Helpful Tips for First Time Homeowners

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!