Being a new homeowner doesn’t have to be as stressful as you think!
Congrats! The next chapter of your life is beginning and you’ve earned the title of homeowner. After you sign the paperwork at closing (and get those keys!), there are some things you’ll need to do to make easing into homeownership easy. Now, I’m sure you’re thinking so many things – I just bought a house, what’s next? But relax – we have you covered with some of the basics.
Pre-Closing
After you make an offer and it’s accepted, there are a few “musts” you need to do before you head to closing (which could take a few weeks or months).
The first is to get a home inspection. This inspection will help you and your attorney ensure anything that needs to be updated or fixed can be conveyed to the home’s current owner ahead of closing. You should be able to do another walk-through as the closing date nears to make sure everything was addressed.
Next, get homeowner’s insurance. You won’t be able to go to closing without this. The insurance company will ask you details about the home such as square footage, updates to the roof and if the property has a pool. The more accurate details you have, the better coverage you’ll get.
Third, secure a mortgage rate from the bank. While you were probably pre-approved, there could be room for negotiation. It never hurts to ask for a lower rate, if it’s being offered.
Lastly, call the utilities companies. Find out ahead of time what utilities are in the home, like electric, heat and water. Alert utilities companies ahead of time that you’ll be moving into the home and taking over the bills. This will ensure that there’s no interruption in service.
At Closing
Read, read, read everything before you sign and put your money down. Closing on your first home can be overwhelming, but if you have a good real estate agent and attorney, they will walk you through the process. Make sure to ask any questions you may have before you sign your name on the dotted line. And if something doesn’t look right in the paperwork, make sure you speak up!
You’re a Homeowner!
If you haven’t done it already, make sure to contact the utilities. The last thing you need in your new home is for the power to go out!
Next, change those locks! Yes, it’s exciting to walk in with the keys handed to you. But you’ll want to maintain your privacy with new locks.
Check the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. If they aren’t up to date, make sure to replace them. You may also want to consider getting fire extinguishers that are easily accessible in case of an emergency.
Update your address. Just like you did when you got married and changed your name, you’re going to want to go through that whole list again to change your address. Start with the DMV and go from there. Don’t forget any subscriptions – ie. magazines, medication, Amazon. And don’t forget your credit cards.
Consider a deep clean. While the homeowner probably cleaned before you went to closing, you might want to consider hiring a cleaning service for a deep clean. If you feel up to it, you can do it yourself. Make a fun day of it – and allow yourself time to envision how you will decorate your new home. And make sure you change those toilet seats!
Find out the garbage schedule! If you’re doing that deep clean, you may have some extra garbage right away. It’s important to find out the garbage and recycling schedule so know you when to bring out that trash. You can easily find this by contacting the town.
The Fun Part
Once you get through the important things like utilities and changing your mailing address, then you can get down to the fun stuff!
As you walk through the front door of your new home, you may have so many ideas of what you want to do. While some homes are move-in ready, others may require a little work. It’s important that you walk through the home and figure out what actually NEEDS to be done versus what you’d like to do in the future. For example, if the home has hardwood floors and need to be updated, it might be best to stain those floors BEFORE you actually move your furniture in.
And the same goes for paint. The best first way to put your personal touch on your new home is to paint! It’s much easier to do this before you move in, as you don’t have to worry about covering everything you own. You can certainly do this yourself with your spouse or friends. But you can hire a professional depending on your budget.
Introduce yourself to your new neighbors. Owning a home can be much easier when you are friendly with your neighbors. While you don’t have to be best friends with them – though that can be fun – it’s nice to have people looking out for your home while you’re not that. Plus, they can give you recommendations and the low-down on the neighborhood.
Explore your new home. Not just your actual home, but the neighborhood. Take walks. Find your new favorite restaurants. Look for the best grocery store.
Owning a home is such an exciting time. And the best part is – it’s all yours. If you don’t like something, just change it. It will be fun to look back to when you signed on the dotted line to years later when you’ve added a nice patio or completely renovated to make it even more of you and your spouse.