Step 10: Looking After Your Home

Having got through the previous nine steps, you’ve effectively completed the process. You’ve found and bought your new home, financed the deal and can move in. So, that’s it and you can relax.
Except that, when you own some real estate, you can never fully relax. Being a homeowner is a serious business and brings certain responsibilities with it. You need to look after your most valuable asset, keep it protected and in good order.

Check for Discrepancies

When you move in, make sure everything is as you expect it and that nothing is missing or broken. Report any discrepancies without delay. The house is unlikely to be spotless but it should be reasonably tidy, ready to be cleaned and painted.
The previous owners should have supplied final readings for gas, electricity and other utilities on the day they vacated the property. That means they should pay for their own usage and any bills sent to you should only cover your own consumption since moving in. It’s worth taking a note of the readings when you get the keys to the property and then check the first bills to make sure you’ve been charged correctly.

Keep Things Safe

Any papers you receive relating to your purchase of the property may well be extremely valuable. They prove you are the legal owner of the property and set out your rights and responsibilities. It is important, therefore, that they are kept in a safe place, possibly stored securely by your bank or lawyer.
You should also check that everything has gone through and been recorded correctly. Contact your local property records office a few weeks after you move in, ensuring they have you recorded as the legal owner of the property and everything else is in order. Make sure you follow up any irregularities.
You will have taken out insurance cover for at least your building and contents, and this needs to be kept in place and up-to-date. The best course of action is to take an inventory of all your fixtures, fittings and possessions when you move in. You may want to take photographs of the house and contents in case you need to provide proof at a later date. If so, keep you records in a safe place away from your home. As you gain further possessions, ensure they’re recorded and covered, and as the value of the property increases, make sure you update your policy. Your insurance provider should be able to help you with this.

Enjoy

Despite what’s been said here, none of this is likely to take up much of your time. It’s just a matter of making sure everything is done correctly. After that, you’re free to enjoy your new home.