Congratulations,
you just closed on your first home!
Along with excitement and happiness, being a first-time homeowner can
bring feelings that may make you anxious or overwhelmed. These feelings are completely normal – so
don’t worry. We’ve compiled a list of
things to consider after purchasing your first home that will hopefully help to
ease your mind.
First thing’s first - change your locks.
While
you may hand a spare house key to a family member or friend in case of
emergency, you don’t know how many keys to your new front door are really out there. Your
first step after closing should be replacing the locks on
all entrances to your new home and any outbuildings on your property. Again,
you never know who has a key to the old locks and you don’t want to have any
unwanted house guests.
Before moving in your boxes and furniture, give your new home a good cleaning.
Having an empty home is a great time to deep clean floors
and surfaces to rid them of dust and grime. Take some time to sweep, vacuum and
mop all floors before laying down rugs and bringing in furniture. Clean the inside of your kitchen
cabinets before placing your belongings in them. Deep clean your refrigerator before stocking it up. Wipe
down windows in preparation for hanging your new
curtains and clean door knobs to rid them of germs. You’ll likely make a little mess
during the move-in process, but at least you know you have a clean base and can
quickly clean up after.
Don’t overwhelm yourself right away.
You
probably want to go ahead and get started on renovations right away. You might want to take some time to settle into your house before
making any huge changes. Many times the original visions and plans you had for
your new house will change as you make your new house a home. Relax, unwind and unpack your boxes for a
while. Feel out the new house and see
how it works for you. Don’t be afraid to
ask friends and family what projects they started after buying
their first home – maybe they have suggestions on things they would have done
differently. What spaces do you use
most? What areas do you dislike? After you live in the house for a while you
will be able to more efficiently make changes that will benefit you in the long
run!
Create a list.
This
list can be as long or short as you
would like it to be. Use this to keep
track of all the projects you would like to (someday) complete within your new
home. These can be small projects, like a new light fixture,
or larger projects like a garage
addition. This list may take you years to complete, and
you might re-consider some of the projects after living in your house for a
while. Having your thoughts out on paper
can help you to prioritize and can also ease feeling of anxiety and feeling
overwhelmed.
Don’t forget to maintain your home as you would your car.
If
you’ve rented
before buying your home, you may not realize all of the smaller projects that go into maintaining a home because these are
often taken care of by landlords. Houses need regular maintenance and check-ups, just as you
would do for your vehicle. Some of these can include windows that aren’t properly
insulated, faucets that might be leaking, cracks in the pavement of your
driveway and the list could go on and on.
They may seem like small issues, but the longer you procrastinate them,
the more issues they will cause – and the more money it will cost you!
Insure your belongings!
You
likely need homeowner’s insurance when you purchase your home. Now is also a
great time to consider insuring some of your valuables, like electronics,
jewelry, sporting equipment, and any recreational
vehicles
you may have. Click here to view and print a Home Inventory Check List to make sure all of your
items are accounted for in case of a loss, like theft or fire.
Purchasing
a new home is an exciting accomplishment. Click the button below to find a local
agent to make sure you have the right coverage for the contents of your new home!
