Buying a new house in the Saline and Ann Arbor Michigan area is an exciting adventure to embark on. Whether you are a newlywed just beginning your life with your significant other or a retiree looking to downsize, purchasing a new home is a time of new beginnings. Despite all of the anticipation of owning a new home, there are some housekeeping items that should be taken care of prior to settling in.

Committing to a Final Walk Through

As eager as you may be to finally move in after weeks of paperwork and waiting, completing a final walk-through with your REALTOR® and/or inspectors is beneficial. This is the time to make sure all of the requested updates and repairs have been corrected prior to signing the final binding paperwork. Have your broker or inspector ready to make any last minute notes or perform any additional tests to confirm the state of the home. Investing just a few minutes in this process can save you thousands in expensive repairs later on.

Make Sure You Have Adequate Homeowner's Insurance

Prior to closing on your new home, it is often required to provide proof of homeowner's insurance. As a new homeowner, it is your responsibility to do your due diligence in researching insurance companies and selecting the best fit for our needs. Be sure to consider different coverage and research terms, such as "replacement cost," "actual cash value," and "depreciation" to help you better understand what you are paying for. Examine your policy thoroughly, select appropriate deductibles, and make changes as necessary.  Your best insurance quote will generally be for a package that also includes your automobile coverage as well.

Consider Different Contracts

While homeowner's insurance covers many catastrophic events, what happens if your furnace goes out or you have a power surge off-premises that kills your refrigerator? This type of coverage steps in at times like these to help cover losses that are not otherwise covered by homeowner's insurance. A home warranty can be a lifesaver when it comes to issues that are not detected at the time of purchase or during the walk-through. Home warranties are often serviced by different entities than insurance providers, so homeowners may be out the cost of two policies. However, many think that being safe rather than sorry is worth the cost.

Complete Renovations Prior to Moving in

Do you really despise that carpet in the family room? Would you prefer to paint the walls in the bedroom? If so, it is best to complete any renovations or household changes prior to moving in. The work will go faster when  you don't have to deal with furniture etc and who wants to live in a dust bowl anyway, right?  It becomes much more difficult to make these changes when there are people, furniture and belongings in the way. Deciding on what changes you wish to make and establishing a timeline for completing these changes prior to moving in allows your family to plan accordingly.

Switch the Utilities to Your Name

If your new home had previous residents, it would be beneficial to consider changing the utilities over into your name immediately to start on your move-in date.  Have your agent coordinate this coverage timing with the sellers or their agent. Some utility companies require a security deposit that will be refunded later after making payments on time. Other companies charge additional fees if services are turned off by the previous owners and then must be turned back on.

Change Your Mailing Address

One of the most simple, yet overlooked tasks in new home ownership is the process of contacting the post office to have all mail forwarded to your new address. It can take four to six weeks to get this process fully instated. You can also set up online payments for essential bills or contact companies directly to make sure no important paperwork is overlooked during the transition.  For more information, check out our helpful Links / resources page in the top right side of this web page.  

Moving into your new home can be very hectic and exciting at the same time. By making a checklist of items to complete prior to settling into your new home you can rest easy in knowing that you are prepared for this new journey.   Make a list so it won't be missed.  

Tom Stachler is a licensed Broker and Builder marketing expert for commercial, condo and homes in the Ann Arbor Michigan community and surrounding areas such as Dexter, Saline, Chelsea, Milan Ypsilanti and Pinckney real estate markets.  Note the Search Properties link above to view a complete Inventory of homes and condos for sale.  Also click on the resources tab above for other helpful information links, contractor discounts and sources.   Have questions want sell your home or get a price ?  Go to  www.MyPrice.guru to get started and see comparable home sales.  Or maybe you want to search for property and view an updated MLS inventory report created for those Buying properties .  Hit the contact me link to the right or call us with any questions because we would love to hear from you.  We also have a Contractor Discount page here on our website or many helpful Links in the tab above for more resources.  

Ann Arbor Real Estate for Sale, Saline Real estate for sale, whatever the need in the surrounding areas, we have it using the navigation tabs above.