The First 6 Things Every New Home Owner Should Do: Creating Safety in Your New Home Before Moving In

As a new home owner it is exciting to move in and start making a house your home, but don’t forget to think safety first. We know that there are a lot of things to do in your new home. These first 6 steps are things you can do to add safety and security to your home before you move in.

The good news is that all of these things can be done in one day! With a little advanced planning and coordination with your service providers, you can complete this checklist in a single day to prepare for the new adventure of home ownership!

Here are the first 6 things you should do as a new home owner:

1. Change the Locks

This is something that you must do before you put any of your belongings in your home. Unfortunately there is no way to know who held a key to the home before you became the owner. The dog walker, a neighbor, relatives of the previous owners, or even a rock beside the garden could hold a key to your new home. It’s time to change all of the locks.

Some home warranty companies cover the costs of lock changes for new home owners. If a home warranty was a part of your purchase contract, make sure you utilize the benefits of your policy.

2. Change the Batteries

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are important home safety features for your family. It isn’t likely that the previous owners of the home were concerned with changing the batteries before they moved out. You should change the batteries and become familiar with how your detectors work.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration smoke detectors should be tested once a month. The batteries should be replaced at least twice a year.

3. Change the Filters

Your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system performs an important role in controlling the air quality of your home as well as the temperature. The key to enhancing the performance of the filtration of air particles is buying a quality air filter.

Having a good quality filters for both the input and output vents not only protects the health of your family, but also the system equipment its self. Both the heating and cooling units for your home perform better with proper filtration.

4. Change your Mailing Address

Changing your mailing address prevents your mail from ending up in the wrong hands. When you submit a “change of address” to the United States Postal Service (USPS.com) they will immediately begin to forward your first class mail to your new address.

This mail forwarding service will last for 12 months for first class mail and 60 days for newspapers. This will give you a cushion of time to change your address within your accounts and subscriptions. The sooner you get your address updated the better.

5. Clean the Carpets

Carpet fibers can hold a lot of things that we can’t see. When there is no furniture in the house it is the best time to hire a professional cleaning service to sanitize every nook and cranny of the carpet. Call a cleaning service or rent the equipment it’s time to deep clean!

If your family has allergies, this is also one of the most important steps you can take to eliminate allergens left behind from the previous owners. Pet dander, pollen, and even small mites or bugs could be nestled down in the carpet fibers.

6. Check The Systems

In your new home you need to familiarize yourself with the systems that function behind the scenes. Know the fundamentals of operating the plumbing, electrical, gas, and fire place. This knowledge is crucial in emergency situations.

In the case of an emergency you should know where to locate the main shut off valve for the water. If you have a fireplace, it’s important to know how to properly use it. As a new home owner you should also be familiar with your electric box and gas shut of valve. Be prepared by being knowledgeable.

Knowing how these systems function and how to shut them down quickly, could be the difference between a small incident and a major disaster. Next, call the experts. Create a list of reliable home service contacts that can help you with repairs or emergency situations.

At TexasLending.com we want our customers to be successful home owners. This means being proactive about the safety of your home. Thinking about the safety of your home before you move in is the smart way to begin as a new home owner.

We also want our customers to see us as a resource for information about mortgage finance throughout the journey of home ownership. Reach out to us anytime to talk about buying a new home or refinancing your current home. We are your mortgage experts. Call us anytime.