Your first 90 days as an owner

Locks. You can't know who still has a key to your new home. Known¹

Alarms. Working alarms matter most in a home you don't know yet.

• Test every alarm.
• Replace the batteries now, then every year.
• Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years old. Rule^2,3

Your address. Bills and statements keep going to your old address until you update them.

• USPS: online at usps.com/move ($1.25 identity check) or free at a Post Office.
• Banks, cards, investment, student loan and car loan accounts.
• DMV, car and health insurance, and your phone company. Known^4,5,6

First payment. Your first payment date and where to send it are in your closing papers, and a move is an easy time to miss it. Known^4,5

A new servicer? The company you pay can change; real notices come from both companies with dates and contact details.

• Old servicer: notice at least 15 days before the transfer.
• New servicer: notice within 15 days after it.
• Move your autopay to the new servicer. Rule^7,5

For 60 days after a transfer, an on-time payment sent to the old servicer can't be treated as late. Rule⁷

Homestead. It can lower your property tax bill, and in most places you have to apply. Rule^8,9,10,11

Your tax bill. Some states reset the taxable value when a home sells, so the seller's bill isn't yours. Rule^12,13,11

Insurance. Standard policies leave out flood and earthquake, and discounts or a higher deductible can lower your premium. Known^5,14

The CFPB suggests living with your new budget for a few months and building an emergency fund before non-essential renovations. Known⁵

New owners spent a median 1.5% of their home's value a year on upkeep in the Census Bureau's 2021 survey; long-time owners spent 0.6%. Known¹⁵

Improvement costs add to your home's tax basis, which matters when you sell. Rule¹⁶