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Your new build house is finally complete and ready to become a home. Here’s a checklist of everything you need to do in the run up to moving in to ensure moving day goes smoothly.
Moving into a new build home is exciting but it does have its own set of challenges. Here’s what needs to be on your checklist to ensure the process of moving into a new build is as smooth as possible.
Here are the steps to take before moving into a new build home.
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When you’re moving into a new build, ideally arrange the handover – or “new home demonstration” – before moving day itself. This appointment is so your builder can show you how to use your new home. This should cover appliances, the central heating, the fire alarm, where your stopcock is etc. Make sure you get the manuals for every appliance. Turn on each of the appliances so any obvious problems can be identified.
Also, use this meeting as an opportunity to walk round with your plans and go over everything. Is your new home as promised in the plans?
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If you didn’t get a pre-completion inspection, you may want to take this time to check things are as expected. Get stuck in: flush toilets; run taps; fill the bath and check for leaks; check sockets and switches work; check doors and windows open and lock. Make sure fitted cupboards and drawers work perfectly. Windows and bathrooms often have issues. Look for gaps around windows and that tiling in bathrooms is smooth and sealed. Go in the loft and ensure that insulation is fitted.
In the garden, lift any turf and check for soil (not rubble which can often be hidden there) and look out for water pooling.
Anything you spot, note down and photograph. Then ask the builder to correct them, ideally before moving day. Don’t rely on the person showing you round that day: put them in writing to the builder after your visit.
If anyone is unhappy with your inspection remind them you are buying your home at great expense and need to be sure it is in working order. Try to keep everyone on side by letting them know ahead of the meeting that you plan to check everything. Make sure the appointment is long enough – 30 minutes isn’t going to cut it.
And don’t worry, there will still be an opportunity to get an independent expert snagging survey to spot the things you may have missed after you move in as well as help from them in getting any problems fixed. See below for more on this.
When moving into a new build, make sure you check your paperwork – Your conveyancing solicitor for your new build purchase should request all the paperwork from your builder/developer and receive it all before completion. Make sure they have received:
On the day you’re moving into a new build home, check everything with fresh eyes and make sure everything works. Run your hand over surfaces, checking for scratches, dents, holes, snags, gaps because when you move in, it will be hard to argue that you didn’t cause them. Indeed, lodge them as issues with your builder before you sign any forms from the builder that day.
Also, make sure your utility provider has the right serial numbers for your meters. We’ve heard of people paying for their neighbours’ water or energy usage because serial numbers got mixed up. Also, take meter readings.
Locate your stopcock if you haven’t already so you can turn off the water coming into your house easily in an emergency.
For more general moving day advice, take a look at our moving day checklist.
There’s still some jobs to do after moving into a new build home.
The most important job to do after moving into a new build is making a snagging list, even if you’ve had a pre-completion inspection. While you have two years to do this after moving into a new build we would strongly advise you get your snagging list to your builder as soon as possible. Ideally, try to get things sorted while the builders are still on site building other properties. It’s much harder to get them back once they are offsite working elsewhere.
Snags are very common: according to the Home Builders Federation National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey published in March 2024, 95% of new build buyers reported problems to their builder since moving in and a third reported more than 15 snags. But be aware you are unlikely to spot the range of things a professional snagging inspector will identify. An independent snagging survey will also add weight to your complaints if you have found your developer to be unresponsive to your calls for action.
A snagging survey is there to spot problems with your new build home. We can connect you with an independent on-site snagging inspector today.
Other things to do when you move into a new house that should be on your checklist include:
You’ll be liable for council tax from the date you complete on the purchase of your new build. However, if you’re moving into a new build it might not have a council tax band straight away. Your first step should be to contact your council to tell them you’ve moved in. It will then arrange for your property to be assessed and allocated a council tax band.
Your council may issue you with a temporary statement with a provisional banding applied. There’s no legal obligation for you to pay a council tax notice which is based on a provisional valuation but it should make your council tax bill easier to afford when it comes.
