Time to get your keys and move into the house! When you can receive your keys will depend on the agreement you have with the Sellers. In advance of the closing date, I will reach out to you to coordinate handing over the keys.
You Are A Homeowner! Now What?
Before they get lost in the shuffle and excitement of moving in, I suggest that you create one specific place to keep all your important property documents. This could be a binder or a file or whatever works best for you. The point is, create one spot for all the documents to go, so that when you need them, you know where they’ll be. Keep your appliance user manuals, contractor invoices, and details about home upgrades in this file, and you’ll save yourself a headache down the line.
Meet the Neighbors
Make a special effort to get out there and meet your neighbors. As a courtesy, I will provide you with a list of nearby property owners to help in getting to know your neighbors. It’s nice to establish some neighborly friendships, so that everyone in the community can work as a team to help protect the neighborhood and keep mutually beneficial relationships going.
Get to Know Your Home
Before you do anything, make sure that you know where to find your water shut off valve, electrical panel, crawlspace and attic access. If you need to find these things in the future, it may be due to an unforeseen event that will require quick action. Best to know where exactly all utility lines are and shut offs in the event of an emergency.
Make A To-Do List
Use your home inspection report as a basic guide to help start creating your weekend home maintenance to-do list. Not all the issues noted on the home inspection are critical, but it’s almost guaranteed they’ll come up again if not dealt with now. Why not just take some time to get things handled and ensure your home is in tip-top shape. Many homeowners never get to their to-do lists until they’re ready to sell… do yourself a favor and enjoy the benefits of a little labor on the front end. It’ll make your house safer, better maintained, and you’ll worry about less as you’re enjoying living there.
Know When to Hire A Professional
As a homeowner, it will be inevitable that you’ll need to do maintenance and repairs on your property at some point. While some homeowners are handy and have the skills to do repairs themselves, it’s important to know when you should try things yourself and when it’s appropriate to call in a licensed contractor. I always suggest that a licensed professional be contacted for electrical and plumbing repairs. Damage to the property as a result of homeowner handy work can lead to liability after selling the house and possible denial of insurance claims if something goes wrong as a result of your DIY mistakes. Hiring a professional is expensive, but it’s part and parcel of protecting your investment. If you think hiring a professional is expensive, consider how costly (and potentially dangerous) it can be if you hire an amateur and then have to clean up their errors after the fact. I always suggest getting it done by a professional and getting it done right the first time.
Permits… Pay Now or Pay Later
If you’re considering a remodel, renovation or addition, don’t forget to check with the City and County regarding required permits. Failing to pull a permit, get inspections performed and the permit finalized can lead to negative consequences when you go to sell your property in the future. The authorities could make you purchase a permit (which could require removing walls and finishes to allow an inspector to check on the code-compliance of electrical or plumbing work).