reasons Rima was left disappointed with her first property.
Rima (pictured) , also known as @healthxcel, revealed the five main reasons she regretted buying her new build home - and sold it only five years later
1. Warranty Clauses
New build homes usually come with 10-year warranty insurance policies, meaning potential buyers are covered for issues that could happen in the home.
These insurance policies only usually cover defects in the home for the first two years, according to Zoopla.
This includes issues such as faulty plumbing, electrical wiring or leaky windows that haven't been sealed correctly.
After the initial two-year period, the warranty typically only covers structural defects in the home, such as problems with the roof or foundations of the home.
Many find the 10-year warranty that comes with these types properties an advantage, however Rima found the 'strict criteria' of her policy a hindrance.
Explaining why it was a disadvantage, the content creator said: 'The warranty that they gave [us] for ten years often had clauses.
'This meant that when something actually needed sorting we were hit with a strict criteria in order for the problem to actually get fixed.'
2. Small Rooms and Low Ceilings
Another gripe the homeowner had with her first property was the size of the rooms.
Older Victorian or Edwardian buildings sometimes have ceilings that can be higher than three metres.
However, in modern homes this is not always the case.
Newer properties have far lower ceilings to help reduce heating costs, which usually measure at around 2.4 metres, to help reduce heating costs, according to Extension Architecture.
Although it is meant to help in cost efficiency, Rima found that the low ceilings and small rooms of her first home left her feeling 'cramped.
She added: '[The] rooms are actually really small. New builds also have lower ceilings which means your room tends to feel smaller and your furniture is pretty cramped.'
3. You Spend More Money
Another reason the content creator regrets buying her first home is because of the extra money she had to spend on upgrading parts of the property.
She revealed: 'You actually end up spending more money on the house.
'This is because you end up getting upgrades for say your kitchen worktops or bathroom tiles for example because they only give you the minimum.'
4. 'The Finish Isn't Great'
The pharmacist also felt she didn't get the completed first home she hoped for, leaving her even more regretful about her purchase.
According to the former new-build owner, her home didn't have a 'great' finish meaning a myriad of issues arose in the property.
Within her first year of moving into her brand-new home, Rima discovered their bathroom began to develop damp 'very quickly'.
She attributed this issue to the reportedly 'cheap materials' being used to complete the house.
Unhappy with the low ceilings and small rooms, Rima was left feeling 'cramped' in her first home
5. The Home Initially Depreciates in Value
Another reason Rima regretted buying a new build was that it took time to increase in value and actually depreciated after purchase.
She said: 'Usually new builds take a long time for them to go up in value if you ever need to sell it because the value of the house is initially overpriced.'
According to 2019 Land Registry data the average price of a new build home is 29% higher than already existing housing.
Additionally a key selling factor of a new build property is the fact it is new - meaning that when you purchase the home, the premium you paid for the novelty of the home is redundant, The Property Selling Company reports.
Also, if you are also hoping to sell the home for profit another risk that could arise is supply versus demand.
When you initially bought your new build home it may have been one of a few, however as others continue to emerge that look identical it could be less appealing to a potential buyer.
