After Buying a Home in West Palm Beach, 5 Useful Tips

Buying a home in West Palm Beach is sort of a modern day adventure. At first there’s the intrigue of figuring out the advantages and disadvantages between the neighborhoods and listings competing for your attention; then there are all the challenging, sometimes exhausting—then, ultimately, exhilarating steps that lead to home ownership.

But even after the previous owner has handed over the keys, there’s more to come: a few extra steps new homeowners can decide they wish to take. Here are five of those—things you can choose to do after buying a Palm Beach County home:

#1 Change the Locks

Who knows how many people have a copy of those keys? It’s a good idea to change the locks on all exterior doors, because it’s not just the previous owners who have had access to the property; there may also have been guests or tradespeople with access to the keys. By installing new locks, you can be sure that you are complete control of the keys to your new home.

#2 Have the House Cleaned

While the previous homeowners are obliged to leave the home in reasonable condition (usually “broom clean”), consider scheduling a professional cleaning crew before you move in. If your budget and schedule allows, it can be a plus to know some serious deep cleaning has been performed on counters, plumbing fixtures, carpets, etc.

#3 Smooth Transfer of Utilities

After buying a Palm Beach County home, it’s usually possible to transfer utilities into your name without having to live through a break in service. Contacting all utility companies ahead of time will ensure that the transfer is orderly and scheduled in a manner that will be convenient to your move. It’s also an opportunity to be sure that utility bills have been fully paid before closing on the property.

#4 Store the Settlement Papers

At the end of the process of buying a home, a host of details come fast and furious, making it doubly easy to misplace things—even important things, like copies of the papers you execute during settlement. Later, when it’s tax time (or in the future should you sell the property), you’ll save yourself a lot of desperate rummaging if you’ve prepared a secure place to keep them from the start.

#5 Take Photos of Your Household Items

It’s important to keep an accurate list of your household contents in the case of theft, fire or other mishap—records to act as verification of your belongings and their condition. Buying a home is the perfect time to take that inventory. Go from room to room snapping digital pictures of everything you own. It will never get easier!

Like anything worth doing, buying your new West Palm Beach dream home probably came with its own set of stresses. But it should stand as one of the most rewarding financial moves you will ever make. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in West Palm Beach this spring or summer, do give me a call!

Questions, Comments or For more information you can email Christian Penner at TheMortgageTeam@ChristianPenner.com or visit us online at www.ChristianPenner.com or you can call us directly at: 561-316-6800

ChristianPenner.com
http://www.christianpenner.com/after-buying-a-home-in-west-palm-beach-5-useful-tips/
After Buying a Home in West Palm Beach, 5 Useful Tips

Or You can click "Call Me" below to call Christian Penner directly using Google Voice

- - -

- - -

View Larger Map

- - -

ChristianPenner.com
http://www.christianpenner.com/after-buying-a-home-in-west-palm-beach-5-useful-tips/
After Buying a Home in West Palm Beach, 5 Useful Tips