Congratulations, you’re officially a homeowner! Or about to be if you’re reading this post. Whether or not this is your first time owning a home we are going to cover a list of things that need to be done for your new home! Buying a home can be quite a process, but once everything is done and you’re settled in you will finally be able to enjoy your new home.
There’s a lot going on. You’ve gone through the closing process with all of its ups and downs and you’ve been packing to move! Even though getting the keys to your new home is exciting, you aren’t finished quite yet. You still have to move in and get your new home ready to live in. This post will cover what happens after a house closing and what new homeowners need to do.
Before Your Closing Day
There are a few things that need to be done prior to your closing day. Read this post to know what needs to be done during the closing process. We’ll layout the major things here. Getting your new home move in ready can take a few days, so you might want to go ahead and schedule some vacation days for work after your closing day. Here’s why:
- Once you officially own your own home, you will need to be present for some installations to be done, like cable and internet hookups. Hopefully you will be able to transfer your services, but if not then you will need to find a new provider. Look into this before your closing day so you can set up an installation appointment during your scheduled time off.
- You will also want to schedule time to get your home security system setup. Be sure that you talk to the maintenance personnel so you know how your security system will work. If anything needs to be setup online or on your phone, go ahead and take care of this while your mind is on it.
- There are some things that should already be schedule for your closing day. Your utilities should already be transferred to start on the day you officially own your new home. If you want more information on what homebuyers need to know, check out this post for a list of things to be prepared for.
- You can also schedule some maintenance and cleaning during your days off from work. We will cover in the next section below.
- And of course, the biggest reason you may want to take a few days off of work is so you can unpack and organize your new home! This way you can settle in faster and enjoy your new purchase.
New Homeowner Checklist
Now that we have gone over the things that need to get done prior to your closing day, let’s focus on what you can do once you get the keys to your new home. We have put them in order of what we would do first, but sort this list to your preference of what will work best for you. Here is a list of things to take care once the home is officially yours:
- Take a copy of the deed to your local courthouse to file your new homestead! Yay!
- On your closing day you need to officially change your address. You can either go to the post office or make this online.
- Before you move in, you may want the house professionally cleaned, or you can do it yourself! If you’re bringing in the professionals, have this scheduled ahead of time.
- Along with getting your house cleaned, now is a good time to get a pest exterminator in. Schedule this ahead of time as well if you can.
- You can take this time to get any repairs done in the house. Anything that was not taken care of after the home inspection can be done now. Wondering what to look for in a home inspection or just want to know more about this process? Check out a post on this here.
- This is also the time to get the locks changed. Go ahead and make sure you have all the keys and remotes, including the garage door remote, for everything in your new home. Make a list of any batteries you may need.
- While you are getting keys made, get an extra set made to have a spare set. This is a good time to figure out where the extra set goes as a backup plan just in case you get locked out of your home.
- Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace any if needed.
- Inspect water heater water tank and your HVAC unit. Make sure you know where everything is.
- Get familiar with your home. Find shut off valves for your water and gas so you know where these are located ahead of time in case an emergency occurs. Also find the circuit breaker for your electricity.
- Now is the perfect time to create a fire emergency plan. If you haven’t had one before, moving into a new home is the perfect time to implement this plan.
- Find new providers for plumbing, electricity, cleaning, handymen, pest control, lawn care and other services in your area. Go ahead and find the nearest hospital near you and the closest vet emergency if you have pets.
- While you’re making a list of places close by, find out where the closest grocery stores and gas stations are to you, just in case you have to run out for anything last minute or late at night.
- You can also look for new homeowner discounts to save money!
- Now it’s time to get your things unpacked. Go ahead and organize while you’re unpacking, kill two birds with one stone!
- If you don’t have a fireproof safe already, go ahead and purchase one. Put all of the documents for your house inside including any receipts or warranties for the appliances or inspections that have been done. Going forward keep any receipts for your home here, including repairs, inspections, maintenance, and property tax.
- Create a list of nearby places you can order food from! If you like to have a hard copy, pick up take out menus so you can order meals easily.
- Be sure to meet your neighbors! They can also give you suggestions on what providers and services they use.
- Get to know your new neighborhood. Drive around and get a feel for what shops and restaurants are around. Also find alternate routes to get to and from your home other than the main road if possible.
- Now that you’re finished, it’s time to celebrate your new home! Once you have done everything and gotten unpacked, it’s time to relax! Throw a party and have your friends over and even your new neighbors. Enjoy all the work you’ve done for your new home!
Whew! That was a lot, but now you can rest assured that your home is prepped and good to go. Getting everything done and organized now will save your trouble later on. There are a few other things you can do for your new home as well. If you are interested in making your home more energy efficient, we’ve got some ideas for you!
Make Your New Home More Energy Efficient
Moving into a new home is the perfect time to start fresh! So, just like implementing a fire plan, you can also have a clean start with your new home and make some changes so it’s more energy efficient. Here are a few ideas for you to start with:
- Make sure there is enough insulation in your attic and add more if needed. This is important to keep the heating and cooling energy efficient in your home.
- The types of windows you use can make a huge difference. Be sure that all the windows in your home are double to triple pane windows.
- Make sure the seals on doors and windows are tight and there are no leaks. Installing storm doors is a good idea as well. Storm doors create an extra layer that keeps warm air inside during the winter and cool air inside during the summer.
- Have ceiling fans installed in every room so that there can be more air flow throughout the house. This decreases pressure on your air conditioning system.
- Replace all the air filters in your home. Old air filters aren’t as energy efficient and will cause your HVAC to work harder. Plus, having new air filters increases the indoor quality of air in your home.
- Change all of your light bulbs to LED bulbs. LED light bulbs are more energy efficient and also last longer than standard bulbs. Or, you could use CFL light bulbs (compact fluorescent lamp) for the same energy efficient effect in your home.
- Make sure that you don’t have any plumbing issues that can cost you on your utility bill. Check and make sure there are no leaking faucets or toilets throughout your home.
- Create a home maintenance checklist for you home so that you have a schedule. Break down your list by season or have one or two things to do each month so you don’t have a big to-do list. By creating a home maintenance checklist, you will ensure that your home stays in tip top shape.
If you want more ideas, consider scheduling an energy audit to see exactly what needs to be done in your home. A new home is the perfect time to create different habits. It’s your new home, so figure out what you want and make it happen!
Congratulations on Your New Home!
So there you have it! These are the things that need to be done as a new homeowner. Even though it can be a stressful process, being a homeowner is exciting! Share your comments below if you have any other helpful tips for new homeowners. Click here for some moving tips to make sure your move goes as smoothly as possible!
