the first week after closing

Everything I check before I unpack a single box. Not glamorous, but the mistakes here are expensive.

Locate the main water shutoff valve.

Mine was buried under mulch in the front bed. Do this first.

Change all exterior door locks and the garage code.

Even if the locks look fine. You don't know who has a copy.

Test every smoke and CO detector, replace batteries.

Half of ours were dead. The inspector doesn't test batteries.

Find the electrical panel and label the breakers.

Photograph every utility meter on day one.

In case a dispute over the seller's last bill comes up later.

Set up homeowners insurance effective the closing date.

Locate the water heater's shutoff and note the age on the tank.

Ours was 11 years old and we didn't know until it started leaking (learned this one late).

Change the HVAC filter and write the size somewhere you'll see it.

Sizes aren't universal. Measure it, don't guess.

Check for a sump pump and test it before the first real rain.

Forward your mail and update the address on the essentials.

Walk the property line against the survey.

This is how we found out the fence sits two feet over the line.

Find the gas shutoff if you have gas appliances.

Start a folder for every receipt from week one.

Introduce yourself to at least one neighbor.

They usually know things about the house the listing definitly left out.

Or start a list of your own. Free, it takes a minute.

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