Burfield Grange, BN27

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Burfield Grange is well located for access to the Cuckoo Trail with two access points on the development. There are nurseries and schools (Primary and Secondary) within walking distance and Hailsham Town is a 2.5km walk away accessible via the Cuckoo Trail. The roads are well proportioned with all homes having accessible parking on driveways. Part of the public land is owned by Hellingly Parish Council and other parts of estate managed by a management company - the latter is payable by a service charge payable be each home (there are 240). We have an excellent Resident Association and Neighbourhood Watch scheme which ensure that the estate is well kept, and relatively crime free. Burfield Grange is a beautiful, quiet, well respected and well looked after development and many of the residents comment how lovely it is living here.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

When buying a new build home (1) Get absolutely everything that is agreed put in writing (2) Do your homework and ask other residents how they feel about the developer and their home (3) Employ a Snagging Company - this house will be the biggest purchase of your life - get it checked by a professional (before you complete on the purchase if possible) - it is money well spent - trust me! (4) Do not use the solicitor recommended by the developer - they are often not impartial (5) If you do not know the area take the time to explore before you buy (6) Check out Social Media - once the homes on new developments start to get occupied there is often a Facebook page for it, also look at social media for your developer - it can be an eye opener, (7) Do not be fooled by sales pitches - of course the developer wants to sell their homes and quickly so there are some good deals out there (8) Do not believe that NHBC or LABC or other so called 10 year guarantees cover everything as they do not! - these companies are funnily enough funded amongst others, by the developers - you may be surprised by some of their findings and decisions! (9) Enjoy your new home once you have purchased knowing that you have done your homework.

What is the best feature of your home:

My home is well located within the development, looks attractive and is energy efficient. To be honest, now we have ironed out the issues we had with it when we purchased it, made some internal improvements and have decorated it throughout, we aboslutely love it.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Very close to town, one very good pub and restaurant, bin collection every two weeks, no noise

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

One weeks wait all the time, will only come round writhing first year of moving in

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

That the garden wasn’t level before they turfed it

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF HAILSHAM TOWN CENTRE INCLUDING TESCOS, WAITROSE , ASDA AND MANY MORE AND A BUS RIDE OF EASTBOURNE / BRIGHTON. DEVELOPMENT IS QUIET , BUT WITHOUT STREET LIGHTING AND BINS ARE COLLECTED FORTNIGHTLY. TRAFFIC BUSIER MORNINGS AND AFTERNOONS , SHORT WALK TO BUS STOPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE AS ARE DOCTORS SURGERIES AND LOCAL C0-0P.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

DENIED RESPONSIBILITY / BLAMED CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS PROBLEMS WITH FENCING BLAMED ON WEATHER RATHER THAN ENSURE PRODUCT WAS FIT FOR PURPOSE / CONTRACTORS RESTRICTED BY BOVIS NOT WISHING TO INCUR COSTS OF PUTTING THINGS RIGHT! / BOILER LEAK - NOBODY ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM !

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

LACK OF CUSTOMER CARE / SERVICE

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

There is a local mini store within about 5 minutes walk, with a great range of items. There are a number of large supermarkets within a 5 minute drive. Hailsham has a great range of restaurants, bars and take aways and there is a sports centre with a swimming pool. The Cuckoo Trail which links Heathfield and Eastbourne runs alongside the development and is easily accessed. There is no train service to Hailsham, the nearest station being about 5 miles away at Polegate. This has links to Eastbourne, Brighton and London. Eastbourne is about 20 minutes away by car, and Brighton about 45 minutes.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Cost allowing I would have liked to employ a professional to check for snagging, as I missed a number of admittedly minor things such as poor finishes.

Please share one thing (or more) which you would change about your development:

I feel the property would have benefited from a second small window in the living room.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Well located development close to Cuckoo Trail and 20 minute walk to town centre. The development is still in construction and we endure daily parking from contractors outside our homes, mud all over roads, damaged and broken roads.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Get everything in writing. Believe no one.

What is the best feature of your home:

The house is lovely but too many defects (430)!!!!