So, you’ve finally gained ownership of your new home and moving day is slowly creeping up. It’s an exciting time but one that you should prepare for ahead of time. Whilst you can look forward to a new-build property with quality fixtures, there are a few things you must check before moving in to make sure everything runs smoothly and you can feel right at home in no time.
With this in mind, we’ve provided our top tips for how to seamlessly move into your brand-new property.
Organise a handover
Before moving in, ideally, you should arrange a handover or demonstration from the housebuilder, who will be able to show you around. They should help you understand how to work the different appliances, like the heating, and where to find the stopcock and metres for your energy bills.
At this stage, be sure to check everything is in order and works as it should – test the light switches, turn on the taps and ensure all the locks are in order. Report any issues so they can be fixed
before you move and don’t count on the site manager to identify these for you.
Changing your address
Since your home is brand new, the address may not be registered on many databases. The builder should let the council know to create a new address, but it’s much quicker if you do so yourself, and then your postcode will be live once Royal Mail has been notified.
It’s also beneficial to order a number for your door if one hasn’t already been provided. This can make life much easier for delivery firms to locate you.
Check all paperwork carefully
Moving into a new build property will involve lots of paperwork, which you’ll need to check carefully and provide to your conveyancer or solicitor. This documentation should be provided before the day of completion.
What should be provided:
- Instruction manuals for the appliances provided
- The energy performance certificate
- A copy lease (if a leasehold)
- Details of the individual that the ground rent or service charge should be paid to
- A copy of the property warranty and insurance records
After you’ve moved in
Sometimes, you only discover faults once you’ve moved in and things progressively become an issue. Any large issues should be raised in writing and sent to the housing development company. You can report any small issues to the builder and this should be done immediately so they can be rectified before things potentially escalate.
You must also be aware that new-build properties can take time to fully dry, so you should expect to see some small cracks due to shrinkage. Avoid keeping your heating on too high and keep your windows open to allow the moisture to escape.
All that’s left to do is wait for the confirmation of your title registration from HM Land Registry and make sure you’ve paid your stamp duty.
