Once you’ve bought your new house, your desire may be to kick back and relax. However, the truth is that the work starts right now. You need to go about getting your home ready to be inhabited. This is not just about moving your furniture in. Rather, you will have to take care of the admin that will keep your home safe and in order.
Here are the 7 things you need to do after buying a new house.
1. Buy a Home Warranty
If you have insurance, what is the purpose of a warranty? A home warranty covers the inevitable costs of maintenance. Instead of being hit by a massive bill in case of unexpected repairs, your home warranty will pay. The company will also organize repair people to come do the job. Home warranties are particularly important when it comes to heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. HVAC is crucial to your safety and comfort. If something goes wrong, it needs to be fixed immediately, and it can be very expensive.
You can also include an appliance cover in your home or house warranty.
2. Install a Security System
No matter where in the US you live, you will need to install a security system in your home. While some areas are more dangerous than others, there is always a chance of a break-in.
Find the security company that is most popular in your area. You can expect them to be most present, so it is a good idea to take advantage of their services.
It is not just for the sake of safety that you should install a security system immediately. When organizing your homeowners insurance, the insurance company will price your premium according to the likelihood of claims.
3. Get Homeowners Insurance
Every house needs homeowners insurance as soon as possible. The moment you own a home, you have an expensive asset on your hands that could be destroyed in a disaster. Homeowners insurance won’t prevent fires, but it ensures that you are not left with nothing if worst comes to worst.
Homeowners insurance will also cover your possessions in case of a break-in and will pay out claims made against you for personal liability on your property.
There are things that normal homeowners insurance does not cover. Flooding insurance is excluded – you will need to organize it through the Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA) who prices it according to your risk level.
Earthquake damage is also not covered. However, you can add earthquake insurance to your policy with most insurance companies.
4. Connect Your Utilities
It should not need to be said that connecting your utilities before you move in is the best course of action. However, don’t wait until right before you move in. Dealing with providers can be difficult. There is bureaucracy to deal with and they can be very slow.
Connecting your utilities now also gives you the chance to take a look at your utilities bills, to see what factors go into the calculations of what you will pay each month. It is more complicated than you would think, so getting used to it now will save you the headache when you’ve actually been using the utilities.
5. Assess the Home’s Safety
The seller and any agents involved should have provided a report on the safety of the home. This will include the state of all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as any electrical faults or vulnerabilities.
However, you should take the time looking through the report and becoming accustomed to these pillars of home safety. You will feel a lot more comfortable knowing where the detectors are and how they work. The process will also help you decide whether to add additional safety measures.
6. Create a Maintenance Schedule
Most new homeowners expect maintenance to be a matter that comes up every so often. However, the reality is that maintenance is a constant process. If you postpone maintenance at any point, you will regret it later.
Many maintenance issues can be scheduled. You can waterproof your roof before the rainy season starts each year. You can check your sump pump and piping during the same period. You can schedule a yearly assessment of your home’s electrical system and have the HVAC system serviced.
Create your maintenance schedule sooner rather than later. Maintenance does not have to be stressful, but it will be if you get caught off guard.
7. Paint the Interior Walls
Few things will make your new home feel as welcoming as a fresh coat of paint. A new paint job will brighten up the interiors and will also cover up any handprints, scratches, and dirt that accumulated under the previous owner.
Painting your interior walls is inexpensive and can be used as an opportunity for some design flourishes. Try a statement wall in an interesting color, for example.
If you paint your interior walls immediately, the new house will be clean and ready when you move in. You won’t have to worry about the smell of paint or about leaning against a wet wall.