Protect Your Home After Closing

When buying one of the pre-owned Grand Forks ND homes, you may find that you’re not going to be moving in right after the closing. To protect your new investment until you can fully move in, be it a few weeks or maybe a month or more, here are some things you can do to keep your new home safe and sound.

You’ll have done a walk-through before closing, but before you leave for an extended period of time, do one more walk-through to make sure everything is in working order. You may want to turn the water off to prevent any potential leaks, and if the power is connected in your name, go ahead and set the thermostats to maintain a temperature that will help protect your home. During the summer, set it to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, set it to 65 degrees and open any cabinet doors that hide pipes to let warm air circulate better to help prevent frozen pipes.

Even though you will have received keys at the closing, you never know if there are more keys out there, so it’s best to go ahead and change the locks, whether you’re moving in right away or waiting. If you are waiting to move, make sure all doors, windows, and any other possible entrances are securely locked. If you have a security system, make sure it’s armed.

To avoid your home looking empty and unlived in, it’s worthwhile to add some lights, curtains, and maybe even a few pieces of furniture if possible, especially for outward facing windows. Ideally, put up curtains in any windows and use blinds if you have them to prevent people from looking inside. You should also have lamps on timers set to come on in the evenings in different rooms, especially main living rooms, to make the home look lived in. Smart-lighting will really help if you have it. You should also hire someone to cut your grass or shovel snow from your driveway and walkways, depending on the season. For a finishing touch, put out a front door mat and hang a seasonal wreath on your door to further the illusion of occupancy.

It’s a good idea to introduce yourself to your immediate neighbors to let them know you are the new owners and to ask them to keep an eye out until you can move in fully. If you’ve set up timed lights, be sure to let them know. Also tell them if you’ll be having anyone coming into your home for repairs, decoration, cleaning, etc. Consider taking a small gift – candles, cookies, flowers – when introducing yourself to make a positive impression and have a head start in making new friends when you move.

Finally, whether you do it yourself or hire someone to do it, now is the time to do a deep clean of the home and take care of any repairs or painting. It’s much easier to do when the home is empty. If you’re concerned, now is also the time to have your home treated for pests. Plus, when you actually move in, it’s nice to have a clean, fresh home to greet you.

Hopefully you don’t have to wait long to move into one of the Grand Forks ND homes, but if you will be putting off the move for a few weeks or more, it’s a good idea to consider all of these steps to protect your new home and make sure it’s ready and in tip-top shape for you when you finally move in for good.

Categorised in: benefits of new construction, Design Tips, Fall Tips, New Home Tips, Protect Your Home After Closing

This post was written by Crary Real Estate