Your moving-in checklist as a new home owner

If you are approaching closing day at your new home, you are probably feeling a mixture of emotions ranging from excitement to anxiety, and anything in between. While it’s normal to feel some stress, most of us would prefer to eliminate it as much as possible. With that in mind, here are some of the most important to-dos for your moving-in checklist!

Complete your final walkthrough

Every home buyer should take advantage of the opportunity to complete a last walkthrough of their future home shortly before closing day. Even though you viewed the home during your initial tour, and may have been back a couple of times since then, this final visit is extremely important. It will be your last chance to see the property before it officially becomes yours. This also means it’s your final chance to point out any damages that weren’t present when you made your offer, or take note of any major changes that have occurred in the home. Ideally, you should schedule this walkthrough for a few days before closing. This gives you the chance to identify potential issues and bring them to the attention of the seller if necessary. Remember, once you close on the sale, the home is yours, which means you are responsible for any repairs or replacements moving forward! This is a smart way to give yourself an added layer of protection and peace of mind during the lead-up to moving day.

Get your moving day plans in place

Moving day itself can be a whirlwind of excitement and stress. The best way to combat any feelings of anxiety is to thoroughly prepare your plans for the day. For starters, you will need to decide how you will be moving your belongings from point A to point B. Your two options are to hire a moving company, or take on the responsibility yourself. After the financial commitments of buying a home, you might be tempted to hire a budget moving company to save some money. While there are many reputable low-cost companies, you need to be careful! It is unfortunately not too uncommon to see stories of budget moving companies raising their prices without warning and demanding higher fees in exchange for their services. If you want to use a moving company, be sure to do your research and find one with good reviews and a trusted reputation. If you want to handle moving day yourself, this will require even more preparation. You will need to arrange for van and truck rentals, and probably convince a few friends to help you out. Make sure you carefully plan out the day well ahead of time to ensure things go smoothly!

Prep for closing costs

For the majority of the purchasing process, you likely focused primarily on your down payment and ensuring you can manage your monthly mortgage costs. However, you will also need to take care of closing costs before move-in day! Closing costs are relatively small in the grand scheme of things, often adding up to around two per cent of your home’s purchase price. However, this is still a decent amount of money you will have to shell out before the home is yours. These include legal fees, land transfer taxes, moving costs, adjustments, and home insurance expenses. It’s important to ensure you are prepared for all of these costs so you don’t face any unpleasant surprises on closing day. Take some time to double check your finances are in order and you are ready to tackle these expenses.

Meet with your lawyer

A final meeting with your lawyer is an essential item on your moving-in checklist. You won’t have this meeting on closing day, of course. You should try to arrange an appointment a few days in advance. This is the time to review your contract in detail one last time, and ask any final questions you have. It’s important to understand your contract, so be sure to point out any item that isn’t clear to you. You can also likely complete some necessary paperwork ahead of time to speed up the process on closing day. Taking care of these items now will help reduce your stress on an already jam-packed day. Be sure to book your meeting well in advance to ensure you can secure the date you need!

Know the little details

Moving to a new home involves so many tiny details that are easy to forget. However, as you approach move-in day, you are likely to come across tasks that slipped your mind, but are still important. For example, do you know who your internet provider is, and have you arranged a time for them to visit and set up the internet in your new home? Do you have all the information you need to check your utility bills and make your payments? You should also look up when garbage and recycling pickup takes place for your home so you don’t miss your scheduled date. You will need to ensure your mail is forwarded to your new address so you receive any important packages without interruption. Finally, take some time to look up the local amenities, as well as the nearest dentist, doctor, and pharmacy. Familiarizing yourself with the area ahead of time will make your move-in process much easier!

Your moving-in checklist will undoubtedly be extensive, but preparing well in advance will help the day go smoothly. If you have any questions about your mortgage, contract, or homeownership in general, be sure to reach out to the professionals on your team. IAre you hoping to enter the real estate market as a home buyer in the near future? Feel free to get in contact with your local broker! Kicking off the process early is the best way to ensure your homeownership journey gets off to a great start.

If you have any questions about your mortgage, give us a call at Centum Home Lenders! You can reach us at 506-854-6847, or get in touch with us here.