Davidson Realty, Inc.

Trending: Home-Ownership 101 – Realtor Gail George Shares Tips for After Closing!

October 30, 2015

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Posted by in News

The closing is over. Everyone is smiling, happy and congratulating you. You’ve got the keys. Let the celebration begin. You’ve bought your first house!

If you’ve gotten this far in the process, you have proven that you are responsible, forward thinking and able to attain your goals. Good work. Now you are ready to move on to the next step and protect your biggest investment.

Your Realtor will have advised you about purchasing a home warranty and your lender will have insisted on homeowner’s insurance, but there are some important details for you to take care of yourself. Start with:

1. Changing the locks and get instant peace of mind about who can access your home. If you are handy, visit a home improvement store and get them to show you how to install locks. Costs will range from $15 to $50 per lock depending on the type and brand. A locksmith visit will entail a mobile fee, plus labor and parts that are wide-ranging in price. You may be able to save money by pre-purchasing the actual locks yourself. When shopping for quotes, be sure to ask what is included, minimum charges, etc.
2. Do some house prep prior to moving in and save some aggravation and inconveniences later on. Steam clean carpets, paint if necessary, clean all surfaces and cabinets thoroughly with a non-toxic, antibacterial product.
3. Familiarize yourself with your circuit breaker panel location. Label all the breakers clearly.
4. Locate your AC handler and look for the filters. Change them out if at all dirty. Buy at least a one-year supply of the right-sized filters. A good rule of thumb is to change them out monthly. (Pay your mortgage, change your AC filters.) This will help keep your unit in good working order.
5. Find the main water valve/shut off and test how to turn off the water in case of a water emergency.
6. Start a list of vendors and service people. Consider hosting a casual “get to know the neighbors” drop-in and ask everyone who comes to share recommendations. Exchange contact information with at least a couple of folks. You never know when you will need a helping hand.
7. Pat yourself on the back. You’ve got the home basics covered.

For any of your real estate questions, give Gail George a call at (904) 200-8004.

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