What To Do After Closing: Real Estate Expert Brad Barnard Provides You With A Useful Checklist.

 When you have just closed the sale and became a new Pekin Illinois homeowner, you will probably be very happy with your purchase and looking for ways to help protect your new investment. This is not a difficult task if you follow some basic tips, many of which are simple common sense.

 The first thing to do when acquiring a new house is to change the door locks. Even if it is a newly built house, you have no way of knowing who may have a key in their possession. It is better to have all the locks in your home changed at the same time. A locksmith can even key all the locks to work with one master key.

 The documents that you have received when closing the sale are very important. Ensure that they are kept in a safe place that is easily accessible should you ever need to refer to them. If an issue arises where you need to refer back to them, having these documents readily accessible can avoid you many headaches.

 Approximately two to three weeks after the sale, get in touch with the county records office to verify that the title has been recorded under your name. In some cases it may take a bit longer, however you should be in touch with them until this issue is confirmed.

 Be sure that the utilities are worked out completely. If you bought a house from another person, transferring the utilities to your name instead of having them disconnected and then reconnected can avoid delays and interruptions in service. It can also save you money, as many companies will not charge you a fee to transfer utilities. If you bought a new house, builders can often arrange for this transfer if you inform them prior to closing.

 You should document all your belongings after you have moved in. Instead of simply making a list, you should make a video of everything in your house as well as the building itself. This can be very useful should something happen, such as a fire, burglary or natural disaster. You should keep a copy of the list of your possessions and of the video outside of your home, such as in a safe deposit box at the bank.

 If you need more advice on having a smooth closing, get in touch with Pekin Illinois real estate expert Brad Barnard with Karl E. Kaebel Realtor at 309-241-0313.

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