After all those long months of waiting it is finally finished, your brand new home!
The thought of moving into a newly built home is very exciting; like a brand new car there is something very special about being the first person to own something as important as a house, and create new memories in a new space. This home has the cupboards, backsplash, tiles, hardwood flooring, carpeting and other features that you specifically chose, and the finishes will match your personal style. As moving day gets closer there are a number of things you need to remember in order for the move in to go smoothly, even though the property itself will be vacant.
Final Inspection
This is a critical step that requires a home inspector’s, and your own, attention to detail. You want to be sure that your new home is completed properly and make note of any problems that you see within the property, and the home inspector will look for building problems and so on. Minor matters that can be attended to at a later date should not require a change in your move in date, but anything major should be addressed.
Damage to walls, stairs or ceilings
When doing your walkthrough, pay attention to any marks on walls or floors and make sure they are noted on the inspection report. This will eliminate any problems with the builder in case they dispute the damage and try to blame it on you or your movers. When you have a new home the last thing you want are dents on the walls or scratches on your new floors. This alone is a good reason to hire a professional moving company that will make sure to protect your home when moving furniture in.
Review Floor Plans and Measure Rooms
Your final inspection is a good time to check room dimensions and note any obstacles that may make moving furniture in more difficult. This is particularly important if you have any extremely large pieces. Builder’s floor plans that are part of the promotional package are rarely completely accurate when it comes to room dimensions.
Closing and Move in Date
Of course you are anxious to get moved in to your new home, but arranging movers for your closing date may not be the best course of action. Delays can occur with legal processes, realtor or banking side of things. You don’t want to find yourself paying a moving company waiting time if you don’t get your key on schedule. In addition if there are any issues that the builder promised to rectify before your move in date you may want to have a second inspection to make sure the work was done.
Truck Access to Your Property
Today it is quite common to find yourself moving into a completed home that is located in a subdivision that is still under construction. This usually means you will not have a paved driveway and the area around your home may be muddy or have various pieces of construction equipment scattered about. Take photos of the area and send them to your moving company in advance so they will be able to determine if there will be access problems. It may be necessary to shuttle your belongings in from an adjacent street using a small truck instead of the larger moving van or they may need to add an additional mover to carry items.
Arrange for Utilities
Another important thing to remember when moving is to arrange to have utilities hooked up. If you are moving in the winter you will want to have heat and light when you move in.
Light Bulbs and Batteries
Many people are surprised to find that the builder did not put bulbs in light fixtures or batteries in smoke alarms. Remember to bring a supply with you just in case.
Consider Changing Locks
It may make sense to have the locks changed on your new home, as there have been a lot of people in and out of the house during the construction phase.
Want to know more about what to expect when moving into your brand new home? Contact us at Premiere Van Lines to get prepared and get your movers booked today!