You are right to be wary of house buildrs year-end.
Howvere you have been sensible, taken your time and thus far protected yourself for the many pitfalls of buying a new home.
Firstly, your solicitor is NOT one of Miller choices. Indeed a family friend that will most definitely have only your best interests in mind.
Secondly, you have chosen Miller, who are in my opinion, one of the better housebuilders. They have a very low homes built per : NHBC Quality awards won ratio. Indeed, the best builder on this score for many years until this year (pipped by Cala)
They are rated five stars by their purchasers and have been for each year since 2012. That is nto to say youwill get a good site manager or a well built house - but you have minimised the risk.
Finally, you have stated that you are going to use a Professional Snagging Inspector. Could I suggest Martyn Maxwell of Brickkickers.co.uk
To avoid a rushed house, ask your solicitor now to write to Miller Homes and tell them that:
"My client has stated he intends to have the home independently and professionally snagged and inspected by Brickkickers prior to legal completion. I have advised my client not to complete until he is fully satisfied the home is 100% finished to a reasonably good standard, with any and all items noted by the inspector rectified prior to legal completion."
This will mean, given there is still plenty of time, that your home will be started earlier, giving Miller more time to do a better job. It will also mean Miller site team is forewarned what you expect and that a professional will be inspecting prior to legal completion, which could delay this beyond Miller Homes' year-end.
This should give your home a priority (if one is needed) with the better tradesmen on site working on your home in preference to the others and more inspections by site management during the build.
In the nine years I have been running my websites, this is the first occasion where I have come across a new home buyer that has done research and is taking every possible, sensible step to protect himself. I am sure you will end up with a better new home as a result.
Perhaps as you have obviously made good use of the information and advice provided, you would be kind enough to make a donation.