Just Bought a Home? Here's Our First Week Checklist
Buying a home is exciting. You finally have the keys, you're surrounded by boxes and you're already making a mental list of paint colors, furniture and projects you want to tackle.
As a real estate agent in Tacoma, I've helped a lot of people buy homes, and I've noticed that everyone remembers the fun stuff but the practical things can easily get pushed aside. Whether you're buying your first home, moving across town or relocating to Tacoma from another state, here are a few things I recommend doing during your first week.
Change the Locks
Even if the previous owners handed over every key they had, I always recommend changing the locks. It's a simple project that gives you peace of mind from the very beginning. If you've been thinking about adding a video doorbell or security cameras, this is a great time to do that too.
Create a Home Folder or House Email
One of the best ways to stay organized is to create one place for everything related to your home. We recommend either a folder on your computer or even a separate email address that you use only for house-related information.
Save or forward things like:
Closing documents
Home inspection
Escrow paperwork
Lender information
Appliance manuals and warranties
Contractor estimates and invoices
Paint colors
Utility account information
Receipts for repairs and improvements
Property taxes
A few years from now, when you're trying to remember the name of the plumber you used or find the receipt for a new water heater, you'll know exactly where to look.
Locate Your Water Shutoff
Hopefully you'll never need it, but if a pipe bursts, you'll be glad you know where the main water shutoff is.
While you're at it, take a few minutes to locate your:
Electrical panel
Gas shutoff
Crawlspace access
Internet equipment
It's much easier to find these things on a calm afternoon than during an emergency.
Replace the HVAC Filter
This is one of the easiest ways to take care of your new home.
A clean filter helps your heating and cooling system run more efficiently and can help extend its lifespan. I like to write the date on the filter and set a reminder on my phone so I don't have to remember when it's time to change it again.
Update Your Address
If you've recently moved to Washington, don't forget to update your address with:
USPS
Washington driver's license
Vehicle registration
Banks and credit cards
Insurance companies
Employer
Medical providers
Subscription services
It's one of those tasks that's easy to put off until an important piece of mail ends up at your old address. Check out THIS BLOG for a full list of all potential address updates!
Give Yourself a Break
This might be my most important piece of advice…. You don't have to unpack every box on the first day. Order takeout from a local Tacoma restaurant (Cooks Tavern, Wooden City, Puget Sound Pizza maybe?), sit in your new living room or backyard and take a minute to appreciate what you've accomplished.
The pictures will get hung.
The garage will get organized.
The projects will get finished.
For now, enjoy the fact that you're home! We are so glad you’re here, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or recommendations, we are happy to help!
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