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10 steps to make in the first 30 days of Home Ownership
Congratulations on achieving the milestone of home ownership! Now that you’ve successfully acquired your new residence, it’s time to ensure a smooth transition into this exciting chapter of your life. Here are 10 essential tasks and precautions to consider making in the first 30 days of home ownership:
Change the Locks and Secure Entryways
Changing the locks is such an important step to make when you first gain ownership of your new home. After all, you have no idea how many copies of the key have been made, or who they have been given out to. So as soon as you take possession of your new home, it’s crucial to change the locks on all exterior doors, and don’t forget about the garage and any storage on the property. You’ll want to secure those as well. Also, check out the hardware around your entry points and update them if need be. Additionally, If you have a smart lock system in your home change the password. Taking these small steps is a simple way for you to secure your home against any unwanted visitors.
Locate and Learn How to Operate Your Main Shutoffs
You never know when an emergency may strike. So, it’s best to be prepared for whatever may come. Once you’ve secured the outside of your home, you should work on familiarizing yourself with the inside of your home. To start, identify the location of essential utilities such as water, gas, and electricity shutoff valves. Knowing where these are and how to turn them off can prevent potential destruction of your hard-earned property.
Inspect and Update Safety Features
Another disaster preventative step to take is testing your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and your fire extinguisher. Replace batteries and equipment as needed and verify your extinguisher is up-to-date and easily accessible. It’s also a good idea to let all occupants know where you are storing the extinguisher.
Create a Maintenance Calendar
Regular maintenance can extend the life of your home’s systems and prevent costly repairs down the road. Accordingly, you should develop a schedule for routine maintenance tasks such as gutter cleaning, lawn care, HVAC checks, and so forth. This way you have made moves to combat extreme deterioration.
Update Your Address
Alright, you’ve moved! Now it’s time to let relevant entities know of your change of address. There are a handful of places you will want to give immediate notice to once the keys are in your hand. Your bank, Utility companies, subscription services, and insurance providers are a few of the more important ones.
Review Home Insurance
Now that I’ve mentioned it, let’s talk about your home insurance. Depending on the size of your move, you may need to add additional coverage options. Sit and evaluate what works for your new lifestyle and make the change to ensure your insurance adequately covers your property and belongings.
Meet Your Neighbors
Alright you bought your way into a community now it’s time to become part of it. Building positive relationships with your neighbors is a great way to start. Your neighbors can help make or break your experience in your new home. Introduce yourself and consider joining local community groups or social platforms. You never know when you may need an extra pair of watchful eyes or just somebody to borrow a cup of sugar from.
Deep Clean and Organize
Before settling in, give your new home a thorough cleaning. This is an excellent opportunity to organize and create a fresh start in your new space.
Energy Efficiency Audit
Familiarize yourself with the things in your home and swap them out with things that will best service you and your wallet. You would be surprised how big of a difference a small thing like upgrading to LED energy efficient lightbulbs can make for you. But at the same time, every opportunity to save is a good opportunity.
Plan for Emergencies
Create an emergency kit with essentials like flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies and a fireproof box to house your important documents. Establish an emergency evacuation plan and communicate it with all members of your household.
These 10 Steps to Make in the First 30 Days of Home Ownership Should Help Guide You Seamlessly Into Your New Chapter of Life
Remember, moving can be a challenging process, but this comprehensive list aims to simplify the first 30 days of home ownership for you. If you need assistance with services for your new home, don’t hesitate to reach out to your agent, as they can connect you with trusted vendors in their network. A reliable real estate agent is not only there to help you close the deal but also to provide ongoing support. Here in our office, we make it a point to recommend vetted home service providers. So if you’re a local, having difficulties getting connected with one, send us a message and we will direct you to one of our trusted vendors.
Kerriann Jenkins
