Move-in-ready house in Belgium: all you need to know

The move-in-ready house pushes the turnkey concept one step further: at delivery, everything is ready, you arrive with your suitcases and move in the same evening. Installed and connected fitted kitchen, built-in dressing rooms, fitted terrace, sometimes even installed lighting and motorised blinds in place. For the buyer, this means the total absence of work after reception; for the wallet, it means an additional cost of 8 to 15% compared to a basic turnkey. Understanding the distinction, the precise inclusions, the applicable warranties and the specific pitfalls of move-in-ready is essential before signing.

Move-in-ready house vs turnkey: the real distinction

The Belgian market sometimes uses these terms interchangeably, but a move-in-ready construction has an additional functional dimension compared to a traditional turnkey. Here are the usual distinctions:

Turnkey house: the structure is delivered finished and habitable. Painted walls, laid floors, installed sanitary, working heating, compliant electrics. You can move in — but typically still missing: the premium fitted kitchen (often only the prepared connections), lighting, certain storage, the fitted terrace, the landscaped garden. See turnkey house for the details.

Move-in-ready house: everything above plus the fully fitted kitchen (furniture, appliances, worktop, connection), the bespoke integrated dressing rooms, the fitted terrace with covering, the main lighting, sometimes the motorised blinds and integrated furniture (bed in the master), and the basic exterior fittings (lawn, main driveway, street-side fence).

Ready-to-live-in house: marketing variant of move-in-ready, same inclusions or very similar. See ready-to-live-in house.

The move-in-ready construction is mainly intended for buyers wishing to avoid post-reception management (kitchen designer visits, terrace tile choices, landscaping quotes) — typically expats, mobile executives, retirees, rental investors wishing to rent quickly.

What a move-in-ready house concretely includes

The contents of a fully equipped house vary from builder to builder, but the 2026 standard usually comprises:

• Complete fitted kitchen: low and high units, worktop, sink, taps, hood, oven, hob, dishwasher, sometimes integrated fridge. Value €14,000 to €32,000 depending on standing.
• Master dressing room: integrated structure 4 to 6 linear metres, value €4,500 to €9,000.
• Fitted terrace: covering (tiling, composite wood, draining concrete slabs), value €6,000 to €18,000 depending on area.
• Main lighting: living-kitchen pendants, bathroom and entrance wall lights. Value €1,200 to €3,500.
• Motorised blinds or integrated roller shutters on main openings: €2,500 to €6,000.
• Basic exterior fittings: lawn, access driveway, street fence, sometimes plantings. Value €8,000 to €22,000.
• Basic home automation (option): connected thermostat, video intercom, sometimes programmable lighting.

Total additional inclusions: typically €35,000 to €90,000 compared to a basic turnkey, i.e. a relative additional cost of 8 to 15% on a project of €300 to €450,000.

Breyne Law warranties and move-in-ready

The applicable warranties are identical to any new construction under the Breyne Law:

• 5% security deposit retained until final reception (Article 12).
• Completion guarantee if the contractor is not registered.
• Two-stage reception: provisional + final one year later.
• Warranty of perfect completion: 1 year post-reception on visible defects.
• Two-year warranty: 2 years on separable equipment (kitchen, sanitary).
• Ten-year liability: 10 years on structural strength and watertightness, with mandatory Peeters insurance.

See breyne law explanation and ten-year liability for full modalities.

Point of attention: kitchen equipment and appliances are subject to the two-year construction warranty (2 years for separable) and to commercial manufacturer warranties (often 2 to 5 years). Carefully keep the invoices and manuals handed over at reception — without them, activating the manufacturer warranty is impossible.

Case study: 4-bedroom move-in-ready house in Walloon Brabant

A file audited by the firm in 2025: family acquires a 4-frontage 165 m² 4-bedroom villa in Walloon Brabant, move-in-ready formula, €426,000 incl. VAT 21% (purchase on land of 720 m² included).

Inclusions identified in the specifications:

• Kitchen €22,000 (Bulthaup-like, integrated Siemens appliances).
• Master dressing room + bedroom 2 dressing: €8,200.
• Composite wood terrace 32 m²: €14,600.
• Complete lighting: €2,800.
• Motorised blinds on upper floor: €4,800.
• Exterior fittings (lawn, paved driveway, fence, plantings): €18,500.
• Basic home automation (thermostat, video intercom): €3,200.

Total inclusions: €74,100. For an equivalent turnkey without these items, the price would have been around €352,000. Move-in-ready additional cost: €74,000 (21%), slightly above the standard range but justified by the high standing.

Net advantage: the family moved in the day after reception, without 6 to 8 months of additional works for kitchen, terrace and garden — estimated saving in rent saved: €8,400. Saving of effort and stress: not quantifiable but real.

Pitfalls to avoid for a move-in-ready house

• Reading the sales argument without the detailed specifications: “fitted kitchen” can mean basic IKEA kit or premium Bulthaup — the gap is 1 to 6.
• Confusing turnkey and move-in-ready in price comparison: 8 to 15% gap justified.
• Underestimating exclusions: rear garden layout, secondary driveway paving, outdoor furniture are often out of scope.
• Neglecting imposed aesthetic choices: fixed materials and brands, little personalisation possible.
• Forgetting to check the certificates: Peeters ten-year on the structure, manufacturer certificates on the equipment.
• Buying without an audit: move-in-ready additional cost amplifies the risk on technical choices.

Securing your move-in-ready purchase

Before signing, demand detailed specifications specifying brands, models, series and quantities for each inclusion. Have the Breyne Law contract and the detailed quotes audited. The firm Mon Etat Des Lieux offers Breyne Law support which covers the complete analysis of the contract and specifications. At delivery, inspection is even more critical than with standard turnkey because the additional equipment adds as many failure points — see provisional reception expert. Request a free quote within 24 hours. See also new-build house Liège and buying a new-build house for the broader market.