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Thread: Persimmon Homes Grumble

  1. #1
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    Persimmon Homes Grumble

    Having seen a new build we like on a new estate I drove up there to check it out. The sales office was open so I attempted to discuss a viewing and possible purchase with the girl. I say attempted because there was no way she was ending her phone call to have a conversation about a potential sale.

    She stuffed a brochure and site plan in my hand and told me I'd need to make an appointment. Good start.

    The brochure and the website state there are three of the properties available and gave plot references. Those plots don't exist on the site plan. Still going well.

    I've made an enquiry with them about the plot numbers via email, submitted their "Arrange a Viewing" online form twice and called them to arrange a viewing. No reply to any of those methods. My call went to voicemail and they've not called me back.

    Do I have unrealistic expectations of Persimmon or any other builder? If they're as poor as this when you're trying to view, what will they be like once you're in and have a problem?

    Buy the seller springs to mind.

  2. #2
    Craftsman
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    You've had a lucky escape. Pop over to the Moneysavingexpert forums and search the House Buying/Renting/Selling forum for "persimmon" as part of your due diligence.

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com...enting-selling

  3. #3
    Master
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    Misread thread title "Persimmons Homes Crumble"!

  4. #4
    Master
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    Well if it helps I have a mate who worked in land acquisition for them, he told me he would never buy one of their homes and now works for another large household name building firm!

  5. #5
    Master thegoat's Avatar
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    Just google Persimmon homes problems and see for yourself .

  6. #6
    I can’t think of a house builder more disreputable. Avoid.

  7. #7
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    Thanks but I couldn't find very much about Persimmon on MSE and certainly nothing horrendous.

    Quote Originally Posted by broxie View Post
    You've had a lucky escape. Pop over to the Moneysavingexpert forums and search the House Buying/Renting/Selling forum for "persimmon" as part of your due diligence.

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com...enting-selling

  8. #8
    Master
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    Used to live in an Persimmon home, had the area manager and the MD round to discuss all the issues I had, too many problems to list hear but there isn’t a cat in hells chance I’d buy another from them but I suppose they’re built to a price and can be quite a bit cheaper than other builders.

    One problem we had was shower waste pipe burst and leaked all over the wires on our smoke alarm so wouldn’t switch off, was blasting for hours, funny now but wasn’t then
    Last edited by Hooshabak; 4th March 2021 at 17:43.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by TaketheCannoli View Post
    Thanks but I couldn't find very much about Persimmon on MSE and certainly nothing horrendous.

    Seems fairly horrendous to me. YMMV of course.

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com...e-persimmon/p1

    Plenty other examples available on there if you use advanced search.

  10. #10
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    Wow!!

    Thank you.

    Quote Originally Posted by Justin Case View Post
    Seems fairly horrendous to me. YMMV of course.

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com...e-persimmon/p1

    Plenty other examples available on there if you use advanced search.

  11. #11
    Craftsman
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    I live in a persimmon house, bought from new 16 years ago. I suppose it comes down to the level of professionalism of the site manager and the foreman for each location. Mine wasn’t so bad, snagging list mainly decoration that I done myself, couldn’t be arsed waiting any longer for them to do it. Wouldn’t buy from them again though, only reason we haven’t moved is we have good neighbours and that goes for a lot.

  12. #12
    Master blackal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by broxie View Post
    You've had a lucky escape. Pop over to the Moneysavingexpert forums and search the House Buying/Renting/Selling forum for "persimmon" as part of your due diligence.

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com...enting-selling

    There are some great threads on that site !!

  13. #13
    Master
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    Run.....

  14. #14
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Having bought a Barratt’s house two years ago, I would say steer clear of new builds if you can.
    Everything has been cut right back, and everything is built to rock bottom specification.
    The number of problems for almost every resident is incredible, and when a senior Barratt’s employee lets it slip, “I’d never buy one!”, they are a company best avoided.
    Their sales information declares 5 stars for 10 consecutive years. Most people I know wouldn’t give them a single star!
    Perhaps Persimmon being hopeless gives you an opportunity to dodge the bullet

  15. #15
    Grand Master JasonM's Avatar
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    I found myself on a builders only Facebook group somehow and the shocking stories about Persimmon homes build quality were legendary.

  16. #16
    You just dodged a bullet
    Wide berth advised

  17. #17
    Craftsman
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    I think this picture says it all. 100% genuine as well as I live near Dundee and drove past it a few times.




    Link to article for background info: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.eve...ling-work/amp/

  18. #18
    Master yumma's Avatar
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    As others have said. Run a mile. I wouldn’t touch a Persimmon Home with a barge pole, I reckon a Wickes shed erected by Reg Prescott would be better built.

    https://youtu.be/MU2BO5Obg2k

  19. #19
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    OK I've seen enough. Forget this purchase. The MSE and particularly Trust Pilot reviews are unbelievable. How can they still be building homes?

    I'm off to look elsewhere. Thanks for all your help, I owe a few of you a beer!

  20. #20
    Master
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    Persimmon is a regular feature on ‘angry people in local newspapers’ on Facebook. Here’s one example:

    https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php...93284214049884

    I’d rather buy a tent than a new build house off these clowns. Disgraceful they’re even operating still tbh

  21. #21
    Master
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    Is there a single large developer who doesn't attract these criticisms if not to the Persimmon degree. It seems like the whole industry needs a through shake up. It would be funny but for the fact we'll rebuilding all these houses in 30 years and most of the waste will end up in landfill.

  22. #22
    Quote Originally Posted by Jeremy67 View Post
    Is there a single large developer who doesn't attract these criticisms if not to the Persimmon degree. It seems like the whole industry needs a through shake up. It would be funny but for the fact we'll rebuilding all these houses in 30 years and most of the waste will end up in landfill.
    A 5% retention would soon sort them all out. This should be legislated.

  23. #23
    Craftsman
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    I'm currently looking for a new house, I like the layout of modern houses, but there is no way I would buy a new build from any large outfit. I'm either going to have my own built or find one put up by a small local builder who cares about the quality of their product.

    Having done several major renovations of my own over the last decade, I know you can spend £30 or £300 on a door. £3 or £30 on a door handle. Quality costs money but in the big scheme of a house, adding decent stuff doesn't break the bank but to a big developer, every penny counts. And you'll notice that.

  24. #24
    Grand Master
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    BY coincidence I had a conversation this week with the tradesmen who are working on my bungalow extension, we were discussing the poor standards if work on new- build homes and Persimmon was mentioned as being the worst.

    I wouldn’t entertain a new- build home, houses are crammed together on estates with insufficient car parking space, garages that a car won’t fit in, gardens like postage stamps, and build quality that is often sadly lacking. I bought one in 1979 and that wasn’t too bad, I bought another in 1999 and that that had snags that caused problems after a few years due to poor work standards ( plumbing).

    As with all things, the devil’s in the detail. I’ve watched my extension being built and I’ve learned a helluva lot, housebuilding is very straightforward but attention to detail at each stage is important and you’re unlikely to get that with a typical new- build from a large firm, the emphasis is on cost- cutting and quality isn’t the priority.

  25. #25
    Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by broxie View Post
    I'm currently looking for a new house, I like the layout of modern houses, but there is no way I would buy a new build from any large outfit. I'm either going to have my own built or find one put up by a small local builder who cares about the quality of their product.

    Having done several major renovations of my own over the last decade, I know you can spend £30 or £300 on a door. £3 or £30 on a door handle. Quality costs money but in the big scheme of a house, adding decent stuff doesn't break the bank but to a big developer, every penny counts. And you'll notice that.
    Agree 100%, modern houses built properly are excellent. Having something built for you by a good builder is ideal if you can do it.

  26. #26
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by walkerwek1958 View Post
    I bought one in 1979 and that wasn’t too bad, I bought another in 1999 and that that had snags that caused problems after a few years due to poor work standards ( plumbing).
    Continue this logic to my new house built in 2019. Build quality is very poor.

    There is a sign on my Barratt’s Estate which sums it up;

    Barratt’s Houses.
    Health and Safety is our number one priority.

    I always disagree, and say it should be, ‘Building high quality houses for our customers’!

  27. #27
    Trustpilot all of the major house builders and take a look at the reviews....all of them absolute shocking.

    On a personal level I would never deal with Persimmon homes, I was unfortunate enough to know a director of the south west area who without a doubt was the worlds biggest asshat.
    Back to the houses....we waited and found a small house builder when we moved tail end of 2019, you’re not dealing with some faceless company and we dealt with people who had reputations they were proud of and looking to keep it that way.

    https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.persimmonhomes.com

  28. #28
    If you’re grumbling before you’ve given them any money, imagine what it’ll be like when you’re a few hundred grand in the hole!

  29. #29
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    I couldn't stand the stress.

    Quote Originally Posted by junglebert View Post
    If you’re grumbling before you’ve given them any money, imagine what it’ll be like when you’re a few hundred grand in the hole!

  30. #30
    Sounds like you've already got your running shoes on OP however, for what it's worth, based upon the experience of a work colleague of mine I'd be running away as well.

    Very, very long story short he had to move out, at their expense, of his new build for something like a couple of months so they could pretty much rebuild the house. Plumbing, electrics, flooring, windows, walls... Last I heard he's now dealing with some kind of boundary dispute.

  31. #31
    Master
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    Persimmon Homes Grumble

    Since when did quality and customer care trump cost reduction, profits, and fat bonuses?

    https://www.standard.co.uk/business/...-a4373321.html


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  32. #32
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    Bloody hell

    Quote Originally Posted by bparker170 View Post
    Since when did quality and customer care trump cost reduction, profits, and fat bonuses?

    https://www.standard.co.uk/business/...-a4373321.html


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  33. #33
    Master KavKav's Avatar
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    I am fortunate enough to have a nice home that was built in 1928 when houses were built properly by time-served craftsmen, not the ‘fly-by-night’ jobbing builders and plasterboard merchants that you get today. Volume house building today lends a whole new meaning to the word ‘shoddy’, they are just thrown up with gardens the size of a large dog kennel. I would not buy a new-build from the major companies at any price!

  34. #34
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    To be fair, my current house was built in 1973 and is solidly built with a good size footprint, large rooms and more than enough garden to house our extension and still have a good size garden. I don't know when house building became like your description but it definitely has.

    Quote Originally Posted by KavKav View Post
    I am fortunate enough to have a nice home that was built in 1928 when houses were built properly by time-served craftsmen, not the ‘fly-by-night’ jobbing builders and plasterboard merchants that you get today. Volume house building today lends a whole new meaning to the word ‘shoddy’, they are just thrown up with gardens the size of a large dog kennel. I would not buy a new-build from the major companies at any price!

  35. #35
    Master draftsmann's Avatar
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    I think I’d rather nail my ballsack to the table and apply vitriol to it than live in a box on a “new development” housing estate.

  36. #36
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    Very descriptive Adrian

    Quote Originally Posted by draftsmann View Post
    I think I’d rather nail my ballsack to the table and apply vitriol to it than live in a box on a “new development” housing estate.

  37. #37
    Quote Originally Posted by TaketheCannoli View Post
    To be fair, my current house was built in 1973 and is solidly built with a good size footprint, large rooms and more than enough garden to house our extension and still have a good size garden. I don't know when house building became like your description but it definitely has.
    Begs the question, why bother Persimmon?

  38. #38
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    We're in the position now where it's stay and update the house or move. Our friends bought a Persimmon and love it so we had a look and saw a house we fancied viewing. We've given ourselves until the end of this month to decide to stick or twist however it now definitely won't be a Persimmon.

    Quote Originally Posted by Justin Case View Post
    Begs the question, why bother Persimmon?

  39. #39
    Grand Master Dave+63's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TaketheCannoli View Post
    To be fair, my current house was built in 1973 and is solidly built with a good size footprint, large rooms and more than enough garden to house our extension and still have a good size garden. I don't know when house building became like your description but it definitely has.
    I bought my first house in 1987 which was built in 72-73. I was also looking at new builds and they were noticeably smaller and more densely packed by then.

    So in answer to your question, it started sometime between the mid seventies and mid eighties. It’s only got worse in the ensuing thirty five years!

  40. #40
    Master
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    Persimmon are building on a site next to us, local paper and Facebook alive with complainers, I got as far as looking at the billboard and the “from price”. Sales staff should wear stripey jerseys and wear masks.
    Last edited by Pitfitter; 8th March 2021 at 20:01.

  41. #41
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pitfitter View Post
    Persimmon are building on a site next to us, local paper and Facebook alive with complainers, I got as far as looking at the billboard and the “from price”. Sales staff should wear stripes jerseys and wear masks.
    It makes me wonder why people buy these cardboard houses when they could buy a better constructed "older model".
    Cheers,
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    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

  42. #42
    Grand Master JasonM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neil.C View Post
    It makes me wonder why people buy these cardboard houses when they could buy a better constructed "older model".

    Lots of builder incentives, brand new appliances and decoration etc, wouldn't do it myself, but for some it seems like a no hassle choice.
    Cheers..
    Jase

  43. #43
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    It really does Jason. Ironically I thought also thought it would be a good few years of trouble free living as there's new windows, heating, boiler etc however the reviews of Persimmon are quite the opposite. Our friends bought one of their larger properties recently. First issue was a six month delay which meant six months in a static caravan over the winter. Then on the handover day they were greeted with the completely incorrect kitchen which then had to be removed and refitted while they were living in it.

    And they've still never contacted me about a viewing....that I'd have refused.

    Quote Originally Posted by JasonM View Post
    Lots of builder incentives, brand new appliances and decoration etc, wouldn't do it myself, but for some it seems like a no hassle choice.

  44. #44
    Master
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    I bought my house new in 2019, 21 houses on the plot, all have driveways for 3 or more cars. Some very large gardens, some smaller but still decent. Only thing wrong with mine was a slightly out of kilt door frame into the garage which was sorted a week after being reported. Gas and electric bills have dropped compared to my last house (new one has an extra bedroom). Lovely neighbours, houses arranged so gardens are private and I'm surrounded by fields, not all new builds are the same👍

  45. #45
    Craftsman
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    Bought our first house in 94, a small 3 bed new build semi which was built like a fortress; picture nails bounced of the walls. Over the following fourteen years we moved a further three times all into new builds and the quality of materials and construction notably declined on each move and even failed to meet building regs with the last one, which was a protracted battle with the builder to get put right; no help from the local council building control office either.

    Now in an old house with stone rubble filled walls whose construction date is unknown but maybe 1700's and apart from ongoing age related maintenance a far better home than any modern new build, even managed to get the heating switched from oil to an air source heat pump, though more expensive to run than the same system in a well insulated eco home.

    So unless the quality of the modern construction industry much improves I would not touch a new build.
    Last edited by Ed875; 8th March 2021 at 16:43.

  46. #46
    Craftsman
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    My sister has just reserved a plot with a small house builder and it looks a nice house, however I could write a list of the reasons why I wouldn’t buy a new build..

    - HA allocations on sites (snobby but you’re paying a premium for a new build house).
    - Visit 10 estates build in the last 20 years and there will be cars just absolutely everywhere at 9 of them.
    - The amount of snags left behind.
    - The absolutely astounding cost of any extras.
    - You're only a top customer until you fill in the NHBC survey.

    I could go on.

    Persimmon are notoriously awful, avoid.

  47. #47
    Craftsman
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    Bought a Persimmon home back in 2006 against my will but my ex wanted it so bad so ran with it, getting them back to complete snagging was hopeless and like painting the Forth Bridge

    Couldn't sell quick enough, Brucie bonus was we made a very handsome profit albeit could never understand the popularity and frenzy of why people wanted to buy

  48. #48
    Grand Master oldoakknives's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TaketheCannoli View Post
    Having seen a new build we like on a new estate I drove up there to check it out. The sales office was open so I attempted to discuss a viewing and possible purchase with the girl. I say attempted because there was no way she was ending her phone call to have a conversation about a potential sale.

    She stuffed a brochure and site plan in my hand and told me I'd need to make an appointment. Good start.

    The brochure and the website state there are three of the properties available and gave plot references. Those plots don't exist on the site plan. Still going well.

    I've made an enquiry with them about the plot numbers via email, submitted their "Arrange a Viewing" online form twice and called them to arrange a viewing. No reply to any of those methods. My call went to voicemail and they've not called me back.

    Do I have unrealistic expectations of Persimmon or any other builder? If they're as poor as this when you're trying to view, what will they be like once you're in and have a problem?

    Buy the seller springs to mind.
    You've got more patience than me. I'd have walked at the second hurdle. Same with tradesmen these days. One chance, if they don't make an appointment to quote or to do the work I'm gone.
    Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.

  49. #49
    Master
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    I have a friend who used to work for Persimmon and having been personally involved myself with some 'higher end' housebuilders (Barratt, Berkeley etc) I would comfortably say i'd avoid like the plague. I wouldn't even know where to begin but there's many a scandal waiting to happen if things get 'hot'.

  50. #50
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by rico View Post
    I have a friend who used to work for Persimmon and having been personally involved myself with some 'higher end' housebuilders (Barratt, Berkeley etc) I would comfortably say i'd avoid like the plague. I wouldn't even know where to begin but there's many a scandal waiting to happen if things get 'hot'.
    Barratt, high end house builder, hmm

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