Fourteen (14) Things First Time Home Buyers Should Do After Closing On Their New Home

Hello again and welcome to Houston First Time Home Buyers Edition, where we provide useful information to help you make the most informed decision when it comes to buying, decorating, and maintaining your first home. Today we're talking a bit about 14 things to do after closing on your first home. You did it! With the help of your Realtor, you are now a homeowner. The process is over. All the documents have been signed. Congratulations! What now?

• Well, one of the first things you will do is to make sure you turn on your utilities or have them transfer.
• Hire a professional moving company and don't forget to do a change of address.
• Take a copy of your closing statement to the post office to get your mail box key.
• Take a moment to familiarize yourself with where thing such as water shut off and breaker box are located.
• If you purchase a brand new home, place the contact numbers of the staff in an easy to locate location
• Check the water heater
• Make sure to change the pass codes for all smart devices that comes with the home.
• Check to make sure the previous owners no longer have access to cameras and other security devices.
• You may want to change out all your locks.
• Update your driver's license and contact information with banks, credit card companies, student loan company, magazine subscriptions, employer, cell phone, cable, schools, dentist, physician and your accountant.
• Update your new address with your car insurance company.
• Make sure your Important documents are safely stored.
• For brand new or existing homes, make sure you keep your warranty information handy. Know how to make contact if and when you need to. 
• Set up your mortgage payment online to help ensure your mortgage payments are always made on time.

After closing on your new home, there will still be a few things that you need to get done. If you purchase an existing home, you may have a bit more things to do like clearing your gutters, deep cleaning your new home, getting your HVAV serviced, and double checking all your plumbing.

To avoid from being overwhelmed, a to-do-list will work great. Decorating your home exactly the way you want it may take a bit of time, but for right now, take care of the basics so there is no last-minute surprises, like turning on the lights and realizing you forgot to make the transfer. Oh! don't forget to give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by. Remember, if you are thinking of purchasing your first home, please give us a call or Email us. We are here to help. We have been helping Houston first time home buyers since 2011 and we can help you. I hope you have an amazing day. Until next time...Diana

Image by Diana Walton

Astor & Eaton Realty
Diana Walton
First Time Home Buyer Specialist
713.208.8013
Email
www.astoreaton.com