A new build can look turnkey on move-in day and still hand you a punch list, missing accessories, and warranty deadlines. Here is how to plan the first twelve months without getting blindsided.
Plan for cosmetic touch-ups, settling cracks, missing "accessories" like garage remotes and towel bars, an immature or unfinished yard, warranty paperwork you actually have to organize, and ongoing community construction noise. Budget a first-year reserve, document the home on move-in day, and book any expiring inspections well before the deadline.
A new construction home is designed to be turnkey, but "turnkey" describes the day you get keys, not the first year you live there. Builders deliver a house that still needs cosmetic attention, accessories that were never on the standard list, and warranties that quietly start ticking down. The homeowners who handle year one well are the ones who expect this in advance, document everything on move-in day, and keep a running punch list instead of trying to remember issues months later.
Your final walkthrough should already have produced a written list of items the builder agreed to fix. New builds are produced in volume, and cosmetic flaws like chipped paint, gaps in trim, misaligned cabinet doors, and nail pops are common. Once you start living in the home, settling can open new issues: hairline drywall cracks, doors that start sticking, or small caulk gaps that reappear.
Keep a single running list, shared with your partner if applicable, and add to it weekly. Builders often work through punch lists in batches, so a list that grows over the first 60 to 90 days is normal and gives you leverage to push for everything at once rather than chasing trades one at a time.
Builders distinguish between standards, the features every home in the community includes, and accessories, items you may have assumed were included but are not. New buyers are regularly surprised to find that even on a $600,000 home, towel bars, toilet paper holders, mirrors, and garage door opener remotes are not always included. Closets typically arrive with a rod but no shelving beyond a single upper shelf.
Even in a brand-new home, utilities are not always live when you arrive. Electric, water, gas, internet, and trash service each have their own scheduling windows, and some require a technician visit. Schedule these transfers or new activations at least one to two weeks before closing so you are not moving in without power or water.
Transfer or start account in your name; confirm meter is active and panel breakers are labeled.
Some municipalities require a separate account; ask the builder which provider serves the subdivision.
If applicable, schedule a technician visit to light pilots and confirm appliance operation.
New neighborhoods sometimes lack fiber infrastructure; confirm the provider can service your address and book install before movers arrive.
Some HOAs contract a specific hauler; confirm pickup day and bin delivery.
Set up auto-pay so amenity access and assessments do not lapse.
New builds come with layered warranties that cover different things for different lengths of time. The structure itself is typically covered for ten years, major systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) for shorter periods, and cosmetic items for as little as one year. Appliance warranties are usually separate and shorter, often one to two years through the manufacturer.
File move-in photos and videos with the builder and flag any cosmetic issues immediately.
Most cosmetic and workmanship items must be reported here. Keep submitting to your punch list.
HVAC, water heater, and major appliances often carry separate manufacturer warranties. Register them.
Foundation, framing, and major structural defects are usually covered for a decade. Keep all records.
If you bought in a developing subdivision, you are moving into a worksite. Construction traffic, dust, road closures, and daytime noise are normal for months or even years. Shared amenities such as pools, clubhouses, playgrounds, and walking trails are often promised in the sales center but built in later phases. Confirm the expected completion date in writing and ask what happens if the amenity delivery slips.
New builds typically come with either a thin layer of sod, a few immature saplings, or nothing at all. Yards need a full growing season before they look established, and many homeowners end up redoing parts of the landscaping within the first year. In dry climates, prioritize native plants that survive with low maintenance; in flood-prone or wet areas, confirm final grading slopes away from the foundation before you plant anything near the house.
| Category | Typical first-year cost | Notes | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Window treatments | $1,500 to $5,000+ | Whole-home blinds or shades are rarely included | Closet shelving systems | $500 to $3,000 | Custom or modular systems per closet | Landscaping completion | $1,000 to $10,000+ | Sod, irrigation, plantings, hardscape | Security and smart home | $300 to $2,000 | Cameras, doorbell, smart locks | Accessory hardware | $200 to $800 | Towel bars, mirrors, toilet paper holders | Punch list repairs | $0 to $500 | Most should be builder-paid if documented | 11-month inspection | $300 to $500 | Independent inspector before warranty expires |
Federal consumer protections that buyers sometimes assume cover new construction, such as the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, generally apply only to developers selling subdivided land across state lines through interstate commerce. If your builder is selling and building within a single state, that federal disclosure law typically does not apply. State and local rules still govern the sale, and your strongest protections come from a careful review of the purchase contract, the builder's standard features list, your state attorney general's office, and your local building and warranty codes. Confirm with a real estate attorney licensed in your state before assuming any federal disclosure applies to your transaction.
Book electric, water, gas, internet, and trash one to two weeks ahead so everything is live on move-in day.
Capture timestamped footage of every cabinet, window, floor, and appliance surface.
Note cosmetic issues within the first week while they are easy to attribute to the builder.
File manufacturer warranty cards online so coverage is active if something fails.
Get promised completion dates for pools, clubhouses, and trails in an email you can reference later.
Budget several thousand dollars for window treatments, shelving, landscaping, and the items the builder did not include.
Book an independent inspector before the first-year warranty expires so repairs stay on the builder's tab.
SUMMARY
A new construction home is rarely finished on move-in day, and it is almost never free of surprises in year one. Expect cosmetic punch list items, settling cracks, missing accessories, an immature yard, and ongoing community construction. The homeowners who come out ahead document the home on day one, keep a running list, organize every warranty, schedule the 11-month inspection before the deadline, and budget several thousand dollars for the items the builder treats as accessories rather than standards.
Common questions
It depends on the coverage layer. Most builders offer a one-year warranty on workmanship and materials, two to five years on mechanical systems like plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, and up to ten years on structural defects. Appliance warranties are usually separate through the manufacturer and run one to two years.
It is an independent home inspection you hire yourself around month 11, just before the builder's first-year warranty expires. Anything the inspector finds should be repaired at the builder's cost. After the warranty deadline, those repairs come out of your pocket.
Window treatments, garage door opener remotes, towel bars, toilet paper holders, closet shelving beyond a basic rod and shelf, full landscaping, sprinkler systems, and security systems are commonly excluded. Always review the builder's standard features list before closing to confirm what you will need to add yourself.
Usually not. Federal disclosure laws like the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act generally apply only to developers selling subdivided land across state lines through interstate commerce. For an in-state purchase, your protections come from state law, the purchase contract, and local building and warranty codes. Confirm with a real estate attorney licensed in your state.