Buying a house is a costly and time-consuming process. First of all, you need to determine what you are looking for and find a few houses for sale that suit your needs. Thanks to the internet, you can do that with ease. You just have to start googling things like “houses for sale in Dodge City, KS”.
After you find a few houses that you like, it gets a bit complicated and tiring. You have to view the properties that you like, get a home inspection, and take care of the paperwork, among other things.
Luckily, if you are reading this article, it is safe to assume that you can put that behind you and start making your house your own. While it might seem like a challenging task, it does not have to be that way.
In fact, this article should make it a whole lot easier for you. Here, you will find a list of things you should do after buying a house. Once you check it out, you should be able to make your house feel like home in no time!
Deep Clean Your House
It would be best if you did not assume that the previous owners or the construction company made sure that the house is clean and tidy before selling it. Instead, you should assume that they did not and dedicate a few days to cleaning it very thoroughly.
You can vacuum the floors, dust off the furniture, and check the gutters and the backyard, among other things. However, if you do not feel like it and have the money to spare, hiring a cleaning company is always a viable option.
Change the Locks
Do you know how many people have the keys to your new house? After all, the old owners might have had their keys stolen in the past or decided to hold onto a spare key. Considering this, you should change the door locks as soon as you start moving in.
Depending on the types of locks, it might cost up to a few hundred dollars. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth the money. Firstly, it will give you peace of mind. Secondly, it will make you less likely to have to deal with a break-in.
Paint the Walls
Have you considered giving the interior of the house a fresh coat of paint? If not, think about it for a bit. It is one of the best ways to make it feel like it is truly yours. After all, you are the one who chooses the color palette and decides when each room is going to be painted.
If you feel like painting the walls is something that you want to do, you should do it before bringing the furniture in. As a result, you will get to avoid having to move the furniture around and cover it with a tarp.
Change Your Address Information
You will have to notify many different institutions that you have a new address as soon as you move into your new house. For example, your employers need it to fill out important paperwork, while your bank requires it to send you documents and credit cards. Fortunately, the procedure takes just a few minutes, and, in most cases, you can do it online.
Unpack Your Belongings
Unpacking a bunch of boxes filled with your belongings might be an incredibly lengthy process. In fact, you might end up leaving quite a few boxes unopened for months on end.
Obviously, doing that is best avoided, as these boxes can be recycled or used by a friend or a family member who is moving as well. Taking this into account, go ahead and unpack the boxes one by one shortly after moving in.
Check the Smoke Detectors
Did you know that at least 430 people in the United States die from accidental carbon monoxide poisonings each year? One of the worst things about it is that it is entirely preventable. Having a working carbon monoxide detector at home is more than enough.
Because of that, you might want to have a look at the carbon monoxide detector right after moving in. If it is battery-powered, change the batteries. If such a device is nowhere to be seen, buy one soon.
Meet the Neighbors
Prepare to meet your neighbors! Quite a few will drop by your house and introduce themselves just a day or two after you move in. If you are extroverted and willing to make friends, this is your time to shine. On the other hand, if you are introverted, try your best to be friendly and open.
Remember that being friendly can have numerous benefits. For instance, you might be able to ask your neighbor to be on the lookout for a package or watch your house while you are away.
Host a Housewarming Party
Lastly, you might want to consider throwing a housewarming party! While it is not the wisest thing that you can do during a global pandemic, you can always postpone it or throw a virtual party instead. There are many tools that you can use to do just that, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
In Conclusion
As you can see, there are many things that you should do after buying a house, starting with deep cleaning and changing the locks to meeting the neighbors and having a housewarming party.
Does it seem a bit overwhelming? If that is the case, sit down and plan everything out very carefully. Ideally, you should create a to-do list that includes every single task that you need to complete. That way, keeping track of what you are yet to do and what you have already done will become much more manageable.
All in all, if you plan everything out and do not run into any problems along the way, you should be able to start feeling at home in your new house very soon!
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