Friday, November 12, 2021 / by Sushma Khinvasara
Warning: Here’s What Every Home Buyer Needs to Do immediately after Closing
Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels.
Congratulations on your home purchase! Now, what's next? Moving into a new house can give you a lot of excitement, and work to do as well. But before you start to feel overwhelmed with the million things to do in your new house, create a checklist to help you determine where to start. Most importantly, focus on the tasks that you should not delay in doing after you move in. So, here's what every home buyer needs to do immediately after closing a home purchase.
First, change all the locks
The purchase agreement will require the seller to turn over all of their keys to you. But who else might have a copy of the keys as well? Could it be the contractors? real estate agents? other previously hired workers? Or maybe the seller forgot that they lent their keys to a relative or a friend? Instead of worrying about these possibilities, you'll have peace of mind when you change the locks. You can buy and install these new locks yourself or hire a locksmith to do the job. And don't forget to change the code on doors that have keypads, if there's any.
Second, update your address information
Friends and family are probably the first to know about your new location. But guess who else needs to know that you've moved into a new home? There are a couple of them, and these people and companies need to be updated with your address information too. These may include but not limited to utility companies, bank, health and car insurance, credit card and loan providers, your employer, tax agencies, subscription services and others. And don't forget to change the address in your driver's license and other important IDs as well.
Third, make the place your own
Take advantage of your place not having any furniture yet. It's the best time to do deep cleaning, wiping the walls and mopping the floors. You might want to apply a fresh coat of paint to your walls and ceilings according to your preferred color. Take an inventory of what you want to improve or replace such as electric plug covers, doorknobs, light fixtures, doors and other items. You'd also probably want to take measurements of each part of your house, including the window, to help you plan well and get the right size of furniture and curtain for your new home. You can do all of this yourself or hire a professional to do it for you.
Fourth, check heating and cooling systems
Make sure to check if your HVAC is up and running, and that the vents are clean. When you first move, you might not need these systems yet depending on the current season but you'd surely need it later on. Make sure to check the filters on your AC to improve air quality and remove odors, plus it can help you save money in the long run.
Fifth, decide on how to do home maintenance
Maximize the use of the home inspection report given to you before closing. The report lists all the issues in the house that needs to be fixed. The previous owner might have addressed major issues with the house, and you might be left with minor fixes to deal with. Regardless, it takes effort and money to maintain a house. To help you get started, why not make a list of items that require regular or periodic maintenance and rank them according to priority.
So, these are the few things you need to take care of as soon as you move into your new home. There is more work that needs to be done, but don't let it take away the joy and excitement that comes along with getting your new place. So, go ahead and have a countdown of the closing date on your new house. Happy moving!
If you have any questions or need help buying your home, I can help. You can contact me at 647-834-9928 or send an email to sukhinvasara@gmail.com