Buying a house comes with a lot of excitement and emotion. Use this new homeowner checklist to remind yourself what to do as you move in.

There are very few times in life that are considered monumental but buying a house is certainly one of them. From location to square footage to style, the homebuying process is an adventure – and not one to be taken lightly.

But closing on your new house is only the start of that adventure. As a first-time homeowner, there’s a lot to learn about home maintenance and safety once you move in.

That’s why we’ve put together this new homeowner checklist that will help you knock those first days in your new place out of the park.

New homeowner checklist

From setting up utilities to trimming trees, this new homeowner checklist can put you on track for a long, successful stay in your new home.

1. Make digital copies of your mortgage documents

It's no secret you have a ton of paperwork to do if you buy a home. True, this isn’t the most glamorous part of the process, but it is one of the most important. After you close on your loan, you’ll receive copies of all the documents, including:

• Closing disclosure: The closing documents that contain your monthly payment amount, interest rate, promissory note, and other essential information

• Plot plan: The blueprints for your home and the land that belongs to you, which includes the dimensions, measurements, and square footage of the property

• Title deed: The title to your house, showing that you own the property

You’ll want to keep these documents in a safe place, such as a fire-safe lock box. They contain highly valuable information, and if they were lost or stolen, they could be used for scams and identity theft.

Secure any documents that contain personal information such as:

• Your full name

• Your address

• Your social security number

• Your banking information

It’s also smart to scan them and have digital copies on your computer, backed up to the cloud, and/or saved to a secure hard drive. That might sound like overkill, but you do not want to lose important records like these.

In addition to your house documents, consider keeping copies and back-ups of your driver's license, insurance policies, and medical information (such as prescriptions taken and contact information for your doctor’s office).

2. Change the locks on the home

When you close on the house, you’ll receive the keys from the previous owners or from the building company that completed the home, if you bought a new construction property.

One of the first things you should do is change all of the locks and have new keys made. There’s no way to be certain you’ve received every copy of the keys that was ever made, and as a safety precaution, it’s best to start fresh. You can hire a locksmith company to replace the locks for you, or you can do it yourself. Just pick up the lock sets at a department store, and have copies of the new keys made.

3. Set up your utilities before your closing date

Third on the new homeowner checklist: let there be light, water, and wifi.

No one (and I mean no one) likes to be without utilities. First off, being in the dark is no fun, but being without wifi – yikes. That’s why setting up your utilities should be one of the first tasks you tackle as a new homeowner.

You’ll want to find out exactly which utilities the house is hooked up to (for instance, some houses have natural gas hook-ups, but not all do), call the utility providers, and make sure the service will be transferred to your name by your day of closing.

4. Schedule estimates for any repair or renovation work you plan to have done

Oftentimes when people move into their new house, they want to have work done –  either because the repairs are urgent or because they want to make the home their own.

These home improvements might include:

• Replacing an outdated HVAC system

• Repairing old insulation

• Putting in new windows

• Putting in a pool

• Installing a built-in office desk

• Creating an outdoor patio oasis

• Building out the media room

Unless you plan to DIY your renovations, you will likely require a third-party subcontractor to complete the project. You’ll want to schedule these as early as possible so you’ll know how much the renovations will cost and when they might actually be done. Contractors are in high demand right now, and you may be surprised to find waiting lists several months long.

5. Schedule removal of potentially hazardous tree limbs and trees  

Here are some scary stats from TreeRater.com: “From 1995 to 2007, there were 407 deaths from wind-related tree falls in the United States. 41% of the deaths caused by falling trees are a result of thunderstorms. 35% of the deaths caused by falling trees are a result of non-convective high winds.”

That's a lot of damage and tragic death, some of which may have been avoided with proper precautions. After closing on your home, take a good look at all of the trees on your property. If you see any dead branches or trees that look precarious, call a tree maintenance expert to get a quote on having them remove any dangerous limbs or trees.

Even if you don’t see any immediate signs of concern, you may want to call an expert anyway. They’re trained to see warning signs that the average homeowner might miss.

6. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are major safety hazards in a home, so make sure to install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the house. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can be the difference between a fatal accident and a life saved if handled properly.

If there are already detectors in the home when you take possession, test them to make sure they work. Schedule a reminder on your calendar to test them regularly and replace them as needed. 

Be sure to have at least one fire extinguisher in the home as well, and let everyone in the household know where it is and how to use it.

7. File for a homestead exemption

A homestead exemption can help you save money on your taxes by reducing your home’s value for tax purposes. Homestead exemption laws vary by state, so it’s worth asking your mortgage lender, realtor or a tax advisor about the rules in your area. 

8. Familiarize yourself with the property

As you’re unpacking and decorating the home, pay attention to the nuts and bolts of the house. Get to know where the circuit breaker is and which switches correspond to which rooms. Look for where the water shutoff valve is, and get a baseline understanding of how the various home systems work.

If you lose power or are hit with a winter storm and lose power or water, you’ll want to know these things before you’re in crisis mode. Besides, things go wrong in houses all the time, and the better you know the property, the more prepared you’ll be to deal with them.

9. Create an emergency preparedness plan

Last but not least on the new homeowner checklist: create an emergency preparedness plan. Part of responsible homeownership is being ready for anything. That’s why it’s important to have an emergency preparedness kit with food, water, medication, tools, and other essentials that you can access instantly in the event of a storm or evacuation.

A big – and worthwhile – responsibility

All of this might sound a little overwhelming, especially after you’ve just been through the long process of buying the home. But you don’t have to figure out all the ins and outs of homeownership overnight. Focus on the priority tasks and take your to accomplish the items on your new homeowner checklist one a day at a time.

And don't forget to be excited and revel in this accomplishment. Buying a home is a major life event that’s worth celebrating.