Move in after final or wait until every last thing is done?

8 years ago

We have our final inspection with the county scheduled for tomorrow. Assuming we pass (it's our second inspection and the corrections list had been completed), we are up in the air as to whether we should move in this weekend or wait for every last thing to be finished. Our builders have said that they don't mind either way.

So far we have punched out three of the bedrooms and started moving stuff into those and the rest of our stuff is in the garage. There are still some finish things that need to be completed throughout the rest of the house, some of which are change orders that we are paying a little extra for, such as building the fireplace mantle.

There are also things that we need to finish doing ourselves, including sanding and sealing our butcher block counter tops before they're used.

We are currently living on the land in a school bus (6 of us) and so are, of course, quite eager to get into the house, but I also kind of want to hold out until it's all done and finished so our builders don't feel like we've kind of accepted it as is and the pressure is off them to tie up those last little loose ends. And I don't want furniture getting damaged or dusty or accidentally painted.

I also would like to avoid living in a construction area (although at this point I'm not feeling really picky - ANY thing has got to be better than this bus!)

Another large part of me is hesitant to watch my four young children begin the inevitable destruction of the house. Sigh.

Just wanted to hear others' thoughts - did you wait until every last t was crossed or did you move in the second you were given your occupancy permit? Do you have any regrets either way?

Featured Answer

sheloveslayouts

8 years ago

Congratulations, Sarah!!!!!

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Comments (12)

farmdrmer
8 years ago
We moved in right away but our remaining fix list was very very minor. I took photos of the house immediately while it looked nice. Move in day we had about 10 people helping, and between them hauling stuff in and my two little kids we had floor scratches etc immediately. Despite protecting floors from foot traffic. I fretted about it the first week but now am mostly not worried about it. You know your builder best , I completely trusted ours will take care of the remaining things, about half of which have already been done. But we didn't have anything major like the counters- I think I would do those at least before moving in so you can focus on moving once you get there. I would wait if you can, our house was so so dusty even though they cleaned, it's taken at least two weeks to get most of dust settled out. With furniture in it just makes more to clean. Hang in there, I know what it's like to be antsy to move!!
rwiegand
8 years ago
We've been in for three years now and remain far from having "every last thing" done (I'm the guy doing most of it, so I know where the blame falls!). But then we've never lived in a house that wasn't in some stage of construction, remodeling, or repair so that just seems normal. We moved in with temporary counters, no window trim or baseboards, a big hole in an (interior) wall where the 250 year old round window I'm rebuilding will go, still no fireplace mantle, etc.

If you think you can really hustle the work along by waiting then do so, otherwise get out of the bus!
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gldnfan, I'm curious what you say about switching out the lights...now that they are required to be pin lights, how does one "switch them out"...are there other lights that use pins? Or do you mean they have the electricians come back and change the fittings? Our understanding is that with the new law it's not easy to switch...I have the same green countertop and yellowish glow on my "cream" cabinets when the lights are on...I suppose as KD's and GC's get more familiar with this people will be advised about the combination prior to choosing it! Oh well, I find I'm starting to get used to it already so maybe eventually I won't even think about it. Gary, my understanding is that the current requirement is that you must have 50% fluorescent, i.e. if you put in one pendant as in our case which is rated for 3 100 watt bulbs, you must have at least 300 watts of fluorescent...the result being that we have LOTS of fluorescent lights. Congratulations, gldnfan...sounds like ahead of me in terms of getting moved back in. Amela, I will let you know about the insets. I love the look and because my kitchen was reconfigured, I think I gained some space to help make up for any lost due to the insets. But I haven't really been able to start moving much back in as I've had a sick DS at home all week as well as a sick DH so not much energy around here. I think it's a sign that it was really time for the remodel to be done! I'll let you know what I think as I go along about the space. The insets do look really good in my house, though, as it was built in 1931.
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scone911
8 years ago
A house is never completely finished. Move in and enjoy. :)
chispa
8 years ago
Watch out for cardboard moving boxes on hardwood floors ... when you have a whole bunch of boxes you end up sliding some of them on the floor ... DON'T! ... the cardboard boxes will leave a bunch of fine scratches on the wood floors.

And it isn't too late to teach young kids to have respect for their home and belongings. Kids might add to some wear and tear on a house, but they should not be destroying it. Set some rules and boundaries ... and stick to them ...
sweetsarahbeth
Original Author
8 years ago
We just got our final occupancy permit and I feel very overwhelmed and excited. It's been a long time!

@chispa I perhaps exaggerated a tad, but the kids have been living in a school bus for must of their memorable lives (my 15 month old's entire life). There's definitely going to be a steep transitional learning curve. They've never had things like a dish washer, more than one bathroom, doors that separate rooms, stairs...
bluesanne
8 years ago
We lived onsite in an ancient (and horrible) mobile home while our house was being built. We couldn't wait to get in, but with a small house didn't want to be in the way, so we did a minimal move-in. We moved only the essentials (food, some clothes, etc.), but we waited to move the bulk of our furniture and belongings. Granted, it was only my husband and me, but even with your children you have easy access to things you realize you need for the interim. With every other house we've owned, we had a short timeline to move out of the old house and into the new, so it felt luxurious to take our time bringing in items, arranging furniture, filling bookshelves, organizing closets and cupboards without having to maneuver around boxes.
sweetsarahbeth
Original Author
8 years ago
We moved in tonight. It is amazing.
cpartist
8 years ago
Congratulations Sarah! Can't wait to see pictures. So what will become of the school bus?
sweetsarahbeth thanked cpartist
sweetsarahbeth
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the congrats and well wishes!

Cp, we will probably clean it up and sell it. It's time for it to move on and I hate the idea of it just sitting there and falling apart from neglect. It's been a good bus and it deserves better than that!
bluesanne
8 years ago
I would so love to have an old school bus to use as garden shed/art studio/guest house... Of course, even above that would be to have a caboose or a gypsy caravan.
chisue
8 years ago
Congratulations on your new home! May you enjoy it for many, many years.

Move in after final or wait until every last thing is done?

sheloveslayouts

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