They don't build 'em like they used to.... (George Wimpey)

Member Name: sambam000

Product:	George Wimpey
Date:	04/06/09 (397 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Modern, affordable homes

Disadvantages: No end of niggles...

I checked out my local George Wimpey development after being fed up of having very little space in our previous home. The show homes looked fab - they were very modern compared to all the other developer's & prices were much lower than simialr sized homes on nearby developments. We chose a 3-storey home since there was so much more space.

Wimpey were fantastic at this point (bear in mind this was 3 yrs ago, when homes were selling well, so they didn't have to be so helpful in order to sell homes....service may be even better now?!). They helped us sell our old home, by lowering the price & making up the difference between the sale price & the average estimated value themselves. They paid all the legal & selling fees, & even threw on £400 for removals! (For which we paid about £50 & pocketed the rest...!). The sales staff at our development were lovely, & the site manager was always quick to lend a hand when needed.

Once we moved in however, the problems arose. The first night we were in the heating didn't work. And it was COLD. The sales staff ran over to Comet to buy us electric heaters, & the meter was later re-read so we didn't pay for the electric to run them. We have since had NO END of probs with the boiler/heating. They extended our warranty for another year, but nearly 3 yrs after we moved in it's still not right.

We've had a leaky shower, a leaky toilet, awful smells coming from under the sink/washer, doors that won't shut...the list goes on. Fortunately, we were one of the first to move in on the site, so we have had the builders on site since day 1 & it doesn't take them long to come & rectify the problem, but that's really not the point.

I seriously doubt I'd buy another Wimpey home, but then again what builder would I go with? - it seems they are all as bad as each other! Can't fault the customer service though, which I suppose is a good thing....!

(Also published on ciao under the same name).

Summary: Buy a resale home - in the hope the niggles are fixed!