You Just Purchased a New Home….What Now?

There is excitement when moving into a new home, but it can also be stressful. With all of the unpacking and decisions on where items will go in your new home, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Below is a check list of important items to remember in order to relieve some anxiety out of your move.

•  Mail – check with the post office to make sure your mail is being forwarded to your new address.
•  Locks – change the locks on all doors to ensure you have the only keys to your home. On newly constructed homes, some builders install locks that will automatically re-key after closing. Ask your builder if this is the case with your new home.
•  Homeowners Warranty – Although you will have an inspection before move in, make sure you have all of your warranty information handy just in case there are any problems that arise when you get settled into your new home.
•  Smoke Detectors/Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Replace the batteries in all of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are working properly.
•  Contact Utilities – This includes gas, water, electricity, phone, and cable.  Disconnect these services the day after you move from your old home, and schedule all utilities to be connected at your new home the day before you arrive.
•  Contact Insurance Companies – This includes auto, household, and health.  Find out if you are still covered, or if you need to create new policies with a new company.  Find new health care professionals, if needed.  This is especially helpful when moving to a new state or county.
•  Pest Proof and Clean Your New Home – Set off a bug bomb or hire an exterminator a day or two before your move.  Then, give your new home a deep clean before you move all of your belongings inside.
•  Check Inventory – Make sure everything has arrived safe and sound.  Check major appliances and electronics immediately.  You might have a limited time to make a claim with your insurance policy.
•  Unpack Carefully – Don’t unpack everything at once.  Instead, sort through labeled boxes one at a time, and unpack boxes labeled most important to least important.  This gives yourself time to organize your new space as you go, avoids clutter, and reduces the chance of misplacing items.
•  Collect Moving Receipts – Make sure you have all of your moving receipts in order.  When it comes time to submit your personal taxes, you will need the receipts to write off any moving expense.

These are just a few things to ensure that the move into your new home will go smoothly. Keep in mind, the Connect Realty team is here to help make your move to your new home as easy and stress free as possible.