Blog Post 008: DO THESE THINGS BEFORE MOVING INTO YOUR NEW HOME
Blog Post 008: DO THESE THINGS BEFORE MOVING INTO YOUR NEW HOME
There are so many things to do from the time you get your real estate offer accepted to the day you get the keys to your new home.. As a realtor, it’s my job to lay it all out for my buyers, especially my first time homebuyers. At the beginning of the contract, I will show you what the process looks like from start to finish. At each step along the way I think send notifications to help you remember what to do next. So don’t worry, you don’t have to remember every little detail of what to do when you purchase a new home, I’m here as a guide!
New Homeowners, Here are a few things to do BEFORE moving into your new home!
1. Change the locks and the garage code.
There’s no telling how many people have keys to this house or the code to the garage. Inspectors, agents, family members, contractors are just a few people who gain access to the code during the transaction. And who know’s who the seller made a spare key for while they lived in the home.
2. Schedule your utilities and city services.
Electric, water sewer, trash can all be scheduled in advance on the start date typically the day of closing.
3. Schedule a cleaning service.
The standard is for sellers to remove their belongings from the home, it’s nice if they surface clean, but there is no obligation for them to clean the home at all upon selling. Even if they do clean, I HIGHLY recommend hiring your own cleaning company to come in and deep clean your new home BEFORE you move your belongings in so you’re not moving into someone else’s dust and grime.
4. Complete any painting, floor repairs, or repairs.
Be sure to complete any repairs that are big enough or smelly enough to impact your quality of life if you were to live there while it’s being completed.
5. Schedule your change of address / mail forwarding.
Make sure to schedule mail forwarding on the USPS website and updated your address on all bank and insurance accounts. I’d recommend having mail forwarding scheduled prior to closing so there’s lead time where mail doesn’t get sent to you old address after you move.
6. Obtain a security system.
7. Obtain a Home Warranty.
This is different from homeowners insurance as homeowners insurance is protection against damage from things like damage from fire, smoke, theft or vandalism, or a weather event such as lightning, wind, or hail.
Whereas a home warranty will cover appliances, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and a few other things depending on which plan you choose! Some home warranties are only $500 for the year. I HIGHLY recommend this as it could save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong upon move in.
Here are a few recommendations:
First American Home Warranty
American Home Shield
Cinch Home Warranty
https://www.cinchhomeservices.com/
8. Understand the Florida Tax System and Mark your calendar to file Homestead Exemption by March 1st. — applications are taken year round.
This may seem like something you can do after you move in, but I highly recommend doing it while you’re in the groove with paperwork and homeowner to do lists as this can easily hit the back burner and get forgotten about after moving and settling in.
Hope this is helpful for those of you looking to purchase your first home in the coming years! Please contact us for all your home purchasing needs and check out our buyers page for a step by step guide to purchase your first home!