Unfortunately, the work is not over yet.  There are fifteen more steps to take before fully moving in to the new home.

Start With the Utilities

It can be a whirlwind to get through buying a house.  Many new homeowners forget to contact the utility company before they close on the house.  This can cause some surprises when there is a deposit needed to turn on the utilities. Try to call them beforehand to let them know of the closing date and get an estimate of what the deposit may be.

Think About Internet

While internet and cable may not be a necessity, it is very nice to have during the move.  Set up the internet and cable before starting to move in. Having the ability to use the television when taking a break is going to make moving feel like less of a chore.  Plus, it is one less thing to need to do once all the boxes are in the house.

Save on Bills

A homeowner is going to need to save on bills, especially if they made a purchase with a mortgage.  An energy audit can help a homeowner understand where the home is deficient and wasting energy. They can help make suggestion on how to make it more energy efficient and lower the cost of utilities.  

Clean While Empty

There are few times where a house will be completely empty.  After a move, the house should have little to no furniture in the way of getting the entire house spotless.  The previous owner has likely cleaned the home, so there may be less to clean. But a homeowner that did not clean before they sold may leave behind a lot of grit and grime that should be taken care of.

Throw Away the Key

Few previous homeowners leave anything behind that is of value.  So changing the locks is typically a fruitless endeavor.

However, there is always an off chance someone has the key to the house and is not made aware of the sale.  Avoid any confrontations with strangers and just change the locks after closing.

Safety First

It is great if the previous owner left behind a smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector. But the first thing that should be done is to check if they are working.  Do not rely on old batteries or old units to work.

Make Renovations Now

There is nothing worse than trying to renovate a home when living in the house.  If possible do any major renovations before moving in. This will make the jobs much easier and help to avoid any major emergency situations if something goes wrong and breaks.

Repair What is Broken

This is a similar situation to renovations.  It is easier to repair areas of the house before anyone is living in them.  Look at any problems that came up during the inspection and be sure to make needed repairs.

Using a Warranty

Avoid having a dire situation where a major appliance goes on the fritz.  Get a home warranty to protect against these major expenses.

A home warranty will help to pay for repairing a broken appliance.  Most coverage is relatively cheap compared to how much a homeowner shells out for repairs.  

Fire Safety

Plan an escape route for fires.  When these routes are planned it is easier to place fire extinguishers in easy to reach areas.  Make sure there is at least one extinguisher on every floor of the home.

Water and Electrical

Do not wait until an emergency situation to locate the circuit breaker box and the shut-off valve for the water.  It is very important to know the location of these before needing to search the house for them while a sink is leaking all over the floor.  Life is much easier if the electric panel has a label for every area of the home it controls, as well.

Look Out for Children and Pets

A new house is a whole new set of dangers.  Children and pets are great at finding the worst areas of the home.  Be sure to look around the house for any safety hazards. Child-proof and pet-proof before an accident happens.

Change Address

Start the process to change to the new address.  The easy way to change the mailing address is to visit the United States Postal Service website.  On the website a small fee can be paid to verify the identity of the homeowner and change the address.

Billing Problems

After changing the mailing address it is important to report the change of address to financial institutions.  Think banks, credit cards, and any other areas where debts are owed. Any services that are frequently purchased from should be updated with the new information as well.