Congratulations on the purchase of your new Santa Monica home. The property buying process is complex and often comes with many ups and downs along the way. However, you managed to make it to the end. While you’re entitled to breathe a sigh of relief (and even celebrate a bit), there are a few more things you want to handle to ensure the transition into your new place runs smoothly. Continue reading to learn more.
Secure The Property
The first thing you want to do is ensure that you secure the property. Your residence will remain unoccupied until you relocate, making it vulnerable to vandalism and other crimes. Start by changing the locks on the doors and getting copies of the keys made. You may also want to consider installing a home security system for added protection. Finally, have new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed on each floor of your home.
Tackle Necessary Repairs
During the home inspection, you were given a list of maintenance and repair tasks that needed to be completed. While you don’t have to worry about cosmetics right now, you want to take care of the repairs that pose a risk to your health and safety. Such repairs might include structural issues and any damage to the household systems or appliances.
Schedule Utility Services
You don’t want to move into your house only to find that you have no access to electricity, gas, or water. Therefore, you should schedule to have the utilities shut on your property. Do some research to determine which utility providers service the Santa Monica area. Open an account and pay any necessary fees or deposits. Then schedule to have a technician turn the services on when you’ll be present to give them access to the property.
Whole House Clean-Up
Before moving boxes and furniture into your new place, you should clean the house from top to bottom. Throw away anything left behind by the previous owners. Then, wash all the walls, windows, and floors in every room to get rid of dirt, dust, germs, allergens, bacteria, and debris. If necessary, you can enlist the help of family and friends to get the project done faster.
If there is a lot of junk, you may need the assistance of experts like a cleaning crew or dumpster rental service. For specialized areas in the home like the basement, crawl space, or attic, contact a professional for attic cleaning to ensure it’s done efficiently.
Minor Aesthetics
You don’t have to complete kitchen and bathroom renovations before moving in (unless you have the time and money), but there are some minor aesthetics you may want to tackle ahead of time. For example, if you’re changing the wall colors, painting in an empty house is easier to manage. The same is true if you plan on installing new flooring or appliances.
Address Change
In most states, you have about two weeks to change your address on your driver’s license. You’ll also want to ensure that your mail will be routed to your Santa Monica address. So, head to the local DMV office and complete a change of address form with a nearby post office.
Complete Measurements
Whether you’re buying new furniture or bringing things from your old house, you want to ensure you can get them into your new residence with ease. That’s why you should complete measurements in advance. Measure the doors, hallways, and stairways for each room and jot down the measurements for later use.
Buying a house in Santa Monica (or anywhere, for that matter) is a rewarding experience. Although closing on your new property feels like the end, there’s still quite a bit to get done before you can move into your residence. After you’ve basked in the moment for a while, start completing the tasks listed above. Then, you’re ready to contact the moving company, pack up your things, and get ready to enjoy the next phase of your life.
