The home buying process can be tedious and stressful, and many people often feel a sense of relief once you sign the mortgage papers. However, the process is not over yet. You still need to move in and customize the house to suit your family. Read on for seven things to do after buying a new home to help you get organized.

1. Create an inventory

You often sign up for your homeowners’ insurance when processing the mortgage documents, and it takes effect once you sign the titles for the new home. To ensure you are fully compensated in case of a loss of personal property, you should take inventory of your belongings. You can do this by making a handwritten list or taking photos of your possessions.

2. Change locks

You cannot be sure of how many people have keys to your new home, which is why you should consider changing the locks immediately you move in. This guarantees safety and gives comfort knowing that you are the only person with keys to your house. You can have a local locksmith change the exterior door locks. Be sure to hide an extra key in a convenient and safe location such as the lockbox.

3. Change your address

Setting up your new address should be top of your to-do list once you move into your new home. This provides an effective way for people to reach you. Some of the people, services, or organizations you need to notify about your new address include;

• Your employer
• Business and personal banking
• Credit cards
• Family and friends
• Subscriptions
• Loan services
• Doctors offices
• IRS
• DMV
• Voter registration

4. Set up your utilities

Having essential utilities such as water, electricity, and the internet set up is crucial when settling in your new home. Consider hiring a technician to have your utility set up. Be sure to check with the local provider to determine what type of residence verification and ownership you require, the connection process, and appropriate turn-on scheduling for your utilities.

5. Deep clean

Dedicate the first few days into your new home to deep cleaning. Pay more attention to the bathroom and kitchen, gutters, chimney, dryer vents, flower beds, carpet, and backyard.

Consider hiring professional cleaners to deep clean your home. A professional is likely to notice areas that may not have caught your eye and need more cleaning.

6. Set up a maintenance plan

Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibilities. For instance, you have to develop a maintenance plan to improve your home appliance’s lifespan and efficiency. Consider creating a checklist of the required home maintenance tasks to ascertain that all projects have been handled at the end of the year.

7. Meet your neighbors

It’s always a good idea to introduce yourself to a few owners of the homes around your house. This helps to get new friends, playmates for your kids, and recommendations to incredible restaurants, landscape entities, and pest control in the neighborhood. Meeting your neighbors can also increase your home’s security as you get people to keep an eye on your property when you are not around.

Endnote

Receiving the keys to your new house does not mean that the home-owning process is over. You need to do a few things, such as changing your address and locks, deep cleaning, and creating an inventory and maintenance plan to get you organized and settled in your new home.