The home buying process itself is a meticulous adventure, but what about after the process is completed? The truth is that there is still a lot of work to be done, even after you have gone through the closing process. Here are some crucial items to take care of after the home buying process has come to a close.
There are two main methods to securing your documents from closing. One method is to simply get a safe that is fireproof. The second method is to get a safety deposit box at a bank of your choosing. No matter which one you choose, make sure your closing documents are part of the paperwork that you secure. It is also a good idea to put your social security card, birth certificate, and even passports in there as well.
While a fireproof safe should be okay, having one that is also waterproof is ideal also. If you decide to keep your paperwork in a safety deposit box instead, consider getting fireproof containers and waterproof sleeves for your documents.
The next step would definitely be to change the locks on your new home. This means that you need to take the time to go through the inside of the home, as well as the outside. Make sure you count how many locks that need to be replaced and the type of locks you will need.
Every lock within the home should be changed, no matter where the locks are located. There is sound reasoning behind doing this. You will never really know exactly who the previous owners handed an extra key to, so it is better to just play it safe and replace all the locks at the same time.
Aside from locks on the actual home, you need to also check the keypad for the garage door, if you have one. Make sure that you reset it as well. Resetting the keypad should be performed from outside the garage.
9 times out of 10, the gutters are the one thing that has not been cleaned since the previous owners lived there. There is one main reason that it is important to get your gutters clean. When gutters are clogged with dirt, leaves, and debris, it can block the water from naturally flowing through them as needed. This can cause the water to build in certain areas.
In turn, there can be leaks from where this water builds up. The leaks can go directly into the home and cause major water damage. It is imperative that you take the necessary time to properly clean the gutters out before moving into your new home.
Many home buyers do not realize that there is even such as thing as homesteading. Basically, homesteading is simply contacting your local government officials to let them know that you are the current resident of the home you just purchased.
This is not something that is done automatically, so you will need to be the one to do the contacting. By doing this, you can get a substantial discount when it comes to your property taxes. Each city is different, but just make sure you call and the information that you need ahead of time. Be sure to ask about other discounts such as senior citizens or veterans discounts.
More than likely, the previous owners left and too the blinds and curtains with them. This means that you should around to covering your windows before anyone can start snooping. You do not have to get anything fancy right away. You just need something that can give you immediate privacy, until you get everything moved in. Once you are moved in you can find something more to your liking.
Getting to know your community is an important part of moving to any new home. While you may not be the type that is thrilled to meet the new neighbors, performing this one social task is a necessity for overall communication within a neighborhood. Meeting your neighbors is also a great way to learn about what is going on in the community such as events or even neighborhood watch. It is also a good idea to get to know who you will be living around.
One last thing to remember is that you need to change your address on your license once you have completely moved and completed all the necessary paperwork. It is important to do this because some states actually have a limit on how many days you have, after moving, that you can change your license before being penalized.
These are all important items that you really need to take care of once you have completed the home buying process. Make a checklist if you have to, and be sure that you follow through on these items as soon as you have completed closing on your home.
