Where do I start when furnishing a new build?
With what the house doesn't come with. The HomeOwners Alliance warns against relying on what you saw in the show home. It suggests asking where the specification of your own home is set out, and what can be upgraded, for how much. Go through it for flooring, window coverings, light fittings and appliances.
Then buy in order of need. A bed, something over the bedroom windows, light bulbs and the basics for the kitchen will get you through the first week. The rest can wait until you've lived in the rooms for a while.
Measuring: will it fit through the door?
Furniture Village says to measure the width and height of all doorways, hallways and stairways. DFS says to pay special attention to the width of hallways, because that is where a sofa is most likely to get stuck.
On the stairs, the most important measurement is the narrowest point. On stairs with a turn, DFS says that is usually at the inner corner, halfway up. Sofology adds the ceiling height over the stairs, especially on any turns. Measure the turn, not just the bottom step.
DFS suggests a paper or cardboard template made to the furniture's size. You can carry it through the doors, along the hall and up the stairs before delivery day. Furniture Village suggests marking out where it will go with masking tape.
A trick we used a broom handle cut to the sofa's depth. We carried it up the stairs at an angle, and it told us before the sofa did that the corner was tight.
Will a sofa fit up new-build stairs?
It depends on the sofa and the stairs. Some sofas come apart for delivery. Sofology says some of its sofas break down so each piece can be carried in separately. Ask about this for anything going upstairs. Measure the turn in the stairs and the ceiling height above it, as above.
How long does furniture take to arrive?
Longer than you might think. DFS says most of its made-to-order sofas are delivered within 4 to 12 weeks. Sofology says anywhere from 7 days to 12 weeks, depending on the sofa.
If your completion date isn't fixed, ask the shop whether it can hold your order. Loaf, for example, stores items ready for delivery free for the first four weeks, then charges per large item per week. Check each shop's own terms.
Fixing to the walls
The NHQB says to use the right fixings for the wall, such as plasterboard fixings for plasterboard walls. It also says pipes and cables may be hidden behind walls, so use a cable and pipe detector first. DFS recommends fixing storage furniture, such as wardrobes and bookshelves, over 60cm tall to the wall behind it.
Knauf's installer manual treats curtain rails and pictures as light loads. It treats cupboards, shelving and radiators as heavy ones, fixed to timber set into the wall frame. Heavy items that stick out from the wall are a different matter again. Knauf's installer manual for plasterboard walls shows heavy loads such as TV arms going onto a plywood sheet fixed to the wall's studs, behind the board. If you want a wall-mounted TV, ask the builder whether there is backing in that wall. The before you drill page covers what is in the walls and where.
How long should I wait before decorating a new build?
The NHQB suggests waiting at least 12 months, where possible, before wallpapering or major decorating. Decorating too early can trap moisture in the walls, which can increase the risk of mould or cracking as the house settles. If you do decorate early, keep the rooms well ventilated.
Small cracks are expected in the first year as the house dries out. NHBC says they can normally be put right with filler and paint during routine redecoration. Premier Guarantee says to leave them and seal them when you decorate, once drying out is complete. The year one page has more.
Moving day: protect what you've checked
NHBC's guide says to protect new floor finishes from dirty or damaging shoes on moving day, and to inspect the home before you start filling it. It says cosmetic damage must be reported within seven days of completion, because later it may be impossible to prove who caused scratches, chips or dents. A sofa scraped along a new hallway wall is exactly that kind of mark.
Garden furniture can wait
A new lawn needs time. The NHQB suggests limiting walking on new turf for the first four to six weeks, and avoiding heavy use for several months. A shed is yours to look after: NHBC's Buildmark doesn't count sheds or other garden structures as part of the home.
Furniture and damp
In the first months, the NHQB suggests keeping large furniture such as wardrobes and cabinets slightly away from the walls, and keeping fitted wardrobe doors open at first. This lets air move while the house dries.