First, let us congratulate you! After spending countless days and nights crunching the numbers and reading piles of papers with due diligence, you’re now a bona fine homeowner! You might still be caught up in a flurry of different emotions—from excitement to stress to joy to relief. But if there’s one thing you certainly can’t seem to brush off is the question: “What’s next?”
As exciting as packing up all your belongings and moving them to your new home as soon as possible might sound, that might not be entirely advisable. This article will tell you why. There are a few things you need to do before you can call your new house a home.
Look back on what transpired
Don’t let the adrenaline rush from closing the sale distract you from reviewing the processes that transpired. That includes reviewing all pertinent documents to see if everything you need is covered. Also, once you’re done with the documents, keep them in a safe place. Needless to say, do not attempt to throw them out. In fact, it might be better to copy the receipts in case of loss or deterioration.
Another thing you have to look at is your insurance policy. You might not have the time to appreciate the terms of the said policy prior to the sale so now that you have time in your hands, familiarizing yourself with the terms should be on your list. This is important so that you’ll have an idea about your rights should there be a need to file a claim.
Now, you might also want to review your payment schedule and mark your calendars as far as your first mortgage payment is concerned so that you won’t forget.
Inspect your new home
Now that the boring part—aka the documents— is taken care of, you can now focus your attention on your new home.
Do a proper checklist of your new home to make sure everything is in order. You can start either way you like but we suggest do it per area—you can start at the living area, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, etc., all the while keeping notes of the various systems present in each area such as electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and the like. While you’re at it, also check your smoke detectors if they’re functional.
When cleaning, do a thorough floor-to-ceiling sweep of the entire house before you move in your furniture.
You might also want to use this opportunity to update your pertinent records as far as your address is concerned. You don’t want your mail to find its way to your old address. You can also scout and compare companies that offer utility services such as trash, sewage, or gas.
Once you’ve ticked all the boxes in your checklist, the last step you need to do is to make sure all the locks have been replaced.
Improve the aesthetics
This one is optional. However, if ever you find that some parts of the house may need a little TLC, then you should go ahead and proceed with the renovations. Do this while you haven’t moved in yet otherwise, it might be a little crowded, dusty, and messy.
Becoming a homeowner is an exciting and nerve-wracking experience; it can sometimes be overwhelming, but don’t lose sight of the things you have to do as a homeowner. The key to a peaceful occupancy of your new home is proper preparation. If you have questions about the home buying process or need help figuring out what to do next, don’t hesitate to contact us.
