Moving in to New Build - Check list of things to do?

x_missymoo_x

Hi all,

My husband and I will be moving into our first property, a new build, in just under 4 weeks. Is there anything we can be doing in the meantime to get prepared, e.g. sign up for gas/electricity etc? We are in the process of looking at insurances but the more we can do beforehand the better! I'm hoping to build up a checklist of things to do so I can look forward to ticking them off

Also, if anyone has any advice about first moving into a new build that would also be really helpful. I've heard lots of people have had issues with delivery people finding an address that isn't on SatNavs, so anything useful like that would be brilliant. Thank you

I_have_spoken

Once in, you certainly need to do a very thorough inspection and present a 'snagging' list to the builder right away.

mysti77

I'm going to try to arrange for my internet/phone line appointment in advance as when I moved to my rented new build it took nearly a month for the appointment and as I work from home some days I need it much sooner than that when I move to my new house.

Can you measure up for curtains in advance so you can order them to arrive before you move in?

Any furniture that needs to be ordered in advance you can plan too, i.e. sofa takes a few weeks for delivery unless you go with somewhere like ikea.

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Once in, you certainly need to do a very thorough inspection and present a 'snagging' list to the builder right away.

Depending on the developer you can do this before completion. we were told we had 10 working days before completion to get the snagging done (Bellway).

gaz141

Hello missy,

I moved into my new build last July, so I've been here almost 16 months now and is only now that Satnav's seem to have been updated. I registered my address with the Royal Mail pretty sharpish when I moved in and they were quick to update their database. The problem with that is, some companies pay the ££'s to update their databases regularly so calls from delivery drivers asking where you live go down over time versus other companies who only update their postcode databases once a year, e.g, Dominos Pizza have only just now just updated their systems and finally have my postcode, almost 18 months later! John Lewis had it within 6 months :-) Find the postcode of the nearest street and give them that, you can direct them from there.

I had manuals for all my white goods. They never gave me a manual for my heating system, make sure that you know exactly how that works, I had to google mine. As well as the fire alarm that decided to start beeping the other night and I had no idea what to do to stop it until I googled the make and model to see what the problem was.

Are you buying off plan? If you have a fitted kitchen, run your fingers over every surface, doors, drawers and look sideways for any grooves, dents. If you do not spot them they may say you caused them when you moved in and not replace them. Take loads of pictures.

This is an exciting time to move into your first property and you should thoroughly enjoy your new home and the excitement it brings, just bring a toothpick with you and do not be shy raising anything you are not happy with, no British reserve here, the developers will not come to you if they screwed up somewhere.

Check your meters. I was being billed by Thames Water for my neighbours consumption as the serial numbers on the meters were the wrong way round.

Anyhoo, if you have any questions, feel free to PM me

Building_Surveyor

Bought a new build a few months back. If you don't have the keys there's not much you can do. Register your address with Royal Mail, I'm still having problems with certain companies 7monts down the line. If its a completely new road find out the postcode for an existing road nearby so you can help delivery drivers with satnavs if need be.

dimbo61

Take photos of every room and using a tape measure make a quick plan of each room and the floor plan of all floors. Note the size of windows for curtains/blinds. Note the location of sockets and then measure your own furniture to see what will fit. Until you have exchange do not order any big furniture just in case the sale falls through or delays ( house gets flooded, break-in.etc)
Check every socket and light fitting works before you move in if possible, go round with a small lamp+plug and try them all. Alarm system fitted ? Code ? Central heating make+model check it up on the Net !
What are you getting ? Carpets ! Curtains! Lawn, fencing , fitted appliances! Where is the stop !!!! ! Run the bath + shower and check for leaks
Good luck in your new house and overpay every month if possible to be Mortgage Free asap , every MSE :-)

Relocationrelocation

Make a list of things you will need i.e. loo roll holders, towel rails, bulbs, loo brushes etc - sounds silly but with a new build as you will be the very first people to live there, you have to put all those little bits in yourselves.
Curtains or blinds for your bedroom
Sky/broadband/phone line - we managed to get that booked in fairly quickly
Royal mail redirection for post from your old house to new
Bins - you might need to let the council know you are moving in and so they will deliver your wheelie/recycling bins

Bottle of something fizzy to toast your first night in your brand new home

4 months on and we LOVE our new build....

lord_tyrannus

i'm hoping to move into my new build in late November and have been checking out snagging.org which is really helpfully


Things i'm going to check when I move in

1. check Toilets all flush properly
2. check all the taps ands showers work
3. Stand in the bath( a colleague of mine moved into his new build and his gf decided to take a bath filled it with water stepped in it and the bath dropped an inch because it hadn't been fitted properly
4. Run the heating check all the radiators get warm
5. run the kitchen appliances you'd be surprised how many appliances haven't been fitted properly or that the power trips out after the oven has been on for ten minutes

RenStar

Ask to go and see the house alone a few days before your new home demonstration if you can and take a pad and pen. Take your time and go room by room, checking EVERYTHING, lift up carpets to check underlay, run taps, flush toilet, check doors close and open, switch on lights, check any built in appliances are plumbed in, light sockets work. You can also measure for blinds / curtains/ furniture at this time. You will still miss stuff (no one is perfect) we did but the advice our builders gave us was to put a sheet of paper somewhere accessible when you move in and note down things as you come across them. Write them down as soon as you spot them and let minor ones build up but anything major report straight away. Most builders give you 2 years from the date you move in to sort out any snags . Ours have been very good. One tip, if you're having them turf your garden, lift the turf if you can and check for rubble. They are notorious for buring builders rubble in this way. Not great for your lawn so sort it if this is the case before it takes root. Also, check u der your radiators to make sure they haven't left any exposed wires and holes! Finally, if they are not supplying you with a door number, get a plaque made. We got ours off ebay.

Good luck! Buying a news home is exciting and unless things are really awful (which is rare) don't sweat the small stuff and enjoy it!

x_missymoo_x

Thank you all very much for the replies, they have all been very helpful and I've been writing a list as I've been reading them

We have our demonstration in two weeks and have already been in once on our own although it was not carpeted or decorated, so we will probably go in next weekend to measure up and start our own snagging list.

Getting phone and broadband booked in quickly is a good point - I don't know how I'll cope without internet for very long! I have also just sent an enquiry to the council about the bins.

I will check with Royal Mail about our address, however whilst I've been searching for buildings and contents insurances a few companies have found our address! The majority haven't yet, but hopefully that doesn't take too long

EDIT - Just typed our postcode into Royal Mail and it has found the address so hopefully this means we don't need to do anything else here.

Thanks again, and if anyone else has anything to add it will be gratefully received

robatwork

Accept that your house will have been built in a hurry by jobbing builders who couldn't wait to get off site. While this may not cause you any problems, don't trust anything at face value. Don't assume everything has been built to your standards.

For example I once bought a new house. The kitchen had been put in back to front ie. the plans showed a kitchen the mirror image of mine. This meant that the water didn't drain off the draining board as it sloped the wrong way - the builders had put the wrong sink unit in.

So tour the house with plans in hand.

Check the grass - has it been chucked down or laid properly?

Check the tiling - some of mine looked more like a mosaic.

Check your fuses all work OK, doors, window locks etc.

Good luck!