What to Do After Buying a Home

Congratulations, you've purchased your first home. It was a bit overwhelming, but it will be the most exciting experience you will ever have. The keys are in your possession, the home is officially yours – now what? Well, my friends, the fun has just begun. Here are some first steps you should focus:

First Things First

Keys and Locks

Since it's unknown who had the keys to the home; neighbors, friends, coworkers from previous owner etc. the first thing you should do is re-key the door locks. Even if the home is a brand new home, the builders give keys to contractors, and it's better to play it safe. An inexpensive way of doing this; go to your local hardware store (Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) and take the locks from your doors, they will reset the drums of the locks so they work with a new key!

Window Coverings

You definitely want to avoid unwanted views when you are moving in, so you want to make sure you have window coverings. If the home has none at all, pick up some standard-sized vinyl blinds or pleated paper blinds while you're at the local hardware store picking up the keys and locks. Other window covering options you can choose from are; blinds, drapes, roman shades, curtains, shutters (my personal favorite) or honeycomb blinds.

The Essentials

No matter what kind of home, what area, what state, what year, or what model you purchase, everyone has to and should do the following in order to get acclimated in the new home. Believe me, the sooner you get these things done, the better! Get these out of the way as soon as you can – it'll prevent headaches in the future.

• Get Address Changed: These days you can even get a change of address at the DMV online.
• Transfer All Utility Bills and Services into Your Name:  Gas, electric, cable, telephone, garbage, alarm service, cable, water, etc.

Making Your Home Yours

Having a blank canvas to work with when figuring out how you want your home decorated can be very overwhelming, expensive, and daunting. But don't worry – this is where the fun gets ridiculously fun! Most new home owners can't fully furnish the entire place at once, and that is okay and understandable. Start with the necessities; a table for the kitchen- and chairs, a couch, a bed, a dresser, if your significant other is anything like my fiancé, a TV and entertainment center is considered an essential. Accent rugs are also an inexpensive way to tie In a room and show off your style. Check this one out from Target.com.

Tip: You can find inexpensive and interesting furniture pieces in flea markets, consignment shops, and wholesale furniture warehouses or, update what you have with paints and slipcovers!

For more amazing tips on what your next steps should be, check it out our blog 20 tips for new homeowners.