You Bought a House! What's Next? The Most Important Things to Remember After Moving In
Purchasing a home is an exciting event in any homeowner's life, but the moving process can sometimes be daunting. After moving in, there are a few essential items to consider, from checking on your homeowner's insurance to creating a payment plan for your mortgage.
The Importance of Security
When moving into a new home, it is important to take measures that ensure the security of you and your family. Here are a few things you should consider doing as soon as possible:
Change the Locks
One of the first things you should do is change all the locks and keypads in (and around) your house. No one should have the ability to enter your home, not even the previous homeowners.
Ensure you have access to the security system manual, and immediately reset all security system passwords and keypad lock codes. If you do not have access to the instructions needed to reset these electronic systems, contact your realtor as soon as possible.
As opposed to electronic locks, physical locks will take longer to change. In the meantime, check your home premises to make sure the previous tenants didn't leave any hidden spare keys.
Make Sure Home Safety Devices Are Functional
Another critical step in ensuring your family's safety is to immediately check the status of all fire and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. You may need to install new batteries or replace the units altogether.
You should also check if you have enough smoke detectors and if they are in the right places. Ensure you have smoke detectors in the kitchen, in the hallways leading to bedrooms, and at least one sensor on each floor.
Secure Your Belongings
In order to ensure the security of your belongings, it is important to pick a reputable and trustworthy moving service. You want to make sure your belongings are not damaged, lost, or stolen during the moving process.
If you are planning to have a lot of people coming in and out of your house to conduct maintenance or interior design work, you might also want to invest in a home safe for your valuables.
Check Your Appliances
Before moving into your home:
- Identify the locations of your circuit breaker box and emergency shut-off switches. This will be much easier to do while your new home is still empty.
- Make sure you label all the switches to know where each one leads.
- Collect operation manuals for all your major appliances and keep them in a safe, accessible location.
It is also a good idea to check on your home warranty plan. Read through the contract to make sure it covers all your major appliances. You should know what is covered and how to file a claim if needed.
Take Care of Legal Affairs
A week or two before your move-in, make sure that you legally change your address for all mail, billing, and identification purposes. Call your bank and service Canada for further instructions on how to complete this process.
You may also want to set up a system for your mortgage repayment. Call your bank or lender to inquire about autopay options. Under autopay, the required monthly payment can be automatically drawn from your account, leading to less hassle on your end.
Ensuring Your Comfort
After taking care of safety-related logistics, it is time to make your new house feel like a home.
Pre-Installing Your Utilities
You can help accelerate the move-in process by paying to have your utilities and appliances installed ahead of time. Having functional water, electricity, heating, and gas utilities can help make moving in a more natural process. It can also be helpful to set up your wifi routers, phone lines, and cable systems before your move-in day.
Some utility companies will allow you to transfer your utilities from your old property to your new one. If this is the case for you, make sure to contact your utility provider and set up the necessary arrangements at least a few weeks before move-in.
If you are moving to a new city, you may need to change your utility providers altogether. Find out what utility companies service your area, and give them a call a few weeks before move-in. Ask if they can have your utilities up and running by your move-in day.
Once you move into your new home, conduct a quick test. Turn the light switches on and off, run the faucets, and try connecting your devices to the internet. If anything is not working correctly, contact your utility provider immediately.
Interior Design
If you are looking to revamp your home with a fresh coat of paint, begin the painting process before you move in. Some painters may even offer discounts if you have empty rooms, as it saves them the hassle of working around furniture.
You also want to take this opportunity to measure out all your rooms and plan out where all your furniture will go. The last thing you want is to find out your sofa cannot fit in your living room on move-in day.
Before you start moving in, it is also a good idea to give the house a deep cleaning. Although it is common courtesy for the previous owners to clean the house before vacating, this is not always guaranteed. Make sure you wipe down and sanitize all home areas, paying particular attention to the bathrooms and kitchen.
The Benefits of Planning for the Future
Once you have moved into your house, you should begin thinking about the long-term impacts of your homeownership. Planning ahead can put you in a favorable financial position. One of the first things you should consider is investing in maintenance and repairs for your home. Use your inspection report as a starting point to determine which repairs and upgrades you can make over the next few years. Plan out and schedule these repairs based on your budget, expected income, and time allowances. A good rule of thumb is to set aside one percent of your home's purchase price each year for home repairs.
Another critical consideration is creating a mortgage repayment plan. Missing mortgage payments can land you in a great deal of trouble, so it is important to be prepared for your payments ahead of time. Here at Clover Mortgage, we have an experienced team of mortgage brokers who can help you manage and plan your mortgage repayments. By working with you to create a uniquely tailored financial plan, our team of professional brokers can help take the load off your shoulders when it comes to financing your home. Contact Clover Mortgage today to schedule a free consultation!
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