You’ve closed on a house! Congratulations, now come the next few significant steps. After navigating through a month of escrow fees, inspections, and back and forths with the seller: the home is finally yours. You have to take a few steps to get your family started up, and you must handle all of these as soon as possible.
Contact the Electric, Gas, and Water Companies
The first thing you should do is contact any necessary utility companies so that you can activate service for your home. Although you could have also done this when you first considered buying and were factoring in your costs into a house payment calculator, it’s best to do it as soon as possible. This will ensure your home is livable.
Contact Local Homeowners’ Association
Not every home has an HOA, but those who do need to contact the local association to ensure everything is in line. Some HOAs will even reach out to you after a week or two in the neighborhood to ensure you know how vital membership is and where your monthly payments go. This choice is a great way to meet your neighbors and get to know the area.
Change Your Address On Important Documentation
Contact your credit card companies, family, any debtors, and your employer and let them know about the change of address. This practice could mean having to type up your address a couple of dozen times, which will help you memorize it in the long term! It’s better to get this done early so that necessary documentation isn’t sent to the wrong address.
Contact Insect and Bug Control
Many homebuyers don’t consider this, but you should get insect control to your home early. They can spray or clear out your yard, and you can rest easier knowing that no creepy crawlies are going to make their way into your house. If you live in an area with tons of rodents, this may need to be taken care of as well, but you should heavily research local laws for homeowners when hiring an exterminator for these creatures.
Be Knowledgeable About Your Home
Now is the time to figure out where everything necessary in your home is. This planning means locating the breaker box, your water cut-offs, and anything else you’ll need to know in an emergency. This moment is also the time to change your locks and set up a security system.
Change Filters and Check Windows and Doors
Moving in is when you should start looking at ways to make your beautiful new home more energy-efficient. Change out your filters to ensure your air is clean, and then check for drafts in your home. You can do this in several ways, but the most simple is using a lighter or candle. Hold this lit flame by your windows and doors, and if it pulls or dances, you know you have an air leak. Take care of this sooner, rather than later, to keep your energy bills down.
