Whoever says that the home-buying process is easy possibly hasn't done it before. The numbers of steps that have to be taken from the negotiations, mortgage paperwork, home inspections, and number crunching and re-crunching are all equally stressful and challenging for every home buyer. This is why closing day is such a glorious moment, so don't screw it up by forgetting the smallest details.
Here are 11 essential tasks to tackle before closing day according to Trulia:
Book the movers
You don't want your closing day moment to be ruined by not having anyone to help you move. So, once you have the date, book your mover ASAP. There are months that moving companies tend to book up quickly, so don't even think about doing this in the last minute. If you are going to do the move yourself, finalize whether you will use your own car (consider if it could carry all your stuff), book a rental truck, or ask your friend with a pickup truck to help you out.
Call the locksmith
While you may find the previous owners of the home to be the nicest people in the world, still you don't want them having any access to "your home" right? Call a local locksmith ahead of your moving date to ensure that you have them ready to change your lock on the day of your move. One less thing to stress about on a stressful moving day is a big thing.
Research security systems
It's a new neighborhood, and you want to settle in feeling as safe and comfortable as possible. Whether if you want to continue with the previous owners' or want to have your own, it's important to have a burglary/security system in place when you move in.
Switch the utilities over
One of the most important yet commonly forgotten tasks to do when moving in is switching the utilities: it could be the gas, electric, cable, or even phone. Book two weeks ahead of time to be sure.
Book the contractor
If you already have some renovations and repairs in mind, then book a contractor as early possible. You want one with an excellent portfolio and it takes time to actually find that single reliable contractor. Ask your family and friends to recommend one and assess their skills by checking their previous works online.
Book the floor and paint companies
Since it would be easier to do paint jobs when there is still no furniture in a space, book a paint company several weeks in advance so they can come and do the job just right before you move.
Order the furniture early
Most furniture (especially if you like customized pieces) can take weeks to be delivered or made. So this is why you should order your furniture (as long as you are sure it will work in your new space) in advance so you don't have to live in your new home furniture-less for weeks. However, make sure that your purchase won't hurt your mortgage.
Transfer all your home services
Are you one who has weekly lawn mowing, periodic snow shoveling, or monthly housecleaning services? Then make sure to give them a call about your new address. You don't want those nice guys to come looking for you in your old place wasting their time and effort, right?
Hire a babysitter/pet sitter
Closing day can be really stressful, so you don't want to deal with a screaming child or a frantic dog while worrying about everything else at the same time. Hire a babysitter and pet sitter to take care of the ones you love while you spend all your energy getting their places ready so they can comfortably settle in at the end of the day.
Start hoarding takeout menus
No matter how much you want to prepare a home-cooked meal for your very first day in your new home, believe it or not, you wouldn't have the energy to. So start collecting takeout menus in the neighborhood as you come back and go days before you move in. You will thank us for it as you sit in your new living room famished after all the unpacking and lifting.
Clear your calendar
You would want to clear your schedule on closing day; as much as you want to have the most seamless and stress-free transfer, you can never guess when undiscovered liens and lawsuits or histrionic sellers can pop up. So free the day of meetings and make sure you have your phone fully charged in case the process lasts all day.
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of realtytoday.com
