Congratulations! You have finished the settlement process and are given the keys to your new home. What items should be put on your immediate TO-DO list? Here are the top 5 items that the Wendy Slaughter Team recommends:
1. Change the Locks
You do not know how many sets of keys have been given to neighbors or contractors who have worked on the home, so to be on the safe side, change your locks.
2. Reprogram Garage Door Openers and Alarm Systems
Many garage door remotes have a reset button that you can hold down to re-program. If you have an exterior garage door keypad, you should change the code as well. You should also reprogram your alarm system keypads with your own codes. Use Google to find the instruction manuals for the systems.
3. Replace the Furnace Filters
If the airflow is blocked, the efficiency of your unit is compromised. Not only will replacing your filter make your heating bills lower, but it will also make your furnace more efficient.
4. Replace Batteries in Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
There is no way for you to know how old the batteries are in these detectors, so to be safe, you should replace the batteries as soon as you move into your house. Moving forward, it’s recommended you change the batteries twice a year when you change the clocks for daylight savings time.
5. Check the Temperature Setting on the Hot Water Heater
The previous owners may have liked it hot hot hot! Check the settings and make adjustments if needed.