Buying your first home is a landmark moment and a huge life accomplishment for anyone--especially these days. It can also be a long and drawn out process, so when you finally put pen to paper, it can be easy to forget that it's still not over quite yet. Here are seven crucial steps to put into motion the day you buy your first homes.
1. Move your records
You will need to move any important records on as soon as possible. Fill out a change of address card, but also be sure to move doctor, dental, and school records along to your new area.
2. Research and choose your insurance coverage
Choosing the right insurance could potentially save you thousands of dollars. Don't just go with the first offer you hear. Call around--and look online--for a number of different quotes. Make sure you get details of the various insurance coverage options offered, compare this with the premium of each, and then decide.
3. Make a home maintenance calendar
If you have rented a house up till this point, you may be unaware of just how much goes into maintaining a house. If you make a home maintenance calendar, you will have a much clearer idea of when each task needs to be carried out, and be able to keep on top of everything with more ease.
4. Get your local bearings
Before you make an offer, you should already have taken a look at the area where your new property is, and figured out where relevant local amenities are. If you live close by, take a drive around the area, so that you know your way to essential places--and how long it takes--and thus have one less thing to worry about on your first week in a new home.
5. Change the locks
You don't know how many people have keys to your new home, so to be safe, it's worth changing the locks for the very first day that you live there. Call a locksmith to change not just your front door, but any external door, as well as any sheds or garages.
6. Make Moving Arrangements
The best moving companies can fill up weeks or months in advance, especially for those moving coast to coast in the US. So, it is worth looking out for a very good moving company as soon as the ink is dry on your contract. You will also need to think about things such as food for moving day, and what to do with your kids and/or any pets.
7. Take Pictures
You will want to go and take pictures of your home before you move in. Not only will it help--should you need to make an insurance claim in the future, or for planning your home's layout--but it will also be nice to have those pictures in the future, to remember what your first house looked like. The first picture could also become important references should you choose to sell your house in the future.
Buying your first home is an exciting, important, and sometimes stressful experience. But if you can get all your ducks in a row, it could also be one of the best of your life. Follow these steps, get organized, and get to work!