Advice on Moving Into a New Build House

[Tituscrow]

Snagging list suggestions please folks...

Cheers.

[MJ5150]

What kind of advice or list? Like what to look for as far as quality checks, damage, issues?

-Mike

[OldDog52]

Request a walk-thru with a representative of the builder, go over everything top to bottom, inside and out, and make a punchlist of issues they need to take care of prior to closing escrow. Might be things like touching up paint, fixing a door that doesn't close properly or that drags on the carpet, etc. Ideally you should make a list in advance on your own time, then present it at that face-face meeting at the house so you can show them what you've found. Be reasonable - Don't ask them to remove an interior wall for example.

You might get one of those AC outlet testers and test every outlet to make sure it's grounded and they don't have the hot and neutral leads reversed.

Make sure yard is graded so water drains away from the house, not toward the house.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

What kind of advice or list? Like what to look for as far as quality checks, damage, issues?

-Mike

Sorry yes. I thought the term 'snagging list' was fairly universal. Things like making sure all doors and windows fit flush, hot and cold taps work properly, skirting boards/coving arent coming away from walls etc. are fairly obvious, but I'm curious for any extra heads up on what the average house buying joe (like me!) might miss.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by OldDog52

Request a walk-thru with a representative of the builder, go over everything top to bottom, inside and out, and make a punchlist of issues they need to take care of prior to closing escrow. Might be things like touching up paint, fixing a door that doesn't close properly or that drags on the carpet, etc. Ideally you should make a list in advance on your own time, then present it at that face-face meeting at the house so you can show them what you've found. Be reasonable - Don't ask them to remove an interior wall for example.

You might get one of those AC outlet testers and test every outlet to make sure it's grounded and they don't have the hot and neutral leads reversed.

Make sure yard is graded so water drains away from the house, not toward the house.

Cheers...that's the sort of thing I mean. Never even thought about the angle of inclination of my garden!

[MJ5150]

Great list so far. I'll add.....

Do a visual inspection in the attic to ensure depth and density are equal throughout for the insulation.

If you have a basement, check for cracks and leaks.

Check doors and windows for drafts.

Bring a moisture meter to check for wet lumber if applicable. Don't all you people in Europe build with stones and thatch?

Someone else can carry on from here.

-Mike

[carl h.]

Drainage is big - gutters, driveway,yard, basement floors.
Adequate electrical service, and wall outlets properly wired.
Windows open and close easily and stay open.
Floors quiet, not springy.
Cabinetry hung properly, doors and drawers work
Heating systems are quiet - within reason
Shower head up high enough for you - I'm 6'2 and most are too low for me, I like to rinse the stuff above my shoulders too!
Hot water comes on soon in remote rooms - bathrooms and laundry connections
stairs wide enough to move a queen sized box spring? nothing you can change, but worth considering
Attached garage? Doors work & fit in the opening? AC? heated?
Fence? good quality? well made? installed straight?
Exterior lighting?
Interior lighting? switches where you will want them?

Use your eyes, ears and fingers to go over everything you can see or reach. Sit in each room of the house - alone - for a while. Lay on the floors a while and look at the ceiling, corners and windows. Spend time in the space and see what you discover.

[Tituscrow]

Brilliant. Thanks a million. Air printed the last few posts and given them to the boss...er, the wife

[MJ5150]

Have you already bought the house? If so, how old is it?

-Mike

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Have you already bought the house? If so, how old is it?

-Mike

Yes. We have part exchanged our current house for a brand new one. Roof going on as we speak! Expecting to be in by Feb, providing the winter doesn't set the work back too much. I've hit a few sites that give fairly generic lists of 'things to look out for with brand new houses', but I thought I'd get some ideas from anyone who has ever bought a new house. We get a week 'handover' on contract completion to do our inspection.

I have resigned myself to living with the smell of magnolia paint for the first few months...

You moved recently I seem to recall?

[MJ5150]

Yes sir, we sure did. We moved into a rental. I went over it with a fine tooth comb, then photographed all damage/problems/etc. Before we left our home in Washington, we took the same fine tooth comb to it.

We'll be buying a house in two years, so it will be the same thing all over again.

-Mike

[iamlowsound]

Check the drainage away from your house. That is the cause of 90% of flooding issues.

lowsound