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Your Guide to Prepping Your New Home or Condo for Move In
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Even the most straightforward home-buying experience can create stress for home buyers, and this can be elevated when you have bought and sold a house at the same time. Now that you have signed all of the important documentation and have keys to your new home in hand, you may be ready to move in and get settled.
However, before moving into a new home, there are a few important steps to take that will help you to make a smooth transition and enjoy your property from day one. What are the first things to do after buying a house?
Set Up Your Utilities
The previous homeowners have likely shut off the utilities to the house by the closing date. You understandably need access to electricity and water immediately, so one of the first things to even before the home closes is to contact the utility companies. Your agent should send you a reminder the week before closing and provide all contact details for all of your utilities.
It can take several days for the services to be transferred or turned on. Remember to also schedule any and all services including trash, water, as well as internet and cable TV services. In some cases, connection service appointments may not be available until the following week or longer.
Focus on Home Security
At closing, you should have received the previous owner’s keys and garage door openers. However, you cannot be certain that these are the only keys and openers that they had. In some cases, their friends, neighbors, or nearby family members may have been given keys as well.
Before moving in, hire a locksmith to re-key the locks and reprogram the garage door openers so that nobody else has access to your house. For added peace of mind when you buy a new home, you can consider installing a home security system, even something as simple as the Amazon Blink can do a lot to deter would-be burglars. You should also consider updating the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Deep Clean Your New Home
Most real estate sales contracts do not specifically require the previous owner to deep clean the house after moving out. As a courtesy, most sellers will at least do some light house cleaning.
However, many new homeowners prefer to know that the kitchen and bathrooms have been professionally sanitized, the carpet has been deep cleaned and other areas have received their due attention as well. The best time to schedule a deep cleaning service is after you have finished moving in.
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Check Out the Utility Connections
While you may not want to think about something like an electrical issue or a ruptured pipe before you have even unpacked your boxes in your new home, the reality is that these things can happen at any time. Take a few minutes to learn where your circuit breaker box and main water valve are.
In some cases, a buyer is aware of issues through their property inspection report. These issues should be addressed by a licensed professional as soon as possible.
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Visit the Post Office
You can conveniently place a temporary change of address order with the post office online. This will transfer all of your mail to your new address for a limited period of time. After taking this step, make a list of all of your banks, lenders, creditors, insurance companies, and others that you do business with. Contact each one individually to update your address.
You also may need to visit your new local post office to get keys to your cluster mailbox if your new home is a condo.
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Read Your Home Warranty and Property Insurance Coverage
Your home warranty and property insurance coverage can help you minimize out-of-pocket expenses when you run into a repair issue or property damage. It is important to understand what specific items are covered so that you can take advantage of your coverage as needed in the years to come.
While reviewing your insurance coverage, ensure that your deductible is affordable. You can also contact your insurance company to review optional coverages that may benefit you.
Make a Maintenance Plan
Regular maintenance is a critical aspect of homeownership. Some maintenance tasks should be completed every few months, such as changing the air filters and servicing the water purifier. Other tasks may only need your attention annually, such as draining your hot water heater tank or inspecting the fire extinguishers. A few of the many other tasks to include are:
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Cleaning the showerheads and faucets
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Servicing the HVAC system
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Re-sealing doors and windows
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Scheduling a roof inspection
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Touching up the paint
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Refinishing a wood deck
By creating a plan, you can stay on top of maintenance needs and avoid having the chores pile up. Regular property maintenance may even help you to sell your house more quickly and easily down the road.
Update the Décor
Many people spend months or longer after they move into a new home making design changes. They may replace the kitchen tile in one month and paint the bathroom another month as time permits. However, if you have the time and funds available to update the décor before you move in, you may have a better experience.
By updating the décor upfront, you don’t have to worry about contractors disrupting your home life, moving your furniture, and making other accommodations. Are you planning to buy new furniture in the near future? Rather than moving unwanted furniture into your new home, consider having your new furniture delivered right away.
Get Ready to Move In
It is understandable that you are excited to move into your new home, but the last thing that you want is to be inundated with a lengthy to-do list from day one. You can get your life in your new home off to a great start by taking these steps before moving in.
Get In Touch With Evan!
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Evan Harlow is an award-winning Realtor on Maui ranking in the top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide. Evan has the expertise, experience, and work ethic to help you achieve your real estate buying and selling goals. We promise exceptional service and support from the beginning of the process through closing and beyond. See what our clients are saying on Google.
Posted by Evan Harlow R(S) 82003 on
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