It’s finally done. The driving around. Looking at Knoxville real estate daily on the internet and in person. The offers. The counter offers. More counteroffers. The anxiety. The inspection. Now the time has come. That special day. Closing day, the day the keys are handed over and the movers are packed up and ready to deliver your life to a new home.
Troy Stavros, Broker and Partner with the 865 Real Estate team says, “Don’t breathe easy just yet. There are still some things to get in order to make the transition to your new home in Knoxville happen with minimum headaches. Some early planning can really make move-in so much better.”
Below are the Top 5 Things To Do Before and After Closing:
1) PLAN NEEDED REPAIRS WELL IN ADVANCE
Whether it is needed repairs that the seller did not cover after inspections, or a small remodeling project to make the home more the buyer’s style, getting these lined up prior to closing will make the transition much easier. After closing the buyer’s hands will be full with unpacking and getting settled, so having these workers already in place will allow the work to get done faster and with less stress on the new homeowner.
2) SETUP THE UTILITIES
Most sellers will have arranged to have the utilities cut off on the day of closing. As if new homeowners don’t have enough on their plate with moving in, the last thing needed is no power or water. The best plan is to call the utility companies and setup the start date well in advance of closing. At that point the utility company may say that the seller has not given a notification of cancellation. If that is the case a simple reminder to the seller will be sufficient. Sellers are in the midst of packing up and may have forgotten as well. Take the lead and be proactive. Problem solved, future headache eliminated.
3) CHANGE THE LOCKS
The new homeowner just received the keys to a new home. More than likely the buyers aren’t the only people with this same set of keys. Oftentimes a homeowner will give a key to neighbors, relatives, real estate agents, workman, etc. The moment the house and keys are in the hands of a new homeowner, it’s time to call a locksmith.
4) GET A CLEANING CREW
While some sellers will go to the trouble of having the home cleaned after move out, most do not. Who wants to move boxes and furniture, and basically everything a new homeowner owns into a dirty house. Start living in the home with a clean slate and a clean house.
5) HAVE A HANDYMAN READY FOR ACTION
A new homeowner will have plenty going on during move-in. Having another set of hands around to take care of some of the projects might be just what the doctor ordered to save your back and sanity. Moving boxes to different rooms, moving furniture, etc. A few hundred dollars spent on a handyman or some college kids the day of move in is money well spent.