After Closing | Helpful Hints From Gary Rossignol Realtor®

So you’ve closed on you new home.  Congratulations!  This is one of the days your family will remember for years to come.  It is time to celebrate!

However, there is still much work to be done to get your home up and running the way you’d like it to be, before playtime begins. 

The first step, of course, is getting your utilities turned on. If you are moving from another state or town, then just let me know before closing and I will bring you a list of contact numbers.  If you are not new to the area (and the utility companies are the same), then make sure to give the companies plenty of notice of your move so there will not be a break in your service. Most of the time you will be able to overlap services and allow service to be left on at your old address while you move and still have service turned on at your new address.

Next, you want to ensure the safety of your family members in your new home. While your new neighborhood may have been safe for many years and your new neighbors may be great, no neighborhood is totally immune to break-ins or theft.  With this in mind, there are some basic things you can do to keep your family safe in your new home:

Make an attempt to form friendships with your neighbors.  They are your eyes and ears when you are away from home, or even sleeping.  If there is no neighborhood watch in the neighborhood, you may want to initiate the organizing of one when you feel comfortable enough doing so.

Find a reputable locksmith and change every lock in your new home.  However, before choosing a locksmith, give me a call and I can put you in touch with someone you can trust.

The installation of an alarm system and advertisement of such can be very effective in keeping those who would like to burglarize your home (or worse) away.  When thieves know you have a system, they will look for easier prey.  And then, of course, it goes without saying that in the event of an actual break-in this system will be worth more than its weight in gold.

Motion sensor outdoor lighting is also a great theft deterrent for your home…it would be a wise move to install some, if they are not already there.

Do any painting, repair work, and remodeling you want done before you move in. This way you do not have to work around furniture and electronics. Protect floor with tarps to make clean-up easier.  Keep pets and small children with family, as they will be very unfamiliar with the new home and are more prone to get hurt (or lost) while you are doing repair work.

The next order of business would be the actual move.  Organized packing will make the move less stressful, quicker, and, with some luck, maybe even family fun. One of the best ways to organize your packing is to do it room by room, labeling each box as you go.  This method may very well cut your move time in half. Also, if you think you may have items that will not fit through the doorways, you should address those issues as well.

Enroll your child(ren) in the public school that is assigned to your neighborhood, and make sure they are aware of any dangers that might be associated with a walk or bus ride home.

If you have pets, find a veterinarian that you feel you can trust.  Spend some extra time with your pet both before and after the move. Moving is stressful for animals too!

And, finally, notify those you correspond with of your new address and phone and submit a change of address with the post office.  Change your address on your driver’s license and remember to notify your auto insurance company of your move. 

As a service to the community, I have compiled a list of helpful numbers.  Feel free to use and share as you like.

 

 

Once again, congratulations on your new home.  May your family have many wonderful years living and creating memories in your new home. If there is anything I can do to help with the transition, please give me a call at (513) 777-2402.