{"id":32261,"date":"2022-07-25T16:55:24","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T23:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=32261"},"modified":"2025-09-30T19:51:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T02:51:18","slug":"buyer-what-not-to-do-after-closing-on-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-what-not-to-do-after-closing-on-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s What NOT To Do After Closing On a House"},"content":{"rendered":"

As anyone who has done it can surely attest, there\u2019s much more to buying a house than simply agreeing on a purchase price<\/a> with the seller. The days or weeks between signing off on the contract and actually sitting down at the closing table are rife with obstacles and potential setbacks \u2014 it\u2019s not called the closing “process”<\/a> for nothing!<\/p>\n

During your closing journey, you\u2019ll probably be up to your ears in advice from both your real estate agent<\/a> and your mortgage lender<\/a>. The latter will be especially stringent in making sure you understand that now is definitely not<\/i> the time to buy a new car or charge a big vacation to your Amex, lest you make a financial move that impedes the underwriter\u2019s<\/a> ability to finalize your mortgage loan.<\/p>\n

But what about after<\/i> you\u2019ve closed on the home? While it\u2019s true that you can breathe a sigh of relief and not have to second-guess every decision involving your bank account once the keys are in your hands, there are still a few things you should keep in mind after the ink has dried on your closing documents<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With the help of Michael Marino<\/a>, a Las Vegas<\/a>-based real estate agent with 17 years of experience, we\u2019ll walk you through what not to do after closing on a house.<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t quit your day job<\/h2>\n

This one may sound obvious, but unless you have loads of cash squirreled away for a rainy day, you shouldn\u2019t quit your job right after closing on your new home.<\/p>\n

Though the inspection fees and other closing costs<\/a> will have been paid for by now, remember that your shiny new mortgage comes with a regular monthly payment. And while you\u2019d have to fall pretty far behind to be at risk of a pre-foreclosure property sale<\/a>, late mortgage payments can still impact your credit reports\u2014 as well as your credibility with the mortgage lender<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Many lenders are willing to extend a little wiggle room from time to time if they receive a heads-up that a payment will be late, but right after closing is not the time to call in with a plea for a grace period. Ideally, saving room in your budget to ensure you can make the first several mortgage payments without worry should be part of your pre-purchase gameplan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t forget to set up autopay<\/h2>\n

Most lenders will offer the opportunity to set up automatic payments to pull your monthly mortgage payment out of your bank account every month.<\/p>\n

Contact your mortgage loan servicer for details about how to do this as soon as possible so you don\u2019t get so swept in your move that you forget to make a payment! Some lenders will have an online portal for you to login and enter your bank details right away, while others might require you to take care of this over the phone. Either way, it beats sending a check via snail mail every time you need to make a payment.<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t skip documenting the condition of the house<\/h2>\n

Even after you\u2019ve ordered all the inspections<\/a> and navigated the final walkthrough<\/a> with an eagle eye and a magnifying glass, don\u2019t assume you\u2019ll remember exactly what every corner of your home looked like at the time of move-in.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re planning renovations, strategizing furniture<\/a> arrangement, or just prepping for a fresh coat of paint<\/a> in the kitchen, there may come a time when you\u2019ll find it helpful to be able to refer back to what the house used to look like.<\/p>\n

Snap lots of photos \u2014 or better yet, record a video \u2014 of every inch of your new home shortly after closing. Even if you don\u2019t end up needing the footage, those early records help preserve the fun memories of when you first moved in and the third bedroom was still bubblegum pink.<\/p>\n

\n There\u2019s always the little things that come up after closing. Things like getting your utilities transferred over, forwarding your mail, rekeying your house, and rekeying the mailbox \u2014 the first thing I would say is don\u2019t let any of those little things slip through the cracks.<\/q>\n
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