It’s difficult to put into words the feeling of excitement that comes over you when you’re about to move into your new home. After so many years of diligent money management, it’s all about to finally pay off!
While we understand how thrilled you are over this exciting new development, you cannot forget about your responsibilities as a new homeowner. Before getting settled in, you must make a few things to make your latest purchase feel like a true home.
Let’s talk about those important tasks you must prioritize in this article.
Secure Your New Home
Here’s a surprising statistic you may not be aware of: there are no security products in 62% of homes. That number may seem high, but think about it more, and you’ll realize that it’s accurate.
Do you remember seeing any security products on the homes of friends and family members you recently visited? Did you have security products set up at your old home?
Many of us tend to overlook the importance of properly securing our home. It’s hard to say why that happens so often.
The explanation could be because many of us believe that we live in safe neighborhoods, meaning security products are unnecessary. Some homeowners may also be trying to cut down on their expenses. In an attempt to do so, they forego purchasing security products for their homes.
Leaving yourself and your family vulnerable like that is never a good idea. If anything, home security should be among your priorities. That’s a sentiment that should ring even louder to new homeowners.
You don’t have to go overboard with your purchases, but starting with smart security cameras and alarms will help. Get them set up properly so you can enjoy a good night of sleep inside your new home.
Change Your Locks
Did you purchase an old house or one that was recently foreclosed upon? Did a contractor recently work on your newly purchased home?
If you answered “yes” to either of those questions, you must change your locks right away.
Per Angie’s List, as many as 16 different keys could be used to open up a lock installed on a home located within a single-builder community. You have no way of tracking down which individuals have gained access to a key that can open the lock currently installed on your home.
The best thing you can do is to change the locks as soon as possible. This is a good time for you to consider upgrading your locks as well. Consult with a professional locksmith and seek their opinion on what they consider to be the best locks and install those on your doors.
Purchase or Review Your Home Warranty
You probably cannot wait to get settled in your new home. The idea of taking that first shower is exciting. Even knowing that you’ll be able to enjoy a good night of sleep in your new home with the heat on can make new homeowners giddy.
Before you start making use of your new household appliances and fixtures, though, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at your home warranty. Home warranties typically cover major elements including your plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems. If something’s wrong with those parts of your home, your warranty could save you from exorbitant repair bills.
Or at least, that’s what the home warranty is supposed to do. You cannot be certain that’s the case until you’ve reviewed the document thoroughly.
Read through the warranty carefully and see if everything you need covered is in there. If you’ve found that the warranty does not cover some important items, you can purchase additional coverage.
Extended home warranty coverage will cost around $100 to $500 more, according to Investopedia. The final price will depend on the specific items you want additional coverage for.
It’s also possible that there is no home warranty currently covering your new property. Money may be tight right now after closing the deal on your new home, but you can still purchase the basic coverage. A basic warranty plan will cost around $350 on the low end per year.
Don’t hesitate to invest in home warranty coverage. Repair bills can skyrocket quickly without adequate coverage. Purchase the right type of home warranty and put those concerns about expensive repairs to rest.
Connect the Utilities
Connecting the utilities is a step you want to take care of before moving day. Talk to the providers beforehand to start using the utilities as soon as you move in.
You should also take the time to check if all the utilities are working properly during your first day in your new home. If there are issues that pop up, you need to tell the providers about them immediately.
Plus, you deserve to enjoy a comfortable first day in your new home. Connect the utilities ahead of time to make that happen.
Clean Up Your New Home
Lastly, take the time to clean up when you first move in. You’ll have a tough time settling in if your new home is all messy.
Hopefully, the previous owners of your new home cleaned up before they left, so you won’t have to do much. Sweeping around the home and some mopping should do the trick in that scenario.
However, if the home was left in a less desirable state, consider hiring some professional cleaners before making a move. A deep clean will help make your new place feel like a real home, thus allowing you to settle in with no problem.
Moving to a new home is exciting, but you cannot forget about your priorities. By remembering the entries included in this article, you’ll be able to prepare your new home better for your eventual move.