So, you just purchased a house. Congratulations!! I’m so happy for you. The closing is over and you just unloaded the last of your boxes into the house. You are ready to make this house your home. Now what? Before you get caught up in the cleaning, unpacking, and rearranging, I recommend checking these things off your ‘To Do’ list first.
Change all exterior locks and update your keypad codes on doors and garage.
Chances are, your agent or the seller will hand over all the keys to you at closing. Even though the seller was a nice person, you have no idea who they have given copies of the house key to. For your personal security and peace of mind, I recommend changing all the locks. You can purchase several new door knobs, bring them to a local hardware store and have them all keyed to the same key. This way, you have one key for multiple doors instead of 3-4 different keys.
Change batteries in thermostats, smoke & carbon monoxide detectors.
The thermostat and detectors might be working now, but it’s always a good idea to have fresh batteries in these crucial devices. This way, you know the exact date they were changed and they work. You can also make a note of when to change them in the future. Another important household item to change is the furnace filter. This will also improve the air quality of your home if it’s forced air.
Update address with the DMV, USPS, local bank, doctor’s office, etc.
This should be a no-brainier, but in the off chance you forgot in the midst of moving, this is your reminder! You wouldn’t want to miss an important document if the proper channels don’t have the correct address.
Store important closing documents in a fireproof safe or deposit box.
God forbid there is a natural disaster, and you have to evacuate. If this is the case, you want to make sure all your important documents on the house are easily accessible. Documents like title insurance, your deed, passports, birth certificates and insurance information are all a pain to replace if it comes to that. A lender I work with, Phil Reece from Homestead Funding, highly recommends storing a physical and digital copy of your title insurance policy. If you sell in future and there is a major title issue, that policy could save you so much time and headache. He also notes, that these policies are not part of public record like your deed. For this reason it makes it all the more important to save and easily access it if need be.
Familiarize yourself with emergency shut offs.
The worst time to learn where these emergency shut offs are located is when you need them. Know where your shut offs are and know how to turn them off. You can even write the instructions for the shut offs on a note card, and keep them in close proximity to them so you have it.
What is the best advice you ever received when you first bought a house?
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