Hey there,
Welcome back to our blog! This week we’re talking all about some new homeowner to-do’s.
New Home, Who Dis?
So you’ve made it through the home-buying journey. Now the fun part starts. After moving, you’ll want to set up your new address … EVERYWHERE. Tell your family, your friends, your employer or their HR department, your creditors, your bank, your doctors and anyone else you can think of. Be sure to tell the U.S. Post Office about your move too. You can even set up mail forwarding from your old place to your new one so you never miss any mail.
BEFORE Getting Settled In …
Mark our words, cleaning and painting before you move in makes everything easier! Your home may or may not need some fresh paint but if it does, we promise it’s easier to paint a room with nothing in it versus painting a room with boxes and furniture in it.
You’ll also want to set up your utilities, including wifi, gas, water, electric and cable/tv. Setting up autopay for your utilities and mortgage is ideal! Keeps you up to date on payments without even thinking about it and it helps keep your credit looking amazing.
Better SAFE than SORRY
Time to change those locks, hide a spare key, get your alarm systems/camera systems up and running and be sure your motion lights have working bulbs in them. Don’t forget to reset your garage door codes and test your fire and carbon monoxide detectors. Lastly, check your hot water heater’s temperature so you won’t burn yourself when you go to test out your hot water. The best temp would be about 120 degrees.
Fail to Prepare then Prepare to Fail
Go ahead and get your maintenance plan all set by setting reminders in your calendar to do the following:
1. Clean your dryer hose and vent every year.
2. Change those HVAC filters every quarter.
3. Drain your water heater every year.
4. Clean those gutters every 6 months.
5. Replace the fridge’s water filters every 6 months.
6. Create a plan to fix some of those items on the inspection report that weren’t fixed by the sellers.
Survival Mode
Okay, as we said before … preparation is key! We do not want you panicking to figure any of this out during a real emergency, so do it now and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with it.
1. Locate your main water shut-off valve.
2. Find your circuit box, and label it.
3. Find the gas shut-off valve while you’re at it, if you have one.
5. Test your sump pump if you have one. Try to do this before the rainy season starts.
6. List emergency contacts on the fridge or somewhere you will be able to get to them quickly.
7. Place a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and one on each floor of your house.
8. Store an emergency supply kit somewhere you’ll remember and be sure it has a flashlight, some batteries, water, non perishable snacks/food, pet food, a first aid kit, some cash, feminine supplies and anything else you think you’d need.
Store the Important Docs
You know all those papers you signed at closing? Yeah, you want to keep those safe! I’d also scan myself a copy just to be on the safe side.
Get Cozy
Head on over and say hello to your new neighbors! They can be a great resource for what’s happening in the neighborhood. Be sure to connect with your new neighborhood on NextDoor too. It’s like a FaceBook for your community.
Well, we think that’s all we’d like to share with you for now. We know that was a lot but we prefer to have you well-educated and well-equipped versus confused and frustrated. As always, we are here to help however we can. Call us anytime with questions, concerns and/or success stories about how things are going in your new home!
