WELCOME TO YOUR NEW PROPERTY: NEXT STEPS
You just closed at the title company and got the keys. Now what?
1. Secure your home
The first thing you should do when you buy a house is change the locks, garage codes and access to any other entry points. Lior Rachmany, CEO of Dumbo Moving and Storage in Brooklyn, New York, recommends taking care of these security-related tasks before you move in. “You don’t want the previous homeowners to have the ability to enter your home,” he says.
2. Review your home warranty
Some homebuyers receive a home warranty purchased by the seller to cover the home’s major systems or appliances. (After all, the last thing a buyer wants to deal with is a broken dishwasher or HVAC unit.) If you received a home warranty, review the specifics so you know what’s covered and how to file a claim.
3. Connect the utilities
Be sure to connect all of your must-have utilities — like water, gas and electricity — before you move in. This will help pave the way for a smooth move and ensure you have the essential necessities as you’re getting settled. No one wants to unpack boxes in the dark.
4. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
To help ensure you and your family are safe in your new home, make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working condition. This may include installing fresh batteries or replacing entire units.
5. Find the circuit box, review emergency shut-offs and appliance manuals
Even if your new home isn’t brand-new, it’s new to you! So it’s vital to understand how things work. Make sure you know where the emergency shut-offs and circuit-breaker box are. If the box isn’t labeled, add labels to the individual circuits so you know which ones go to which room or appliance. And gather up all the appliance manuals for easy reference if needed.
6. Refresh the paint and flooring
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make a house your home is to give the interior a fresh coat of paint. Unlike renters, as an owner you can dictate your color palette and timeline; it’s all on your terms. If you get the painting done (either DIY or with help from a professional) before moving your furniture in, you won’t have to move pieces around again and worry about drips or splatters.
7. Use your inspection report as a to-do list for upkeep
After you buy a house, Gonzalez says, review any issues that were flagged on the home inspection report but are not yet fixed. Using the report as a guide, make a list of things to repair, update or maintain for the future, ranking them from most to least urgent. You’ll want to address items that can potentially cause problems later, such as dirty gutters, leaky pipes or doors and windows that need to be resealed.
8. Create a regular maintenance schedule
Think of maintaining your new home as a marathon rather than a sprint. Instead of trying to tackle all of the maintenance tasks immediately, be thoughtful about the things that need to be done over time. This may include replacing air filters, cleaning the gutters, pressure washing the exterior and more.
