10 Must-Do Tasks Right After Buying a House (Before You Unpack)
Your new house has just closed. Everyone is saying, “Welcome home!” as you hold the keys and see your name on the documents.
However, most new homeowners are unaware of this: Don’t move in just yet.
Most people rush through the brief period between closing and settling in. And some of the greatest regrets begin there. It could be a safety concern you didn’t consider, a skipped repair, or an unexpected bill. That thrill you’re experiencing at the moment? It may cause you to miss problems that will later cost you money, time, or peace of mind.
This list isn’t about kitchen paint colors or decorating advice. It’s about the important things you must take care of right away before you put a single box inside. Consider it similar to laying the foundation on top of the foundation. This is your only chance to get it right.
Let’s start with something that nearly no one discusses but that every astute homeowner ought to do right away.
1. Organize and Secure Your Home Documents
I understand how tempting it is to put your closing folder in a drawer and finish it at a later time. However, the deed, mortgage agreement, title insurance, disclosures, and inspection report are more than simply bureaucratic red tape. It serves as your financial and legal safety net.
Within the first 24 to 48 hours, I advise all new homeowners in the United States to perform the following:
-
Scan every key document
and save them in a clearly labeled folder on Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud service. -
Back it up
on a USB drive or external hard drive. Don t rely on just one place. -
Buy a fireproof safe
, ideally waterproof too. You can get a solid one for under $70. Store your original documents inside it, along with your passport, Social Security card, and insurance info. -
Start a Home Binder
a physical or digital place to keep appliance warranties, repair receipts, contractor contacts, and future maintenance notes. Don t assume you ll remember what you spent or who you hired. Track it from day one.
Why this matters Having everything at your fingertips can save you weeks of frustration and thousands of dollars when anything breaks or you need to refinance, file a claim, or prove ownership in a dispute. Furthermore, it’s not ideal to be searching for your home inspection report a year after your ceiling begins to leak.
If you have a property survey, scan it as well. When you’re dealing with city permits, remodeling your landscape, or installing a fence, it will save you a lot of trouble.
The question now is, since you left the title office, have you even opened the closing folder? If not, this is where you should spend your first hour as a homeowner.
2. Change the Locks, Garage Codes, and Security Access
The majority of customers believe they are the only ones with keys at this time. However, you have no idea who still has access to your house unless you changed the locks as soon as you closed.
Consider it. It’s possible that former owners gave keys to neighbors, contractors, babysitters, dog walkers, and even former partners. The list grows greater if your house was a rental or a flipped property.
Here’s what you must do immediately:
-
Rekey all exterior locks
or replace them entirely. Rekeying usually costs less than $100 per lock and ensures old keys won t work. -
Reset the garage door remote and keypad
. Most people don t even think to do this, but older openers are easy to clone or override. -
Change any smart lock passcodes
or wipe them back to factory settings before setting up your own. -
If your home has a
security system
, schedule a professional reset or install your own system. Don t rely on whatever was left behind.
This has to do with control, not paranoia. This gives you complete piece of mind because you are now in charge of who enters that property.
Additionally, don’t put off doing this until after the transfer. Contractors, delivery teams, and movers will come and go. Prior to the traffic starting, you want complete control.
Have you recently had your locks changed? If not, finish it before nightfall on the day you move into the residence.
3. Deep Clean Everything Before a Single Box Enters
You should presume that the previous owners did not clean for you, regardless of how lovely the property is or how clean it appeared during showings. In any case, not the way you would clean for yourself.
There might still be crumbs in the back of the refrigerator. Years of accumulation may be concealed by the grout in your bathroom. What about the carpets? If they have never been cleaned by a professional, you don’t even want to know what’s inside.
Prior to your belongings arriving:
-
Hire a
professional cleaning crew
that specializes in move-in cleans. This usually includes baseboards, cabinets, windowsills, vents, and hard-to-reach places. -
Have the
carpets steam cleaned
, especially if the previous owners had pets or kids. -
Wipe down
light switches, doorknobs, and closet interiors
. You d be shocked how many germs live there. -
If you re on a tight budget, do it yourself but do it
before
furniture blocks your access.
Why this matters: Cleaning gets ten times more difficult after your furniture is in place. Additionally, you’re only working around your own belongings and breathing in whatever was left behind if you move in first and clean later.
Additionally, it feels different to start again with a thoroughly cleaned house. From day one, the entire area seems like yours. Even minor adjustments, like adding a few low-maintenance houseplants, can immediately improve the energy level of your kitchen or foyer after cleaning without adding further clutter.
Still unsure about whether to do it yourself or hire a cleaner? Determine how much energy you will actually need for the move. Spending $200 to $300 up front can occasionally save you time, worry, and the repulsive sensation that you never actually cleaned this home properly.
4. Set Up Utilities Before Move-In Day
Flipping a switch and discovering the power is off is the best way to destroy momentum. Even worse, when you have boxes to unpack and a refrigerator to stock, you find that the house is without heat, water, or Wi-Fi.
Although it may seem apparent, many new homeowners believe that the utilities will simply be carried over from the prior owner. They won’t. To start a new service or transfer, most businesses require a few days’ notice; some even demand payments or credit checks.
At least three to five days before to move-in, perform the following:
-
Transfer or start your electric, gas, and water services
. Call each utility company and set the start date for the day of closing (or the day before, if you want to be safe). -
Set up internet, cable, and trash pickup
. These can take longer especially internet. Some areas still have limited provider options. -
Double-check whether your home has a
smart meter or needs a physical reading
. Some utility companies require someone to come out before activation. - Ask the seller or agent for a full list of previous providers if you re unsure where to start.
The main takeaway is to never assume anything is already on. Before your moving truck arrives, make the necessary calls, arrange the necessary preparations, and double-check everything.
5. Check Smoke Detectors, Carbon Monoxide Alarms, and Emergency Shut-Offs
When you first move into your new home, it’s simple to concentrate on the obvious features. However, the systems that safeguard your security? They are frequently disregarded, which can be harmful.
First, testevery smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarmin the house. Even if they appear to be in good condition, change the batteries. And check the manufacturing date printed inside if it s more than 10 years old, replace it entirely. A new smoke detector costs less than $30 and could save your life.
Next, locate yourmain water shut-off valve,gas shut-off, andcircuit breaker box. If a pipe bursts or your power surges during a storm, you ll want to know exactly where to go not fumble around during an emergency.
Here s your to-do list:
- Test and replace batteries in all alarms.
- Install new alarms if any are outdated or missing.
- Label your breaker box (most aren t marked clearly).
- Learn how to shut off the main water valve and check that it works.
- If your home has gas, learn how to shut that off too.
As highlighted byRedfin, home safety is something too many buyers delay often until a close call happens.
This isn t about being paranoid. It s about being responsible. You just made a major investment. Protect it and yourself from day one.
6. Review Your Inspection Report and Prioritize Repairs
Now that you own the place, it s time to go back to something you probably haven t looked at since the final walkthrough: your home inspection report.
Most buyers glance at it during negotiations, use it to ask for a few fixes, and then forget about it. Big mistake. That report is basically a roadmap for every potential issue that could cost you money or hurt your home s value if left ignored.
Here s what you should do:
- Go through the inspection report line by line. Highlight anything marked Major defect, Needs immediate attention, or Safety hazard.
-
Prioritize
critical systems
first electrical, plumbing, roof, HVAC, foundation. -
Make a
repair timeline and budget
. Not everything needs to be done now, but the key is knowing what s coming so you re not blindsided. - If you re unsure about a specific issue, hire a second opinion even a $150 consultation can save you thousands in surprise repairs.
This isn t just theory. According toThe Times, one couple in the U.K. ended up spending over $2,500 fixing damp and rot issues they ignored from their own survey. And that s not uncommon.
A missed detail in your report today can turn into a flooded basement or $10,000 roof job next year. Don t leave it sitting in your email. Treat it like your homeowner s instruction manual and act on it while you still have time to plan. And if you re curious about market trends in your area,this data on the slowest U.S. housing marketscan give you helpful context as you plan long-term improvements or resale timing.
7. Set Your New Budget and Build an Emergency Fund
Most first-time buyers budget carefully for the down payment, closing costs, and move-in expenses but stop budgeting the moment they get the keys. That s where financial trouble starts.
Owning a home is nothing like renting. Every repair, upgrade, and utility bill is now your responsibility. And the costs add up faster than most people expect.
Here s what you need to do right away:
-
Sit down and create a
post-purchase monthly budget
that includes utilities, mortgage, insurance, property taxes, internet, trash, and subscriptions. -
Start a dedicated
home emergency fund
, ideally $2,000 $5,000 minimum. Eventually, aim for 1% 3% of your home s value saved annually for maintenance and unexpected repairs. - Track your first 60 days of expenses moving, cleaning, new locks, tools, furniture and adjust your estimates. Real costs tend to surprise even careful buyers.
Investopediastrongly recommends building a home repair fund early, especially for properties more than 10 years old. Maintenance is inevitable the only question is whether you ll be ready when it hits.
And here s the truth no one tells you: your emergency fund isn t for if something breaks. It s for when.
You just signed a mortgage for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Protect that investment by staying liquid and financially ready. It s not just about the money it s about reducing the stress that comes when things go wrong and you re unprepared.
8. Update Your Home Insurance And Rethink Life or Disability Coverage
You probably already have a homeowner s insurance policy. Most lenders require it before you even close. But what you have right now is likely thebare minimumand that may not be enough to fully protect your new life.
Take 30 minutes to review your policy in detail:
-
Does your coverage match your home s actual rebuild cost
not just its market value? -
Do you have
replacement cost
or
actual cash value
for your belongings? -
Does it include things like
flood, sewer backup, mold, or personal liability
? -
Do you need
riders
for high-value items like jewelry, electronics, or art?
Now, here s what almost no one talks about: if you re the main income earner in your household and you just took on a 15- or 30-year mortgage, it s time to think beyond property.
Ask yourself: if something happened to me injury, illness, death could my partner or family keep this house?
This is why many financial advisors recommend taking out aterm life insurance policythat matches your mortgage amount and duration. Same withdisability coverageif you re out of work for months, you still have bills to pay.
Even a basic term life policy can cost under $30/month and provide hundreds of thousands in coverage. It s not about fear. It s about making sure your home stays your family s no matter what happens.
9. Create a Home Maintenance Calendar
Owning a home means the maintenance crew is now you.
There s no landlord to call when the water heater fails or the AC stops working. And unlike a car, houses don t come with a warning light when something s about to break.Preventive maintenance is your best protection, both for safety and long-term value.
Start by setting up a simple calendar even a Google Sheet will do:
-
Every month
: Change HVAC filters, check for water leaks under sinks, test smoke detectors. -
Every quarter
: Clean gutters, inspect roof and attic, check water softener (if applicable), clean dryer vent. -
Every 6 months
: Service HVAC system, flush water heater, test sump pump. -
Every year
: Inspect foundation, reseal windows/doors, schedule pest control, clean chimney (if you have a fireplace).
Don t try to memorize it. Just schedule reminders now and treat them like non-negotiable appointments.
As highlighted inRocket Mortgage s homeowner checklist, routine maintenance helps prevent major failures and often extends the life of your appliances and systems by years.
Neglecting upkeep might not hurt today, but it builds up silently. And suddenly you re looking at a $6,000 HVAC replacement or a mold problem from a slow leak you never noticed.
A maintenance calendar doesn t just protect your home it protects your bank account.
10. Settle Into the Community and Start a New Chapter Right
Most checklists stop at the front door. They tell you how to secure your property, update utilities, even clean behind the fridge. But here s what they miss:your house isn t really your home until you connect with the people and place around it.
Once the essentials are handled, make time for this part:
-
Introduce yourself to the neighbors
even if it s just a wave or quick hello. These are the people who ll keep an eye on your place, lend you a ladder, or help you in an emergency. - Learn the rhythm of your new neighborhood parking rules, trash days, local alerts, and where the best coffee or hardware store is.
- If you re up for it, join the local Facebook group, HOA meeting, or community newsletter. You ll learn what s normal and what s not faster than any city website could tell you.
And if you re into traditions, this might surprise you: in many cultures, people bring bread and salt into a new home before moving anything else. It s symbolic bread so you never go hungry, salt so life always has flavor. Small gestures like this might not change the structure of the house, but theydo change how it feelsto live in it.
The physical move-in is just one part of the transition. This is your chance toset the tone for how you want this next chapter to feelgrounded, connected, and yours. Once you re settled,these simple feel at home trickscan help you create comfort and familiarity faster in your new space.
Before You Unpack: Make This List Your Real First Move
If you ve read this far, you already know this article isn t about hype. It s about protecting what you just worked so hard to buy not just financially, but mentally and emotionally too.
Moving in is exciting, but it s also when your responsibilities as a homeowner begin. Doing these 10 thingsbeforeyou unpack helps you take control from the very first step so nothing slips through the cracks.
To recap, here s what to handle immediately after buying your home:
You don t have to be perfect. You just have to be proactive.
Now you: What s the one task on this list you haven t tackled yet? Make that your next move today and give your new home the start it truly deserves.
Looking for more practical homeownership tips?VisitBuild Like Newfor expert-backed checklists, maintenance guides, and smart homeowner strategies everything you need to keep your house running like new, from day one.
Disclaimer:This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions related to your home or finances.
Table of Contents
-
1. Organize and Secure Your Home Documents
-
2. Change the Locks, Garage Codes, and Security Access
-
3. Deep Clean Everything Before a Single Box Enters
-
4. Set Up Utilities Before Move-In Day
-
5. Check Smoke Detectors, Carbon Monoxide Alarms, and Emergency Shut-Offs
-
6. Review Your Inspection Report and Prioritize Repairs
-
7. Set Your New Budget and Build an Emergency Fund
-
8. Update Your Home Insurance And Rethink Life or Disability Coverage
-
9. Create a Home Maintenance Calendar
-
10. Settle Into the Community and Start a New Chapter Right
-
Before You Unpack: Make This List Your Real First Move
