A Buyer's First 30 Days After Closing: Locks, Utilities, Records and What to Do First
What You’ll Learn
- Why rekeying locks and resetting codes and smart devices comes first
- How to confirm utilities, mail and address updates
- Where to find shutoffs and why to test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- What to know about your first mortgage payment, servicing transfers and look-alike mail
- Escrow, insurance, property tax and homestead basics, plus which records and warranties to file
Closing is done and the home is yours. The first month brings a long list of small tasks, and a few of them matter more than the rest: securing the home, getting utilities and mail settled, learning where the shutoffs are, and keeping your mortgage, insurance and tax paperwork on track.
This plan puts those tasks in a practical order for your first 30 days. Not everything has to happen on day one, and every home is different, so adjust it for your property, your loan and your state. Rules for things like property tax exemptions and local safety requirements vary, and the right person to ask is noted along the way.
Start With Access: Locks, Garage Codes and Smart Devices
You usually don't know how many keys, codes and app logins are still out there. Previous owners, contractors, pet sitters and neighbors may all have had access at some point. Changing that is one of the first things many new owners do.
- Rekey or replace exterior locks. Rekeying changes the pins inside a lock so old keys no longer work, and it often costs less than replacing the hardware. A locksmith can do it, and some locks are designed to be rekeyed by the owner. Include side doors, garage entry doors and any exterior storage.
- Reset garage door openers and keypads. Clear old remotes from the opener's memory using the manufacturer's instructions, then set a new keypad code.
- Take over smart devices. Smart locks, thermostats, video doorbells, security systems and irrigation controllers may still be linked to the seller's account. Ask that they be removed from the seller's account, then set them up under your own. A factory reset may be needed.
- Change other codes. Update alarm codes, gate codes and any shared access codes. If the home is in a community with an association, ask the association how to update gate access or amenity keys.
- Reset the network. If a router or other network equipment was left behind, reset it and create new passwords.
Utilities, Internet and Mail
Ideally, utility transfers were set up before closing. In the first week, confirm everything is actually in your name as of the closing date:
- Electric, gas, water, sewer and trash. Some services are run by a city or county and others by private companies. Some may require a deposit or proof of ownership. If you see a bill in the previous owner's name, call the provider.
- Internet and other services. Schedule installation if it wasn't done before move-in.
- Mail. File a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service for your old address. Mail that arrives for previous owners can generally be marked "not at this address" and returned.
- Address updates. Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance companies and other accounts. Driver's license and vehicle registration update deadlines vary by state, so check with your state's motor vehicle agency.
Find the Shutoffs and the Breaker Panel
The time to learn where things are is before there's a problem. In the first week or two, walk the home and locate:
- The main water shutoff. It's often near where the water line enters the home, in a basement, crawl space, utility room or near the water heater, and sometimes outside near the meter. Make sure you can reach it and know which way it turns. Also note the smaller shutoff valves under sinks and behind toilets.
- The electrical panel. Check whether the breakers are labeled. If they aren't, labeling them now makes future work and emergencies easier.
- The gas meter and shutoff, if you have gas. Know where it is, but leave operating it to the gas utility unless they direct otherwise. If you smell gas, leave the home and call the gas utility or emergency services from outside. Don't try to turn gas service back on yourself.
- The water heater, furnace and air handler. Find the HVAC filter, note its size and replace it if it's dirty.
- Other equipment. Sump pump, sewer cleanouts, irrigation shutoffs and outdoor faucet valves, depending on the home.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Don't assume the alarms in the home work or are current. Soon after moving in:
- Test every smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm using the test button.
- Replace batteries in battery-powered units, and note which alarms are hardwired.
- Check the manufacture date printed on each alarm. Many manufacturers and fire safety organizations recommend replacing smoke alarms about every 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms have their own replacement timelines listed by the manufacturer.
- Make sure there are carbon monoxide alarms if the home has fuel-burning appliances, a fireplace or an attached garage. Local requirements vary.
- Consider a fire extinguisher for the kitchen, and learn how to use it.
Your First Mortgage Payment and Servicing Letters
Know when the first payment is due
Your first payment date is typically shown on your Closing Disclosure and loan documents, and many lenders send a first payment letter. Because mortgage interest is generally paid in arrears and some interest is often collected at closing, the first payment is often not due the month right after closing. Don't guess. Check your documents, and set a reminder.
Expect that your loan servicing may transfer
The company that collects your payments, called the servicer, isn't always the lender you worked with, and servicing can be transferred, sometimes soon after closing. That's common and doesn't change the terms of your loan. Federal rules generally require notice of a transfer from both the old servicer and the new one. For 60 days starting on the transfer's effective date, a payment the old servicer receives by the due date, including any grace period, generally can't be treated as late.
Watch for scams and look-alike mail
New homeowners often receive mail that looks official. Some of it is legitimate, and some is marketing or outright fraud. Watch for:
- Letters saying your payment address or servicer changed. Verify by calling your lender or current servicer at the number on your Closing Disclosure, loan documents or an existing statement, not the number in the letter.
- Offers to send you a copy of your deed for a fee. Your county recorder's office can usually provide copies directly, often for a small fee.
- Mailers that use your lender's name to sell insurance or other products.
- Any request to send money by wire, gift card or app. The same verification habits in how buyers protect their closing funds apply after closing too.
Once you've confirmed who your servicer is, setting up automatic payments through the servicer's official website can help you avoid missed payments.
Escrow, Insurance and Property Tax Basics
Escrow account. If your loan has an escrow account, part of each monthly payment goes toward property taxes and homeowners insurance, and the servicer pays those bills for you. Servicers typically review escrow accounts each year. If taxes or insurance premiums go up, your monthly payment may change. Keep the annual escrow statement with your records.
Homeowners insurance. Confirm your policy is active and that the declarations page shows the correct address, coverage and your lender's information. Flood coverage is usually a separate policy. A licensed insurance agent can review your coverage, and homeowners insurance basics explains common terms.
Property taxes. Property taxes for the year of your purchase are typically divided between buyer and seller on the settlement statement, but a tax bill may still arrive in the previous owner's name. If you have an escrow account, ask your servicer whether it will pay the bill. If you don't, you're responsible for paying it directly. Your county tax office can confirm due dates.
Homestead exemption. Many states offer a homestead exemption or similar program for a primary residence, which may reduce the taxable value of the home. Eligibility, amounts and filing deadlines vary by state and county, and some programs require an application soon after you buy. Check with your county assessor's office, and see homestead exemptions and how to apply.
File Your Closing Documents
You'll leave closing with a stack of paperwork, and more may arrive by mail afterward. Create one folder, physical and digital, and keep:
- Your Closing Disclosure and final settlement statement
- The promissory note and the mortgage or deed of trust
- Your deed. The original recorded deed may be mailed to you weeks later, and recording practices vary by state and county. You can usually confirm recording through the county recorder's office.
- Your owner's title insurance policy, if you purchased one. It may arrive after closing.
- The inspection report, appraisal, survey, seller disclosures and any association documents
- Receipts for improvements you make. They may matter for taxes when you sell, so ask a tax professional what to keep.
For how long to keep each item and how to store it, see home records: what to keep.
Warranties and the Ages of Your Systems
A little recordkeeping now makes maintenance and budgeting easier later:
- Home warranty. If a home warranty was purchased at closing, read what it covers, what it excludes and how to file a claim.
- Appliance registration. Registering appliances with the manufacturer can help you get warranty service and recall notices.
- System ages. Note the approximate ages of the roof, HVAC equipment, water heater and major appliances. Your inspection report, manufacturer labels, permits and seller disclosures can help.
- Maintenance plan. Use those ages to plan routine service and set aside money for eventual replacements.
A seasonal home maintenance checklist can turn that list into a schedule.
A Simple Order for Your First 30 Days
- First day or two: rekey locks, reset garage openers and codes, take over smart devices, test alarms and find the main water shutoff.
- First week: confirm utilities, file a change of address, update accounts and confirm your insurance policy.
- Weeks two and three: file closing documents, label the breaker panel, register appliances, record system ages and look into a homestead exemption where available.
- Before your first payment: confirm the due date and your servicer, verify any transfer letters and set up payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to change the locks if the seller gave me every key?
It isn't required, but there's no way to know who else may have a key or code. Many new owners rekey for peace of mind. It's often one of the simpler first-week tasks.
When is my first mortgage payment due?
Check your Closing Disclosure, loan documents and any first payment letter. The first payment is often not due the month right after closing. If you aren't sure, contact your servicer using the number on your loan documents.
I got a letter saying my loan was transferred. Is that normal?
Servicing transfers are common and don't change your loan's terms. Still, verify the letter by contacting your current servicer at a number you already have before sending any payment to a new company.
Is an offer to buy a copy of my deed legitimate?
Mailers like this are often solicitations. Your county recorder's office can usually provide a copy directly, often for a small fee.
Do I have to apply for a homestead exemption?
Where it's available, many programs require an application, and deadlines vary by state and county. Some must be renewed. Your county assessor's office can tell you what applies.
The Bottom Line
Your first month as an owner is about control and paperwork. Change who has access, confirm utilities and mail, learn where the shutoffs are, test your alarms, and keep a close eye on your first mortgage payment and any servicing letters. File your closing documents, register warranties and note the ages of your systems. A few focused hours in the first 30 days can make the years that follow easier to manage.
This article is general information, not legal, tax, insurance or financial advice. Mortgage servicing, property tax, homestead and local safety rules vary by state, county and loan. Talk with your loan servicer, a licensed insurance agent, a tax professional or your county offices about your situation. Advice4Homeownership is a publisher, not a lender.
