Congratulations! With the help of a Realtor, you purchased your first home, signed all the necessary paperwork and are about to walk up to your front door, keys in hand.
You’re probably thinking, “Now what?” This is a common question new homeowners ask themselves when the time comes to settle into a new home. With all the excitement and work involved in finding a home, buyers might not have a transition plan or a checklist for the first few days in their new abode.
Some checklist items are as simple as steam cleaning the carpet while others involve familiarizing yourself with your home’s circuit breakers and water valves. Having a game plan for your new home will give you peace of mind and allow you to settle in quickly and stress free.
Here are important items to focus on during the transition into your new home.
Change the locks: You never know who else has keys to your home, so it’s a good idea to change the locks on every door. Knowing you’re the only person who has access to your home will help you sleep at night. Install new deadbolts yourself for less or call a locksmith to ensure proper installation.
Set-up important services: This might not sound like a top priority, but it’s important to contact local utilities and service providers, like trash pick-up, to set-up a new account and avoid disruption. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the pick-up schedule for trash and recyclables to avoid garbage stacking up during the first week in your new home.
Know the circuit breakers: It’s a good idea to figure out which fuses control which parts of your home and label them accordingly. Consider calling a friend or family member to help. One person can monitor the power as it goes on and off and the other can trip the fuses to test the breakers.
Buy the right tools: You probably own the basic tools, such as a drill, screwdriver, hammer, level and tape measure, but homeownership might require a few new ones you might not have needed before, such as a pry bar for removing nails, trim or tiles and a ratchet set for adjusting nuts and bolts in hard to reach places. When hanging pictures or shelving on the walls, be sure to have a stud sensor handy to detect studs, cables and ducts.
When you’re new to homeownership, the list of responsibilities can feel overwhelming at first, but with the help of a Realtor, you can be sure to transition into a new home in a smooth and hassle-free fashion.
If you’re considering buying or selling, I encourage you to contact a Realtor today. Greater Chattanooga Open House Weekend (April 21-22) is just around the corner and buyers are anxious for more inventory in the local market.
Greater Chattanooga Realtors is “The Voice of Real Estate in Greater Chattanooga.” A regional organization with more than 2,000 members, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is one of some 1,300 local boards and associations of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors. Greater Chattanooga Realtors service Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia.
Information: www.gcar.net, 423 698-8001