8 Things You Should Do Before Moving Into A New House

 Moving into a new house?  Your task list doesn't end once you pack up your current home.  There's a few more things you're going to want to do before you get in and start living it up.

Change the Locks

It doesn't make you paranoid to want new locks on the exterior doors to your home.  It makes you smart!  Who knows how many people were given keys to what is now your new home?  You could call a locksmith to come to the house to re-key the locks or get a nice update plus peach of mind by replacing the the whole hardware.

Don't forget to change your garage door opener code, too.

Do an In-Depth Tour of the House

Identify where the water and gas shut-off valves are.  How about the electrical box and water heater?  Do you know how to use your sprinkler system?  Familiarizing yourself with all the ins and outs of the house and making sure key members of the household are also aware can help avoid disasters.

Seal Off Rooms You Won't Be Using Right Away

Between moving costs, new furniture, any renovations needed, and the cost of turning on all your utilities, you're probably going to want to save a few dollars where you can.  Sealing off rooms you won't be using for a while can help lower your heating and cooling costs.

Meet Your Neighbors

Your neighbors may be planning to come by once they see you're settled in, but think about beating them to it.  You might make a new best friend or find one for your kids.  Being friendly from the get-go established good will.

Join NEXTDOOR

Log on the Nextdoor.com to find your community site.  If you need a babysitter, a handyman, or a recommendation for the best Chinese restaurant in your area, Nextdoor will help you find it.

Clean Your Carpets

A thorough cleaning of the home should have been done when the sellers were moving out, but unless specific cleaning tasks were called out in the contract, the house may not be as spic-n-span as you want.

Even if the house looks clean when you move in, they may have skipped getting the carpets professionally cleaned.  A good cleaning can extend the life of the carpets, improve air quality, and remove allergens.

Wipe Out Drawers and Cabinets

This is another often ignored task and one that could be responsible for leaving germs and crumbs behind.

Change Your Smoke Detector Batteries

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that smoke detector batteries get changed twice a year.  Since you probably won't know when the last time this was done, it's best to change them when you move in.

Hopefully this helpful tips will prove useful to you when you decide to purchase a new home.  When you're ready to make a move, don't hesitate to contact us.  We'll provide with helpful tips to prepare your home to go on the market.

How To Buy A Luxury Home

     When it comes to buying a luxury home, there's more than just a high price and somewhat unique architecture.  Purchasing a high-end property is a completely different process than buying a middle-priced home.

     Here are a few tips if you are thinking of buying a luxury home.

Learn Where To Search

     Unlike homes in lower price ranges, luxury properties often go unlisted to protect the seller's privacy.  That's why it is important to use your Realtor's personal connections, as she or her office mates, may have off-market luxury listings.  You won't find these listings in the Internet.  Check with us to find out inside information about higher-end properties before they hit the market.

Proper Expertise

     As a real estate agent, I will not only find the property, but, as an expert, will be able to determine the market value of the high-end property.  Typically, the price of a home is relatively easy to evaluate by comparing it to similar properties in the area.  However, many times there will be no similar properties in the area.  Moreover, since luxury homes are more or less unique, they can't be compared to anything at all.  That's why you need an expert to carefully inspect the property, as it will have special amenities such as a pool, ponds, fountains, outdoor fireplaces, landscape lighting, professional surveillance and security systems, and so much more.

Financing

     According to a Coldwell Banker study 10 years ago, only 31% of luxury home buyers paid cash for their high-end property.  It's normal to use a loan for the purchase, but there are a few things you should know.  The loan approval process will take longer...45-60 days to secure...and you will be required to provide a lot of detailed documentation.

Understanding the Market

    There will always be a market for luxury property and some local areas are experiencing significant growth.  Considering the fact we are still experiencing the financial whirlwind going on due to the pandemic, luxury markets have heated up.  One reason for this, of course, is the rule of supply and demand and, in general, the supply of higher priced homes is limited.

     If a luxury home is in your future, you may want to start planning now.  To search for luxury homes for sale at your leisure, just go to:  PoshSTLHomes.com 

     If you would be interested in knowing of any off-market luxury homes, just contact me.