Price
Filters
RSS

Posted on by
Top Things Buyer Must do in a new home!

FOWARD YOUR MAIL TO YOUR NEW PLACE
This is an important step often overlooked by new homeowners. Make sure you take advantage of the free USPS service and you can forward your mail going to your old address directly to your new home. You can use this service for up to a year and you can sign up HERE.

 
TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT YOUR NEW ADDRESS
I mean, you don’t have to announce it on Facebook but make sure you give your new address to friends and family. You’ll also need to contact all of your creditors and all other companies you receive mail from to update your address. You can do this by calling them or updating it online. It’s hard to remember every company you need to contact.
 

GET A PROFESSIONAL DEEP CLEANING
While many homes may look pretty clean you can’t really be sure just by looking. It’s a good idea to idea a professional cleaning service to do a deep cleaning before you start moving your stuff in. It’s much easier and cheaper for cleaning to be done. An average deep clean for an empty home is between $150-$300. 

 
 
CHANGE THE LOCKS
Unless you’re buying a brand new home from a builder you need to have the locks changed. You don’t know who else has a key to your home and that can be scary. Imagine that Michael Myers was the previous owner's boyfriend! New locks don't sound too bad now huh? They cost around $50 each on average, with most homes having no more than 2 or 3 exterior doors this will cost no more than $150 on average. Get your garage doors reprogrammed so they only work with the remotes you have. It’s possible someone out there got there hands on an extra garage remote at some point.

THINK SECURITY SYSTEM
You’ll need to contact a home security company to come out and get you set up. The average monthly cost for these security systems range from $50-$100 per month. You can also get a camera alert system like Arlo, Nest or Ring.
 

SET UP UTILITIES
If you haven’t already set up your cable and internet to transfer to your new home. You should contact your provider right away to set an appointment to have your services moved. You will also need to contact the local water, electric and gas companies to have services turned on or transferred to your name.
 

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS
It’s always good to get out and meet your neighbors. See who has kids your age, get inside info on other neighbors, and make some friends. Your neighbors can also recommend good restaurants in the area, dry cleaners, pest control and landscape companies, and so forth. Your neighbors have lots of information on your new community, take advantage.

CLEAN OUR LINT FOR DRYER AND SAVE $25
A clogged lint screen or dryer duct drastically reduces the efficiency of your dryer, whether it’s gas or electric. Clean the lint screen after each load and clean the exhaust duct once a year. Electric dryers use about $85 of electricity annually. A dirty lint screen can cause the dryer to use up to 30 percent more electricity, according to the Consumer Energy Center. Lint buildup is also a common cause of fires.

Dry loads of laundry back-to-back so the dryer doesn’t cool down between loads (a warm dryer uses less energy). And only run the dryer until the clothes are dry. Over drying damages your clothes and runs up your electric bill. If you’re in the market for a new dryer and already have a gas line in the house, go with a gas dryer. A gas dryer is more efficient.

 
 

LOCATE YOUR HOME’S MAIN WATER SHUTOFF VALVE
Know where you main water shutoff valve is in case you need to shut off the water to your entire house. Almost all homes have one main shutoff valve directly before the water meter and another directly after. Where the meter is located depends on the climate in your area. In California, the meter and its two shutoff valves may be attached to an exterior wall or nestled in an underground box with a removable lid.

EARTHQUAKE READY
We are in California which we know it shakes every once in a while. Make sure you have an emergency kit that is easily accessible in case of a major earthquake. Most of the items are inexpensive and easy to find, and any one of them could save your life. After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for at least 72 hours.
 A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency. To assemble your kit, store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag. Headed to the store? Take a look at the basic items, consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets, or seniors.

Here the LIST!

Read