5 Steps to Do at Your Home and Garden After Buying a House

You’ve finally made the final walkthrough with your agent, the seller has fixed all the things-to-do list in the home inspection report and the deal was closed. You bid farewell to your landlord and friends. The moving company transferred your things to your new home. And it’s your last day as a lessee.

But, before enjoying your life as a homeowner there are itsy-bitsy things that need to be done before wearing your new hat. It’s easier to do it now than suffer regrets later.

Task No.1: Maintenance Planning

Map out your maintenance plan by marking dates in your calendar to do these tasks.

Your grounds

• Rake up leaves and debris laying in flowerbeds and hedges. If the backyard was not properly maintained by the previous owner, it’s best to hire the services of a lawn care provider.

• There might be patches of weed in yard removal is needed to keep the plants healthy. Apply a thin layer of mulch afterward to protect floras.

• Check faucets for damages.

• If there are trees, hire an arborist to examine their health condition. A dying tree poses a danger to you, your property, and your neighbors.

• Inspect your garden equipment you’ll need them when summer is in and lilacs bloom.

The exterior of your home

• Check the outside of the house for breaks in the concrete, the condition of the driveway, the roof for loose or broken shingles.

• Clean gutter to avoid roof leaks.

• If there are signs of peeling or chipping of paint, you may need a fresh coat.
• Make sure your outdoor decorations are covered with a waterproof tarp, to prevent those from water and wind caused damages.

The interior of your home

• Call a technician to check-up and service your HVAC system.

• The presence of insects is a nuisance hire a pest control services provider to keep them away and stop the nightmare before it begins.

• Give your plumbing system a good once-over, look for leaks, water stains, and drips in your faucet.

• Replace expired fire extinguishers.

• Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors must be working properly.

• Locate the circuit breaker and label it.

Task No. 2: Security and Safety

You are new in the neighborhood, you don’t know much about the people and spare keys could be floating around. Protect yourself and your belongings by changing locks and not just a re-key. Place a spare in a lockbox, thieves know they are under flower pots.

If you have a home security system installed ask the security company to activate it. Request for a change in the code the former owner might have divulged the combination to the whole neighborhood.

Task No. 3: Setting Up Utilities

You should, and not the former owner, notify the utilities companies to transfer gas, water, electricity, sewer, and trash into your name.

After closing the sale, it is the new owner’s responsibility to switch the utility accounts into their name. There are instances where the seller will request utility companies to turn off their services. The pipes froze and burst when the heat was turned on.

Cable and Internet providers should be notified about your transfer to a new location. Contact them to give details of your transfer and set an appointment to have your services moved.

Your security system works on Wi-Fi if it has cameras and so does garage doors and home-based apps for turning lights off and on and watering the lawn.

Task No. 4: Keep Your Mortgage Documents

Keep your mortgage documents and all of your contracts for the purchase of your house as long as you can. Home loans have tax implications and you might be required by IRS to produce records that prove income, deductions or credit.

Task No. 5: Know Thy Neighbors

As you’re unloading your items you notice some neighbors eyeing you. Take this opportunity to introduce yourself they won’t make a move to meet you. Perhaps, they worry that they are intruding or be an obstruction if they talk to you.

It is nice to make new friends, find out who has kids your age and get info on other neighbors. They might just pop up, bringing some goodies or invite you for beer and BBQ.

They can give you direction to the drugstore, gas station or bank and recommend a nice restaurant, drinking hole, and more. Take advantage of your neighbor’s knowledge of the community.