So you’ve purchased the home of your dreams and have just finished moving in, but don’t relax just yet. Now is the best time to document the sale and your move while the details are fresh in your mind. Taking a few moments now will not only save you time down the road, but will prepare you in the event of an unexpected emergency.

Documentation:
During the past few weeks and maybe even months your schedule has been a flurry of coordination finding, buying, and closing your new home while, at the same time, coordinating the move from your old place. Now is a great time to gather up the documents you have been gathering along the way during the buying/selling process before you lose track of them. Locate all of the contracts for the new home as well as blueprints, contact information for your builder, and even the paint specs if your home is new. Don’t forget to collect documentation of the home’s inspection, appraisal and any extermination records that may be available. Make sure that all your insurance information is together as well, and file everything where it will be easy to access and reference at a later date.

Warranties
If there are any new appliances or other new items in the home ensure all warranty cards are filled out and mailed back to their respective manufacturers. Be sure to file this information as well for your records.

New Laws and Regulations
If you have moved to a different state there are quite a number of items that will need to be addressed to ensure you are in compliance with your new state’s laws. First, contact the post office and confirm that your change of address has taken effect.

Get in touch with the local DMV if you own a vehicle to register it in the new state. Each state’s respective DMV office will be able to answer any questions you may have about their vehicle law.

If you have a pet, arrange an appointment with a veterinarian to find out if there are any additional vaccinations or health considerations for your pet in your new home. The vet will also be able tell you where to register your pet if it requires registration with the city or county.

Around the House:
Make extra copies of your keys.

Photograph each room in your home and keep the photographs in a safe place such as a fire-proof lockbox. This will assist you in filing claims with your insurance company in the event of a catastrophe.

Save receipts for any repairs or improvements you make to the house as well. You may be able to write many expenses off at the end of the year.

If your home is brand new be sure to keep an eye out for any flaws in construction such as leaky windows or pipes. Your contractor should come back and fix these deficiencies while your new home is still under warranty. Don’t wait until your warranty has expired.

Emergency Preparedness:
Develop new emergency ‘action plans’ and be sure that all family members are familiar with them. Where would you go in the event of a fire? Where should everyone meet up if they have safely escaped from the house?

If your new home is in an area prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes or flooding make sure you have the necessary survival items on hand such as fresh water, candles, batteries, and a complete first aid kit.

A little time spent planning and preparing when you’ve first moved in will smooth the transition into your new home and give you piece of mind that you are prepared should the unexpected occur.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 6th, 2004 at 12:35 pm and is tagged . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.