Get the keys to a new build and it genuinely feels different. No chain. No one else’s carpets or scuffed skirting boards. A fresh start in a home nobody has lived in before. But move day on a new build is not quite like any other house move, and if you go in unprepared, you’ll find it out the hard way. Here’s what to sort before the van pulls up.
The access rules on a new-build site are different
On a standard house move, your removal crew pulls up outside, someone hands over a key, and the job gets going. On a new build, it doesn’t always work like that.
The development may still be a working construction site, or it finished so recently that the developer’s site team is still present. They control what happens on it. Some developers restrict which entrance removal vehicles can use. Others require the crew to sign in with the site manager or show proof of insurance before they can bring a single box through the door.
Some buyers only find this out when their removal lorry turns up and nobody will let it through the main gate.
Don’t assume the sales team has told you everything. Ring the site manager directly at least two weeks before your move date. Ask specifically about access for removal vehicles: permitted entrances, time windows, any sign-in requirements. Get it in writing. Pass that information to your removal company when you book.
That one call can save you a very stressful morning.
Completion dates shift — book early and build in flexibility
New build completion dates can move. Developers push handover back for plenty of reasons: snagging not finished, utilities not yet connected, a paperwork backlog. It might be a week. It might be a month. Occasionally it’s longer.
Book your house removals service as soon as you have an expected completion date, but tell the company upfront that you’re moving into a new build and that the date could shift. Ask about their rescheduling policy before you commit.
A professional, fully-insured removals company will work around you if dates change. A cheap option booked at the last minute probably won’t. That’s one of the real differences between booking properly and hoping for the best.
Keys released late, have a plan
On a new build, the key handover process has more moving parts than on a standard sale. Your solicitor can only collect the keys once the developer’s solicitor confirms funds have cleared. Banks process payments between roughly 8am and 3:30pm. Your mortgage lender might transfer quickly, or it might take several hours. If the developer has multiple completions on the same day, things slow down further.
You might be planning a 9am start, but your keys don’t arrive until 2pm. Your removal crew is parked outside a site they can’t enter, and you’re standing in a car park refreshing your emails.
Ask your solicitor for a realistic estimate of when keys are likely to be released, and brief your removal company before the day. A professional crew can plan for a later start. What they can’t do is add three hours to a day that was already fully timed and priced.
If you’re moving out of your old place in the morning and worried about the wait, our secure storage service lets you park your belongings safely for a day or longer. No rush, no panic, no sitting in a loaded van for hours.
Snagging and what it means for where you put your furniture
This is the part most moving guides skip. According to the Home Builders Federation’s National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey, published in March 2025, 93.7% of new build buyers reported problems to their builder after moving in. Over a quarter found more than 15 separate issues.
Paint marks, poorly fitted doors, gaps around windows, plumbing niggles: snags are common. A professional snagging inspection costs from around £300 and can identify problems before you’ve covered them up with furniture.
The practical question for move day is this: do you want heavy items in every room before the snagging inspector has walked through? If the bedroom floor is marked or the kitchen units don’t sit right, you want that on record before a wardrobe is sitting on top of it.
You don’t have to hold back everything. Moving in your essentials first, then keeping bulky pieces in storage for a week while you get the snagging report back, is a sensible approach for anyone who wants to protect both their belongings and their warranty rights.
Our packing and unpacking service makes this a lot easier. We protect everything properly, transport it safely, and you decide what goes in first and what waits, without having to do any of the heavy lifting yourself.
What size van and crew do you actually need?
New build properties vary enormously, from a studio flat in a high-rise to a four-bedroom house on the edge of London. The right vehicle and crew depends on what you’re moving, not just the size of the property.
If you’re moving from a rented flat with modest furniture, a man and van with a Luton and a two-person crew might be all you need. If you’re bringing three bedrooms’ worth of furniture, a 7.5-tonne lorry and a three-person team will do the job safely in a single run. We’ll ask the right questions when you get in touch, so you’re not over-paying for more vehicle than you need.
One thing worth checking: some new build developments have height restrictions at the entrance or in the underground car park. A restriction bar at 2.3 metres will stop a standard Luton van. Let us know the site details when you enquire and we’ll plan accordingly.
Moving into a new build flat? Our flat removals service covers new build apartments across every London postcode, including developments with narrow lift access, developer time restrictions, and partially completed estates where access planning really matters.
Utilities on a new build: don’t assume it’s all ready
Water and electricity are usually connected on a new build before you receive the keys. Broadband and gas are a different story. Broadband providers can take three to six weeks to set up a new connection, particularly if the street-level infrastructure is still being laid. Don’t leave it until the week before.
On completion day itself, run every tap, flush every toilet, and check the boiler fires up before you sign anything off. Test every socket, every switch, every door lock. Walk the whole property with your phone out and photograph anything that looks off. Citizens Advice has clear guidance on setting up energy in a new home, including how to locate your meter and identify your supplier from day one.
New builds don’t always come with the heating pre-set either. Find the boiler manual, set the thermostat, and check the pressure gauge before your first evening in.
A new build move needs a removal company that knows how developer sites work, can adapt if your completion date shifts, and will protect your belongings from the moment they leave your old home. That’s what Just Removals London does, across every postcode in London, seven days a week. Get a free, no-obligation quote and we’ll take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do removal vehicles need special access arrangements on a new-build site?
Usually, yes. A new-build development is often still a working site controlled by the developer, and some restrict which entrance removal vehicles can use or require the crew to sign in with the site manager and show proof of insurance first. Call the site manager at least two weeks ahead, confirm the permitted entrances and time windows in writing, and pass the details to your removals company before move day.
What happens if my completion date moves?
New-build completion dates often shift because of snagging, utilities or paperwork. Book your removals as soon as you have an expected date, tell the company it’s a new build that could change, and check their rescheduling policy before you commit. A professional, fully-insured company will work around a moved date far more easily than a last-minute budget option.
My keys might be released late on the day — can the move still go ahead?
Yes, with planning. Keys are only handed over once funds clear, and banks process payments through the working day, so a 9am start can slip into the afternoon. Ask your solicitor for a realistic release time, brief your crew in advance, and consider secure storage so your belongings aren’t sitting in a loaded van for hours.
Should I move everything in before the snagging inspection?
Not necessarily. Most new-build buyers report snags after moving in, and you want any floor or wall marks on record before furniture covers them. Moving your essentials in first and keeping bulky pieces in storage for a week while you get the snagging report back protects both your belongings and your warranty rights.