Moving into a New Build Home Checklist

Count down to your move-in day with our ultimate checklist for moving into a new build home.

Now that your builder has finally completed your new property, it is nearly time for you to move in. Before you do there are some important steps to take before moving into a new build home to ensure your move happens on time and in a stress-free manner.

We’ve created a comprehensive new-build home checklist that will remind you of the things you need to do before moving into a new home.

New home checklist

Things to do before completing your new build home

There are a number of things that you will need to organise and change before you take legal completion of your newly built home. These include:

• Measuring for carpets, flooring & curtains
• Ordering a phone line and connecting internet
• Packing and arranging removals
• Arranging house and contents insurance
• Contacting the gas, electricity and water companies
• Cancelling your tenancy with sufficient notice (if previously renting)
• Telling your friends and family your new address
• Redirecting your post to your new address
• Booking a holiday from work to allow time for packing, moving and getting settled in your new home
• Organise a snagging survey

Changing addresses and updating your contact information with:

• • Your bank, building society, credit cards and pension provider
  • Inland revenue
  • The DVLA
  • School(s)
  • Local council
  • Dentist / doctors
  • Work, clients or your employer
  • Licenses and car documentation
  • TV licence and entertainment providers e.g. Sky, Netflix, Virgin…
  • Insurances – life, car, house, public liability, boiler
  • Shopping / home delivery e.g. Amazon, your supermarket and takeaway providers
  • Local council (council tax)
  • Utilities – gas, electricity and water
  • Passport office
  • Mobile phone provider
  • Clubs – such as your gym or golf club
  • Cleaner – house and/or windows
  • Store cards
  • Other organisations you receive Invoices from

Arrange a home demonstration a few days before moving into your new house

Your builder should arrange with you a demonstration of your new home with you and provide you with a new homeowners pack with essential information such as guarantees and warranties. This demonstration is normally a week or a few days before your move-in day. It is important that the demonstration is not rushed. This is your builder’s opportunity to show you your new home. Ensure you find out the following:

• How your heating works
• How any included an appliances work
• Where the smoke alarms are located and check they are working
• Where the water mains stop cock is located
• What to do in an emergency
• Drying out process
• How to report defects
• Ensure you have a copy of the builder’s customer care procedures
• Agree when can a professional snagger come to carry out a survey

Check that the following are in working order and note down and/or photograph any defects so your builder can rectify them before you move in:

• Doors
• Windows
• Lights
• Taps
• Oven
• Hob
• Shower doors
• Kitchen unit doors and drawn
• Wall tilling/ floor tiling

Ask as many questions as you can and let your builder know that you intend to use a professional snagging company to carry out a survey. What is a new-build snagging survey? Read more >>

Your new home should have been well cleaned for you before you move in.

Things to do on legal completion/handover when moving to a new home

Once your solicitors have exchanged monies, you will receive a phone call from the sales negotiator on-site, to collect the keys to your new home.

Once you have been given your keys, the sales negotiator should arrange the following with you:

• Provide you with all the guarantees and manuals for every appliance
• Provide emergency procedure information – this should be provided as part of a handover folder
• Take the gas, water and electricity meter readings, write them down for future reference
• Provide you with all the warranties and guarantees for the house and its features and appliances – ensure you complete these and return them as soon as possible
• Ensure you have all documentation related to ground rent, lease and service charges
• This is also a good time to check that any defects that you identified during your home demonstration have been completed, if not agree on a date when your builder expects to have them completed

Your new build home moving in day

Stay calm and do not get stressed, if you’ve completed the steps above all should be well. Ensure you have a kettle and brewing essentials handy to keep you going.

If you have not already had your new build home professionally snagged, now is the time, you should get your snagging report completed, preferably at the earliest opportunity.

Again check everything works, check for any further defect such as scratches, dents, chipped tiles etc, as it will be hard to convince your builder that he has caused them and not you once you have moved in. Write these down and take pictures. If you are not sure or have forgotten how the heating works, or anything else, ask the site manager to explain it again. It is normal to forget these things and he will not mind going over this again.

After you move into your new home

Once you have moved into your new home please read the guide to your new home, this will explain essential information on what to expect from your new home during the first few months. Such as the drying out process, care for your new home, maintenance of turf etc. There are some things you need to take into account before you start making the home your own. For example, letting the house settle before you decorate.

You may start to notice some snags, it is important to start your snagging list as soon as you can. View our ultimate snagging checklist… read more >>

Our advice is to use a professional snagger they will identify more defects including any breaches in building regulations that your builder or warranty provider have missed. You can have a snagging survey done at any time once you have moved in, the earlier the better, but within your first two years.

Need to arrange a snagging survey? Call Ian at Lively Professional Services for a no-obligation chat.