What to expect during your home demonstration

Being invited for your new home demonstration and seeing your brand-new home for the first time is exciting. But what can you expect on this day?

What is a home demonstration?

A home demonstration is a process that the home builder follows when you buy a new build, to show everything you need to know about your new home. If you want to know more about what to expect during this visit, read on.

The home demonstration process

The site manager or sales negotiator will take you around your new home explaining how the heating, appliances, or any other systems work. It is important to remember that this is your demonstration, taking your time, asking questions is fundamental to understanding what to expect from your new home and how the systems and appliances work. 

Take this opportunity to check for any defects such as scratched glass, damaged kitchen units etc.

Below is a checklist of what to look for and what should be discussed during your home demonstration. 

1. Check your boundaries, fencing, landscaping, and services (gas, water, electricity)
2. Look at windows and doors for damage, scratches, or missing sealant
3. Is the brickwork free of mortar splashes or damage
4. Has the external paintwork been finished
5. Do the downspouts and guttering look secure
6. Are there any damaged roof tiles
7. Are the manhole covers level with the surrounding surfaces such as turf
8. Do garage doors open and shut properly
9. Are drives and paths complete
10. Has debris and builder’s rubble been removed
11. Has the council delivered you bins
12. Check all windows and doors operate freely
13. Check the paintwork for paint runs damage and depth of finish
14. Check kitchen worktops, doors, drawers for scratches, damage and open and close properly
15. Check appliances are connected and working with no damage
16. Make sure the site manager explains the heating system and how to set the thermostat etc
17. Make sure the alarm system is explained in full 
18. Check all light switches work
19. Check any extras you have paid for are as you expected
20. Locate where the water stop cock, gas and electric cut-offs are
21. Check all the taps work, and the hot water comes out of the hot tap including the showers
22. Check shower doors open and close easily with no damage
23. Look at all wall and floor tilling for alignment and any damage
24. Check the flooring, is it clean with no damage?
25. Check radiators are fixed to the wall
26. Check sealants around sinks, baths, showers and tilling for uneven finish or damage
27. Check the roof space is insulated
28. Has the site manager explained where the electrical wiring and plumbing runs are in the walls
29. Discuss shrinkage and how you should run your new house in

Whilst this list is not exhaustive, don’t be afraid to ask and check everything, and again during your handover, if you spot anything you are not happy with during your demonstration and handover make a note and take photos of the issues you have found either in the builder’s paperwork or your own if you use the builders ask for a copy.

It is important to document everything so your builder can rectify any issues before you move in. 

If you are going to use a professional snagger let the builder know, it is unlikely that they would allow a professional snagger in before completion, however, there is no harm in asking. That way your builder will know that the house is going to be thoroughly checked again once you have moved in.

Remember it is important that you come away from your home demonstration happy that any questions you have, have been answered to your satisfaction. If you have any other questions you can check out our comprehensive list of what to look out for when looking at a new home here.

Check out some of the snags we have found on our YouTube channel.