You shouldn't have to do anything to the basement in a new build. If you have any sort of excessive moisture there you need to start complaining to the builder. That's only a problem with old basements that weren't built to current code.

Make sure water is always drained away from the house/foundation, you can run a dehumidifier in basement, and sometimes recommended to open some windows down there in the winter depending on your basement.

In winter, make sure your vents and mailbox are cleared of snow.

Help an elderly neighbor.

Keep an eye on interest rates and refinance if they drop significantly.

Keep the paperwork and receipts for your appliances. Get to know all the sub contractors. Upgrade fixtures, cabinets and flooring. Eggshell finish for walls. What is the allotment for landscaping and make sure it's graded properly. Walk through the interior when it's dark with a good flashlight, this will highlight flaws that you would otherwise not see during the day(dents in cabinets/vanities, flaws in the painting, etc., flooring issues...

Have an inspection either before you close or directly afterward. Make sure you get what you paid for.

Watch out for the foundation issue plaguing central MA homes. Definitely don't do anything stupid like waive inspection on homes that may be affected.

https://www.wcvb.com/article/is-your-house-a-ticking-time-bomb-thousands-of-mass-homes-at-risk-for-crumbling-concrete/40012159

Definately get it inspected before you buy.

Start asking friends and coworkers for references: plumbers, electricians, general handymen, etc. A lot harder to find these people when an emergency comes up and you need them immediately.

Once you find a house u live and your offer is accepted you’ll usually have a home inspections depending on the terms of the contract. The home inspection is basically a tutorial on how to care for your home while also making sure it’s in proper condition and no major issues. As far as advice goes I’m a realtor and it can be very frustrating for buyers in this market. But be patient and it will all work out in the end. When you find the house you love and want, not to sound corny, but you’ll feel it. It will feel like home. Kind of like staying the night at a friends compared to your home now. Look for comfort.

The biggest thing I learned is that you'll spend the first few years of homeownership getting the property up to your standards (cutting back trees and brush, planting grass) and fixing all the small things the previous owners put off fixing (looks like this doesn't apply to you!).

I've heard from friends in the business that a lot of new builds have inferior materials because of scarcity and inflation in recent years. Not saying this is true in your case, but keep an eye out for things that break or are of poor quality.

In general I'd say stay up on maintenance of your appliances and how your house is heated. You don't want it to break in the middle of the winter!

Get a pest company to come spray for insects around your foundation twice a year - it'll cost about $400-$500 per year but will kill the bugs that will damage your house over time.

If you want to upgrade or change something just do it right the first time - get what you really want and don’t skimp. You will just end up spending more in the long run if you don’t.

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Also congrats! And have fun! It’s exciting and nothing to stress about.🤙🤙

what are u paying 500k??

A damp basement should be a deal breaker. I don't know what your budget is but since it's a new build, insist on the best insulation and it pays to get name brand windows not some mass produced junk from a big box store. The same goes for exterior doors. Energy has become very expensive so you'll want to have a tight house. Whatever you do in a house, it's always better to spend a little more on quality than having to replace things. Most people buy somebody else's problems when they buy their first house. A new build should come with zero headaches but you have to be proactive about how it gets built. So what's important is, a quality build, with quality materials, adequate electricity, at least 200 amps, the best and most efficient heating and cooling systems. The extras that come later that I suggest is some form of wood heat, there's lots sources for free wood but there's no such thing as free heating fuel. Wood is a good back up and helps with the heating bills. A hard wired generator, you'll hardly ever use it but you'll appreciate it when the need arises. Sometimes your first home is your forever home, if you think it might be, make it as comfortable as possible. One last thing, if the new house doesn't come with a garage you might want to consider it in the build.