Move In Support
Helping You Prepare for Moving Day
Moving into a new home is an exciting milestone. Our Move In Support guidance has been designed to help you understand what to expect before legal completion, during your home demonstration and throughout your first few weeks in your new home.
From preparing for handover to settling into your new surroundings, Lafford New Homes will support you every step of the way, providing clear information, practical guidance and reassurance throughout the process.
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Preparing for Handover
What Happens Before You Move In
As your new home approaches completion, there are a number of important stages designed to help you prepare for moving day with confidence. Our team will keep you informed throughout the process and ensure you have the information, support and guidance you need before receiving your keys.
1. Notice to Complete
When your new home is nearing completion, your solicitor will receive a Notice to Complete confirming that legal completion is approaching and outlining the expected timescales.
2. Optional Pre-Completion Inspection (PCI)
You may choose to carry out your own inspection using the NHQB checklist or appoint a suitably qualified independent inspector. We will facilitate access in accordance with the New Homes Quality Code.
3. Home Demonstration
Before legal completion, a member of our team will guide you through your new home, explaining heating controls, ventilation systems, appliances, alarms, stop taps and other key features. This is an opportunity to ask questions and become familiar with your new home before moving in.
4. Legal Completion & Key Handover
Once legal completion has taken place and your home is ready for occupation, you will receive the keys together with your homeowner documentation, warranty information, EPC and other important handover information.
5. Settling Into Your New Home
Following completion, our Customer Services Team will continue to support you as you settle into your new home, providing guidance, aftercare support and access to warranty information should you need it.
6. Aftercare & Ongoing Support:
You benefit from a two‑year after‑sales service and clear complaints process, with access to the independent New Homes Ombudsman Service if needed.
Your Move-In Pack
Everything You Need From Day One
When you collect the keys to your new home, you will receive a comprehensive homeowner pack designed to help you move in with confidence and make the most of your new home from day one.
- Homeowner handbook containing important information about your home and its key features.
- Warranty documentation and details of your warranty provider.
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
- Appliance manuals, operating instructions and manufacturer information where applicable.
- Important emergency and customer service contact details.
- Home demonstration information and useful guidance on operating heating, ventilation and safety systems.
- Meter readings and utility information recorded at handover.
Understanding Your New Home
Getting Comfortable from Day One
Moving into a new home is an exciting milestone, and understanding how your home works will help you settle in quickly and confidently.
- Familiarise yourself with your heating controls, ventilation systems, appliances and key home features during your home demonstration.
- Review your homeowner handbook and move-in information pack, which contain useful guidance on operating and maintaining your home.
- Register appliance warranties where recommended by manufacturers.
- Make a note of utility meter locations, stop taps and emergency shut-off points.
- Keep important documents, warranty information and customer care contact details in a safe and easily accessible place.
- Take time to understand the energy-efficient features included within your home and how to get the best performance from them.
- Familiarise yourself with the location of stop taps, consumer units and utility meters, should you need to access them in an emergency.
Settling Into Your New Home
Looking After Your Home During the Settling-In Period
Moving into a brand-new home is an exciting milestone. During the first few weeks, your home will begin its natural settling-in process as materials dry, adjust and acclimatise to daily living. Understanding what to expect will help you enjoy your new home from day one and get the very best from its systems, finishes and energy-efficient features.
- Use extract fans, trickle vents and ventilation systems regularly to help manage moisture and maintain good indoor air quality.
- Maintain comfortable and consistent temperatures to support your home’s natural drying-out process.
- Minor shrinkage cracks, small gaps around timberwork and occasional nail pops can occur as materials settle and are considered a normal part of new-home ownership.
- Allow walls, ceilings and timberwork sufficient time to fully settle before undertaking significant decorative works.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms regularly and ensure all household members are familiar with emergency procedures.
- Newly laid turf requires regular watering during dry periods until it becomes fully established. Avoid heavy foot traffic during the early weeks to encourage healthy root growth and help create a strong, long-lasting lawn.
- If you are unsure whether something is part of the normal settling process or requires attention, our Customer Services Team will be happy to help and provide guidance.
