07/30/2026
Here is what we walk buyers through before unpacking that first box:
1. Rekey or replace every exterior lock. A locksmith runs about $100 to $150, or rekey kits at a home goods store are around $20 a lock.
2. Find the water main shutoff and the breaker panel. Label the breakers while the house is empty and quiet. The day a pipe bursts is the wrong day to go looking!
3. Locate the gas shutoff and your water heater. Know where they are and how to turn them off.
4. Change the HVAC filter and write the size on it. A new filter is cheap and protects the most expensive system in the house.
5. Test every smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Put fresh batteries in all of them. If they are older than 10 years, replace the units.
6. Deep clean before the furniture lands. An empty house is the only time you can reach inside every cabinet, every vent, and under where the fridge will sit.
7. Reset the garage code, smart locks, thermostat, and wifi router. Previous owner’s phones may sometimes still be connected to these.
8. Photograph and video every empty room. That is your baseline for condition and your record for insurance if you ever need to file a claim.
9. Confirm power, water, gas, internet, and trash are in your name, and find out which day pickup is.
10. Hunt down leftover paint, manuals, and warranty info in the garage and closets. Match your wall colors now so touch ups are easy later.
Do these first and you start your home ownership in control instead of catching up. Save this so it’s ready on closing day!
