Here\u2019s a complete list of what you need to do after buying your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\n <\/div>\n \n A Top Agent Can Help You Find A House You Can Afford<\/h3>\n
We analyze millions of home sales to find buyer’s agents who will show you the right home at the right price. Our service is 100% free, with no catch. Agents don\u2019t pay us to be listed, so you get the best match.<\/p>\n \n
Set up your new address everywhere<\/h2>\n
Now that you\u2019re in your new digs, people need to be able to find you. Make sure to notify your friends and family. You want to get all your holiday cards, right?<\/p>\n
Next is your employer \u2014 this one is important and frequently forgotten, so make sure you drop your HR department a line so they can update their records.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t make the mistake of forgetting your creditors! The last thing you want is a ding to your credit score because a bill went to the wrong place.<\/p>\n
Finally, the U.S. Post Office needs to know your new address. Set up mail forwarding <\/a>from your old place to your new home to make sure you don\u2019t miss any important correspondence.<\/p>\n You probably set up homeowners\u2019 insurance while you were processing your mortgage paperwork<\/a>, which is great. But your address can affect your car insurance as well, so make sure to check in with your insurance company to confirm that your car insurance is sufficient.<\/p>\n Talk to your agent about how your big, new asset affects your other insurance products \u2014 many agencies offer a bundling discount, so don\u2019t leave money on the table by not bundling all your insurance products.<\/p>\n Do you need flood insurance? Even if FEMA doesn\u2019t require it, it might be a good idea to add it, since floods are the most common natural disaster<\/a> in the U.S. and cause thousands of dollars in damage every year.<\/p>\n And what about earthquake insurance? If you\u2019re on the West Coast, don\u2019t make the mistake of thinking your homeowners\u2019 policy will cover you in an earthquake \u2014 it won\u2019t. The California Earthquake Authority has a premium calculator<\/a> on their site, although you do have to purchase insurance through a participating insurance company.<\/p>\n Do you need to document your belongings for your new homeowners\u2019 insurance policy? Homeowners\u2019 policies contain a section about insuring the contents of your home, and it\u2019s a good idea to create a home inventory<\/a> so you know what level of insurance you need. If you\u2019re unsure of where to start, ask your agent about the best way to do this \u2014 and make sure you store the documentation somewhere safe.<\/p>\n Are you going to buy a home warranty<\/a>? Now is the time! Home warranties cover a whole host of things, from air conditioners to plumbing to simply rekeying your house<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sometimes real estate agents will try to negotiate a home warranty to be paid by the seller for a year or so. \u201cWhen I write up an offer, I\u2019m always asking the seller to pay for a home warranty,\u201d explains top-selling Charlotte real estate agent Greg Martin<\/a>. But if that doesn\u2019t happen, it\u2019s a good idea to look into a home warranty yourself.<\/p>\n \u201cIf something happens and you call the warranty company, then they will send somebody out. I recommend it for everybody,\u201d continues Martin.<\/p>\n A lot of buyers aren\u2019t organized enough to clean and paint before they move in, but it makes everything easier if you can swing it!<\/p>\n Try to get at least a thorough cleaning done before you move all your stuff in, and if you can, get all your painting<\/a> done.\u00a0 It\u2019s much easier to paint an empty room than a room packed with furniture.<\/p>\n Your new home might not have any window treatments; if not, they should be at the top of your list of things to purchase (you don\u2019t want to give your new neighbors a bad first impression, after all).<\/p>\n Check to see if the house has horizontal and vertical blinds, and make sure you like the style. If not, make a list of all the windows that need treatments and the measurements of those windows so you have it handy at the hardware store or when you\u2019re ordering online.<\/p>\n In case of emergency, you definitely need to know where everything is in your new home!<\/p>\n First, the main water shut-off valve<\/b> \u2014 sometimes this is in the garage. Sometimes it\u2019s in the basement or crawl space. Make sure you know how to shut off your water in case a faucet breaks or a sink starts leaking.<\/p>\n Next, find the circuit box<\/b> and make sure your fuses or switches are well-labeled. Nothing is more frustrating than blowing a fuse and having to check each one individually because nothing is labeled. And you might be surprised \u2014 sometimes fuses from different parts of the house are tied together on one switch, so do your homework early and don\u2019t be left scratching your head during an outage.<\/p>\n Find the gas shut-off valve<\/b>, if applicable. During a natural disaster, the first directive is often to shut off the gas, so it\u2019s super important to know where the gas shutoff valve is. If at some point you smell gas in the house and need to shut it off, you don\u2019t want to have to go searching for the valve while your house fills with gas.<\/p>\n If you have a sump pump<\/b>, make sure to test it. Sump pumps are amazing if they\u2019re used correctly, but if not, they can lead to thousands of dollars worth of damage. They are located in the basement or crawl space of a home, and they ensure that if there is standing water in your home, it is pumped out into your storm sewer or a containment pond.\u00a0 The Roto Rooter website has some great step-by-step videos<\/a> for checking your sump pump and maintaining it properly.<\/p>\n In the United States, more than 20% of homes<\/a> rely on a septic system<\/b> for treating wastewater. If you fall into this category, you\u2019ll need to perform regular maintenance on your septic tank to make sure you don\u2019t end up with a malfunction.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a good idea to hire a professional to inspect your septic system<\/a>, if you didn\u2019t do so during closing of your loan. Septic tanks need to be pumped every three to five years, so make sure you have all the details on when maintenance was last performed on your system. There are different types of septic systems and several variables that can affect how they function, so hiring a professional in this case is probably your best bet.<\/p>\n Make sure that before you move into your new home, you change all the locks, garage codes, and security codes. You don\u2019t want the previous homeowners (or their friends) to have access to your house because you forgot this important step.<\/p>\n If you are putting this off, check for hidden spare keys on the property in places like the tops of door frames and under rocks on the porch. (But your best bet is to change the locks ASAP.)<\/p>\n Have extra keys made so you can get in if you\u2019re locked out! You don\u2019t want to have to chance breaking one of your new screens or windows by crawling through when you\u2019re stuck outside. You can get hide-a-key rocks and figurines online, so hide one in your yard or garden and ensure you\u2019re never locked out.<\/p>\n Reset any security<\/a> codes \u2014 garage, alarms, even locks sometimes have security codes, so make sure you change all of the codes before settling into your new digs.<\/p>\n Water in your new house running too hot or too cold? Check the heat on your water heater and reset it if you aren\u2019t comfortable with the temperature setting.<\/p>\n Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Carbon monoxide is called \u201cthe quiet killer\u201d for a reason \u2014 it is odorless, colorless, and leaks are soundless, so there is no way to know if it\u2019s in your house unless you have a working<\/i> carbon monoxide detector. Replace the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors around your new home to make sure they\u2019re in working order.<\/p>\n Place fire extinguishers in the house \u2014 there should be one in the kitchen and one on each floor of the house. And set up an emergency kit and place it somewhere you\u2019ll remember, making sure to check it every six months for expired products. Emergency kits should include items like<\/a>:<\/p>\n You can tailor your emergency kit, so sit down and make a list of those day-to-day items your family needs.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re in your new home, set up your utilities, including gas, water, electric, Internet, and cable\/television. Then, set up autopay everywhere you can to keep your credit pristine and avoid missing any utility payments. Check all the lights in your new house and replace any bulbs that are out.<\/p>\n Your new house requires maintenance<\/a> not included in everyday cleaning and tidying up. These duties include:<\/p>\n Go and say hello to your new neighbors! Neighbors can be an incredible resource for the goings-on in the neighborhood, and can also give recommendations for handymen, landscaping, and so on.<\/p>\n Does your neighborhood have a neighborhood watch? Are there neighborhood meetings you should be attending? Does the neighborhood have an annual block party or barbecue? NextDoor<\/a>, a social network specifically for your neighborhood, is also a great way to stay informed about events, sharing safety tips, and even finding babysitters\/house sitters. \u00a0 If you\u2019re unsure about how to introduce yourself, a small party<\/a> can be a great icebreaker for meeting your neighbors as well.<\/p>\n First and foremost, if you don\u2019t have a fireproof file box, get one to store your important documentation in. Make sure you have copies of your mortgage documents and insurance documents stashed somewhere safe (like in the fireproof box).<\/p>\n Do you have a will? If you don\u2019t, you probably should now that you have a large asset. If you do have a will or any other inheritance documents, be sure to have your lawyer rewrite it to include your new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Understand the costs associated with buying a home and find out what safe budgeting looks like.<\/p>\n \n Insurance<\/h2>\n
Home warranties<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Cleaning and painting<\/h2>\n
Get to know your new home<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Security<\/h2>\n
Safety<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Living<\/h2>\n
Make a maintenance plan<\/h2>\n
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Introduce yourself to the neighbors<\/h2>\n
Documents<\/h2>\n
\n <\/div>\n \n Discover How Much Home You Can Afford With Our Home Affordability Calculator<\/h3>\n