Your First Steps as a New Homeowner

Celebrate! You have accomplished something that many, many people only dream of!  OK . . . once you’re done celebrating, it’s time to get a few things in order.  Here are ways for first time homebuyers to get off to a great start:

• Do an “inventory” of your home for insurance purposes. If you have a fire or other serious home damage, you’ll need documentation of what you owned so that your insurance can pay for it. Here’s a free online tool that will help: Know Your Stuff Home Inventory.

Is your street address clearly visible? Emergency vehicles will need to see it to find your home in an emergency.

• Create a regular maintenance plan. Be sure to include having & checking adequate smoke detectors & a fire extinguisher.  We’ve added some helpful links on this page and you can ask your home inspector if they have a home maintenance checklist for first time home buyers.

• Get out your home inspection. Odds are, there are items on your home inspection that the seller did not repair. Create a time-line, a plan, and a budget for taking care of these remaining items over time.  Know where your main water shut-off is in case of an emergency – your inspection should tell you where it is.

Make sure your exterior water faucets & pipes in exterior walls & under your home are insulated against freezing in winter.

• Scams. Once you own a home, it’s public record and some enterprising people have come up with scams to help you get rid of your hard earned money. Any time you get a request from anyone wanting you to do something (pay for a “certified” copy of your deed, buy “mortgage payoff insurance,” etc.) double check with your Mortgage Pro and your Buyer’s Agent to make sure it is legitimate.

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