Building a custom home is a months-long process of decisions, design, and anticipation. Moving into one happens all at once — and it's surprisingly easy to feel unprepared for the transition, even when the house itself is exactly what you wanted.

The good news: moving into new construction is different from moving into an existing home. There's no deep-cleaning someone else's kitchen. No mystery stains. No previous owner's "creative" wiring. But there are things unique to a new build — like learning your systems, understanding your warranties, and dealing with the fact that your yard is probably still dirt.

This is the guide we wish every homeowner had on closing day. It covers everything from the weeks before your move through the first few months of settling in — with a focus on the details people tend to forget until it's too late.

Before Closing: The Orientation Walkthrough

At Keel Custom Homes, we schedule a detailed orientation walkthrough before closing — not a quick once-over, but a thorough walk-through of every system, feature, and detail in your home. This is one of the most valuable hours you'll spend with us.

During the walkthrough, we cover your HVAC system and thermostat programming, water heater settings and shut-off valve locations, electrical panel layout (which breaker controls what), appliance operations and care instructions, any smart home features, irrigation system operation if applicable, and maintenance requirements specific to your materials and finishes.

What we cover in your orientation: HVAC and thermostat programming, water heater settings, shut-off valve locations, electrical panel layout, appliance operation, smart home features, irrigation systems, and maintenance requirements specific to your materials and finishes.

You'll leave with documentation on all of it — plus your full warranty package covering Keel's 5-Year Guarantee, 2-10 HBW structural warranty, and every manufacturer warranty for your home's products.

Bring a notebook or use your phone to take notes and video. You won't remember everything, but you'll be glad you have it when you're standing in the mechanical room at 10 p.m. trying to remember which valve controls the outdoor faucets.

We also provide all warranty documentation at closing — Keel's 5-Year Guarantee, your 2-10 HBW structural warranty, and individual manufacturer warranties for appliances, roofing, HVAC, windows, and other products. Keep all of this in one folder or binder. You'll reference it more than you think.

4–6 Weeks Before Moving Day

This is when the logistics start. The earlier you tackle these, the less stressful moving week will be.

Book Your Movers

Summer is peak moving season in Richmond — movers book up fast, especially on weekends and month-ends. Get quotes from at least three companies, read recent reviews, and lock in your date 4–6 weeks out.

A few Richmond-area tips: confirm whether your movers provide packing materials or if you need to supply your own. Ask about insurance coverage for damaged items. And if you're moving from a home with tight access (older Fan District rowhouses, upstairs apartments), mention that up front — it affects the quote.

📅

6 Weeks Out

Get mover quotes, book your date, start decluttering. Begin the address change process. Order packing supplies or source free boxes from local stores and Facebook Marketplace.

📦

2–4 Weeks Out

Pack non-essentials (seasonal items, decor, books). Schedule utility transfers. Confirm homeowner's insurance is active. Arrange for pet or child care on moving day.

🏠

1 Week Out

Confirm movers, pack remaining rooms, prepare your "first night" box. Do a pre-move clean of your new home. Label every box with room and contents.

Start the Address Change Process

This is the task everyone underestimates. Changing your address isn't one thing — it's dozens of individual updates, and missing even a few means important mail goes to the wrong place for months.

The complete address change list:

Do first (before or on moving day):
✓ USPS mail forwarding (usps.com — takes 7–10 days to activate)
✓ Employer / payroll
✓ Banks and credit card companies
✓ Homeowner's and auto insurance
✓ DMV — update driver's license and vehicle registration
✓ Voter registration

Do within the first week:
✓ Doctors, dentists, pediatrician, veterinarian
✓ Pharmacy (prescription transfers if changing locations)
✓ Schools and daycare
✓ Accountant / tax preparer (especially important before tax season)
✓ Attorney, financial advisor, estate planning documents

Do within the first month:
✓ Subscriptions and delivery services (Amazon, meal kits, magazines)
✓ Online shopping accounts (shipping addresses)
✓ Loyalty programs and memberships (gym, warehouse clubs, library)
✓ Alumni associations, professional organizations
✓ IRS (file Form 8822 if you've moved permanently)
✓ Any recurring deliveries (water, propane, lawn service)

Utilities and Services

Contact providers to schedule service activation at your new address for closing day or the day before. For new construction, some of these may already be active from the build process — confirm with your builder.

Set up or transfer electric service (Dominion Energy for most of the Richmond metro), water and sewer (varies by county — Chesterfield Utilities, Henrico County, Hanover County, etc.), natural gas if applicable, internet and TV (schedule installation early — ISP lead times can be 1–2 weeks), trash and recycling pickup, and home security monitoring if you're installing a system.

Declutter Before You Pack

Moving is the best forcing function for getting rid of things you don't need. Every box you don't pack is a box you don't carry, unpack, and find a home for. Donate, sell, or discard anything that hasn't earned a spot in your new home. Be ruthless — you're moving into a brand-new house. Start fresh.

1–2 Weeks Before Moving Day

Confirm Everything

Call your movers to reconfirm dates, arrival time, and any special instructions (narrow driveway, stairs, oversized furniture). Confirm utility activation dates. Verify that your homeowner's insurance policy is active and covers your new address starting on closing day.

Pack Strategically

Label every box with the room it belongs in and a brief description of contents. Your movers will place boxes in the right rooms if they're clearly marked — saving you hours of shuffling later. Use a color-coded tape system if you want to go the extra mile.

Pack a "first night" box (or suitcase) and keep it with you — not on the truck. This should include bedding and pillows, towels and toiletries, phone chargers and laptop, a change of clothes for everyone, basic kitchen supplies (paper plates, cups, utensils, coffee maker, a few snacks), medications, important documents, cleaning supplies, and toilet paper.

Prepare Your New Home

Even though your home is brand new, a quick pass before the furniture arrives makes a difference. Wipe down all surfaces, countertops, shelves, and cabinets to remove construction dust. Vacuum or mop all floors. Open windows for ventilation if there are any lingering construction smells. Verify that all construction is complete and your punch list items have been addressed. Test that all doors and windows open, close, and lock properly.

Moving Day

During the Move

Resist the urge to unpack while the movers are still working. Stay available to answer questions about where things go. Focus on directing traffic, not arranging bookshelves.

Prioritize getting beds set up. No matter how much energy you have at 2 p.m., by 9 p.m. the only thing that matters is a made bed.

No matter how much energy you have at 2 p.m., by 9 p.m. the only thing that matters is a made bed. Get the bedrooms set up first. Everything else can wait.

The First Week

The boxes can wait. Focus on making the house livable and learning its rhythms.

Get the Essentials Working

Unpack the kitchen first — you need to eat. Bathroom basics and bedrooms come next. Everything else can happen over days and weeks, not hours.

Set up your internet and make sure it's working. Connect your thermostat to Wi-Fi if it's a smart model. Test your garage door openers and program your vehicles.

Learn Your Home

Spend time with the documentation from your orientation walkthrough. Locate and label your main water shut-off valve, your electrical panel, your HVAC filter location, and your irrigation controller. Know where these are before you need them in an emergency.

Program your thermostat for your family's schedule. Set up any smart home devices. Change the default codes on your garage door keypad and any smart locks.

Document Everything

Take photos of every room before you've fully furnished — this is useful for insurance purposes and for remembering how things looked when new. Photograph your paint colors, flooring materials, and any labels on your HVAC equipment, water heater, or electrical panel. This saves time later when you need to order a replacement filter or match a touch-up paint color.

First-week essentials for new construction:

✓ Locate and label: main water shut-off, electrical panel, HVAC filter, irrigation controller
✓ Program thermostat for your family's schedule
✓ Set up Wi-Fi, smart home devices, and garage door openers
✓ Change default codes on garage keypad and smart locks
✓ Photograph every room, paint colors, equipment labels, and material tags
✓ Unpack kitchen → bathrooms → bedrooms → everything else

The First Month

Settle In, Don't Rush

Resist the pressure to have everything "done." Living in a space for a few weeks before making decisions about furniture placement, window treatments, and artwork means better choices. Let the light, the traffic patterns, and your daily routines tell you what the space needs.

Handle the Remaining Address Updates

Go through your mail for the first 2–3 weeks and note anything that arrived forwarded from your old address. This is how you'll catch the accounts you forgot to update — the dentist's office, the alumni association, the subscription box you forgot about.

Start Your Maintenance Calendar

We provide every Keel homeowner with a seasonal home maintenance calendar at closing. The first month is a good time to review it and set reminders for the tasks ahead. A few first-month items for new construction specifically: register your appliances for warranty coverage (most manufacturers require this within 30–60 days), note your HVAC filter size and set a reminder to check it monthly, schedule your first HVAC service for six months after move-in, and inspect caulking around tubs, showers, and exterior penetrations.

Don't skip appliance registration. Most manufacturers require warranty registration within 30–60 days of purchase. Without it, you may not be covered if something fails. Take 20 minutes during your first month to register every major appliance, your HVAC system, your water heater, and your windows. Keep the confirmation emails in your home binder.

Meet Your Neighbors

It sounds old-fashioned, but introducing yourself to the people living around you pays dividends. They'll watch your house when you travel. They'll tell you which plow service handles the road. They'll grab your packages when you're not home. A quick walk down the street with a wave and a hello goes a long way — especially in the communities where we build in Chesterfield, Hanover, Goochland, and New Kent.

The First Year: What to Expect

New construction homes go through a settling period during the first year. This is normal and expected — not a sign of a problem.

Minor drywall cracks may appear, especially at corners and seams, as the framing lumber dries and the home settles. This is cosmetic and easily repaired with spackling and touch-up paint.

Doors and windows may need minor adjustment as the house settles. A door that sticks slightly or a window that's a little harder to lock can usually be corrected with a quick adjustment to the hinges or strike plate.

Nail pops — small bumps in the drywall where a framing nail pushes slightly outward — are common in the first year as lumber shrinks. They're cosmetic, not structural, and simple to repair.

Grading and drainage may need attention after a few heavy rainstorms. Watch how water flows around your foundation during the first few rains and note any areas where water pools or flows toward the house.

All of these are covered under your warranty. And because you built with Keel, your first call goes to the team that built your home — not a hotline.

Settling is normal, not a problem. Minor drywall cracks, nail pops, and slight door adjustments are expected in the first year of any new home as framing lumber dries and the structure finds its resting position. These are cosmetic, not structural — and they're all covered under your warranty. If anything concerns you, call us. That's what we're here for.

You're Not on Your Own

The biggest difference between moving into a custom home and moving into a production home is the relationship you have with your builder. You know us. We know your house — every detail of it, because we were there for all of it.

Our service-first promise means you can reach out with questions at six weeks or six years. Whether it's a warranty item, a maintenance question, or just wanting to know the paint color in the guest bathroom, we're a phone call away.

Questions about your upcoming move or what to expect after closing? Call us at (804) 206-9280 — we're always happy to walk you through it.

Your Custom Home Moving Checklist: From Closing Day to Fully Settled

Before Closing: The Orientation Walkthrough