Everyone wants to have a beautiful home of their own. It is such a wonderful experience. The market is great, and the homeowner benefits are amazing. Once you have bought your new home there are some things that you need to remember to do.
Make sure that you follow up on your utility transfer. This process should already have started prior to closing. Also make sure that you complete a change of address card at your local post office, and get a new license at the Department of Motor Vehicle. Another thing to make sure to get done is to call a locksmith to change all locks.
Some other things to consider once you are in your new home are maintenance tools. You will need to keep your own grass cut as well as your yard looking tidy, so you will need a lawn mower and some garden tools. In the DC/VA/ MD area, there is also a chance of snow,so a shovel would be a good idea. One thing that a lot of people forget is that an outside garbage can is not provided.
Another important thing that you will need to get is homeowners insurance. You will want to protect your investment. Typically, homeowners policies cover you for damages that are caused by things like theft, fire, vandalism or wind. If you also want coverage for other disasters, such as floods or earthquakes, you will have to purchase extended coverage. Unfortunately, homeowners insurance does not cover normal wear and tear. This is considered general maintenance, which means that you will need to save a little extra in your budget to take care of this type of maintenance.
Last, but not least, sit back and enjoy your new investment. You deserve it!
You know, one of the biggest things I learned as a homeowner is to have money set aside for emergencies, like you mention here. I wonder, could you give your readers some idea of what they'd be responsible for if they had to repair/replace a dishwasher, have to fix a leaking roof, or need to handle termites? It's always those little things that nickle and dime some people to the poor house (no pun intended!).
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