5 Things to do After you purchasing a Home

 

Secure Your New Home

One of the first things to do after purchasing your home is to secure it. Have the home re-keyed by a professional locksmith. Many times home warranty companies will pay to have the home re-keyed, so contact the Home Warranty representative for information.  If your neighborhood has cubical mailboxes the Post Office will change the keys. To do this take your closing paperwork to the US Post Office that services your community and ask to have your mailbox re-keyed. Be sure to change pass codes for your garage door. Also if your home has an alarm system call and ask they change alarm codes and ask about any security camera's in the home. 

 

Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

To ensure your families safety ensure all the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning properly. . This may include installing fresh batteries or replacing the units. Just FYI. Most home safety experts recommend checking and changing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every 6 months. A good way to remember this is check them when you resent the clocks for daylight savings.  Many times the local Fire Department will offer a free inspection and testing. Be sure to contact them on a nonemergency number. 

 

Use the Inspection Report as a To-Do List

If you purchase a resale home and had it professionally inspected, use the inspection report as a to-do list. The inspection report may have items the seller did not repair as part of the contract. Make a list of things to repair and address items that can potentially cost you money later. Items like dirty gutters, leaky faucets, windows and doors that need to be resealed and other items. Home maintenance is critical to keep your home in tip-top shape. Putting a little work in your home or paying a professional can prevent costly repairs in the future. 

 

Emergency Preparedness 

Before an emergency happens it is advisable to know where the main water shut-off vale is located. Find and label the circuits in the electrical box. If you home has natural gas locate the gas shut-off valve. It's also a good idea to have the contact numbers for your utility providers should you need to contact them.

 

Home Paperwork

It is always a good idea to have a folder with all of your closing documents, home survey and home warranty information. This should be kept in a easy to find place should you need it in the future,