Moving day and your first month as a homeowner

Closing-day tasks (do them today)

• Get and store your closing documents

  Title transfers, recorded deed, signed CD, promissory note, ALTA settlement statement. Keep both digital copies and a paper folder. You’ll need these for taxes, insurance, and your records for the next 10–30 years.

• Save and store keys and codes

  House keys, garage codes, security-system codes, gate fobs. Make 2–3 backup copies and store one off-site (a friend’s house, a safe deposit box).

• Take possession photos

  Walk every room and take photos of each utility meter (gas, water, electric) reading on closing day. Settles disputes if a previous-owner final bill shows up later.

• Confirm homeowners insurance is active

  Your insurance binder should be effective the day of closing. Confirm with the insurer that the policy is in force. A house without insurance is one storm from a financial disaster.

Week 1: utilities and services

Most of these need a few days’ notice to schedule. Start before closing if you have your closing date confirmed.

• Electric and gas — schedule transfer of service to your name effective on closing day. Some utilities require a deposit if you haven’t had service before.
• Water and sewer — usually managed by the city or county. Call to set up. In some areas, the title company handles this; ask.
• Trash and recycling — find out the local schedule and which day is yours. Some areas require you to purchase a city-provided bin.
• Internet and cable — schedule installation a week or two ahead. Some providers require a tech visit, which can take 2–3 weeks during busy seasons.
• Mail forwarding — set it up at USPS.com (small charge, $1.10 verification fee). Forwards mail for 12 months.
• Lawn / pool / pest service — if the previous owner had recurring services, decide whether to keep them. Usually they’ll auto-cancel without your name on the account.
• Security system — if there’s an existing alarm panel, decide whether to activate. New code, new monitoring contract.

Week 2: address changes

Update your address everywhere. The list is longer than most people remember:

• Driver’s license / state ID (state-specific deadlines, often 30 days)
• Vehicle registration
• Voter registration
• Bank, credit cards, brokerage
• Employer (HR, payroll)
• Health and auto insurance (rates can change)
• Doctors, dentists, pharmacies
• Subscription services (Netflix, gym, magazines)
• IRS — file Form 8822 or update on your next tax return
• State tax authority
• Pet microchip registry
• Schools — registrar, school district enrollment if kids change schools
• Online retailers (Amazon, anywhere with saved addresses)

Week 2–3: legal and tax filings

• Verify deed recording

  The title company files the deed with the county within a few days of closing. Confirm with the county recorder’s office that your deed has been recorded under your name. This is your legal proof of ownership.

• File for homestead exemption (if applicable)

  Many states offer a property-tax discount on your primary residence. The deadline is usually March 1 or April 30 of the year after purchase, but some states are stricter. Check your county tax assessor — failure to file can cost $500–$2,000 in higher taxes.

• Update your will and beneficiaries

  A new home is a major asset. If your will doesn’t address it, state intestacy law decides what happens. Spend an afternoon updating the will (or making one if you don’t have one).

• Set up property-tax payment

  If you have an escrow account, the lender pays property taxes for you. If not, you owe them directly to the county. Mark the due dates on your calendar.

Week 3–4: financial setup

• Set up your mortgage payment

  Your first payment is due the first day of the second month after closing. Set up auto-pay through the lender’s portal — most offer a small rate discount (~0.125%) for auto-debit.

• Save the closing disclosure for tax time

  You’ll deduct paid mortgage interest, property taxes, and certain points on Schedule A if you itemize. The CD has the numbers.

• Decide on a maintenance fund

  Plan for 1–4% of home value per year in maintenance. Set up a separate savings account and contribute monthly. A failed AC at year 5 is much less painful with $5,000 already set aside.

• Shop your insurance once a year

  Insurance renewal is the easiest place to save $200–$1,000/year. Compare quotes annually or every 2 years.

First-month maintenance: things to do once you move in

• Replace HVAC filter — unless seller did it right before closing.
• Locate the main water shutoff — and the gas shutoff. In an emergency at 3am, you don’t want to be googling.
• Test smoke and CO detectors — replace batteries. Replace any units more than 10 years old.
• Re-key the locks — costs ~$100. The previous owner could have given keys to anyone over the years.
• Reset garage codes — change the keypad codes and remove old remotes from the system.
• Walk around with the inspection report — schedule the high-priority repairs first. Dont let an open report sit for a year.
• Find your circuit breakers and label them — if they aren’t already. Future-you will thank you.

Common questions