What to Do After Closing on a House

Most homebuying content ends the moment you get the keys. That's exactly when the most critical 48 hours of your new homeownership begin.

The day you take possession, you are legally and financially responsible for the property. The clock starts on utility billing, security, insurance claims, and a dozen administrative details that, if ignored, will cost you money or create real headaches within weeks.

Here's what to prioritize in the first 48 hours and the first week.

Immediately: Rekey All Exterior Locks

This is the single most important action you can take in the first hour of ownership, and most new homeowners skip it.

During the listing, inspection, and sale period of your new home, potentially dozens of people had access to keys or the lockbox code: real estate agents, home inspectors, appraisers, contractors, the sellers' friends and family. The sellers themselves may have given spare keys to neighbors, a dog walker, or a contractor they haven't seen in years and have no way to reach. None of those keys have been deactivated. Every single one still opens your front door.

Rekeying is not expensive. A locksmith charges roughly $50 to $150 per lock to rekey it — meaning they replace the internal pins so old keys no longer work, while all new keys will. A full house with three exterior locks typically runs $150 to $300. You can also replace the locks entirely if the hardware is old.

At minimum, rekey or replace:

• All exterior entry doors
• The door between the garage and the house
• Any gate locks if you have a fenced yard

Also reprogram the garage door remote codes. The code on the old remote — which may have been shared with neighbors or contractors — will no longer work once you reset the combination.

If the home has an existing digital security or alarm system, reset all PIN codes immediately and update the monitoring company with your contact information. If the system is tied to the previous owner's account, call the monitoring company to transfer ownership — or simply deactivate the old account and set up a new one.

Within a Few Hours: Utilities

If you haven't already transferred utilities, do it the day you take possession. Most utility providers can schedule a transfer for a specific date, but if the seller's service has already ended or is scheduled to end imminently, you may face a gap.

For each utility:

• Electricity and gas: Call the provider to open service in your name. Have the property address, your Social Security number or equivalent tax ID, and your preferred payment method ready.
• Water: In most jurisdictions, water accounts are transferred through the local municipality. Some will do this automatically at closing through the title company; others require you to call.
• Internet and cable: These usually require a technician appointment. Schedule this as soon as possible — broadband installation slots fill up quickly in busy periods.
• Trash collection: Confirm whether service continues automatically or requires a new account setup.

If you're in the UK, Australia, or Canada, the process is equivalent: contact each utility provider directly to transfer accounts. In the UK, energy switching is common immediately after moving in — you're not obligated to continue with the seller's provider.

Same Day: Photograph Everything

Before you move anything in, do a complete photographic walkthrough of the entire property. Document:

• The condition of every room, floor, wall, and ceiling
• All appliances and their model numbers
• The HVAC system, water heater, and any other major mechanical systems
• The exterior, including the roof if safely accessible, siding, gutters, and any visible damage
• The state of the yard, fences, and any outbuildings

These photos establish the property's condition on the day you took possession. They're your baseline for insurance claims, contractor disputes, and any future questions about what was existing versus what developed under your ownership. Store them in cloud backup as well as locally.

Day 1-2: Administrative Transitions

File a change of address. Submit a change of address through USPS (United States), Royal Mail (UK), Canada Post, or Australia Post. Do it online the day you move in so mail starts routing correctly within a few days. If you delay, you risk missing mortgage statements, tax bills, and insurance renewals.

Notify critical entities directly. Change-of-address forwarding from the postal service is not reliable enough for time-sensitive financial mail. Contact the following directly with your new address:

• Your employer (for W-2, T4, or payment slips)
• Your bank and investment accounts
• Your insurance providers (health, auto, life)
• The IRS or national tax authority (HMRC, CRA, ATO)
• Vehicle registration authority
• Social Security Administration or national pension authority
• Electoral roll or voter registration

Update your driver's license and vehicle registration. Most states and provinces require you to update your driver's license address within 30 to 60 days of moving.

Day 1-2: Safeguard Your Closing Documents

The documents you received at closing are irreplaceable originals or certified copies. They establish your legal ownership, your loan terms, and your cost basis for future capital gains tax purposes. Losing them is a significant administrative problem.

What to store securely:

• Deed — the instrument that records your legal ownership
• Title insurance policy — your protection against future claims against the title; keep it for as long as you own the property
• Closing Disclosure or Settlement Statement — the complete financial record of your transaction
• Deed of Trust or Mortgage — your security instrument
• Home warranty documentation if applicable

Ideal storage: a fireproof safe at home, plus digital scans stored in encrypted cloud backup. Some buyers also keep originals in a bank safety deposit box. Whatever you choose, tell one other person where these documents are.

First Week: Financial Setup

Set up mortgage autopay. Your loan servicer will mail a welcome letter within 30 days of closing. When it arrives, set up autopay immediately. Do not wait. A missed mortgage payment is reported to credit bureaus after 30 days and causes significant credit score damage. Also confirm the due date — most first payments are due 45 to 60 days after closing, not the first of the following month.

Review your homeowners insurance coverage. Now that you own the property, take 30 minutes to read the policy. Understand what your deductible is, what is and isn't covered, what the claims process is, and whether you need additional riders (flood, earthquake, sewer backup). Many buyers discover their policy has significant gaps only after a claim.

Activate any home warranty. If a home warranty was part of the seller's concessions or you purchased one independently, review the coverage immediately. Understand which systems and appliances are covered, the deductible structure, and the service request process. Call the emergency contact number before you need it.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test every detector in the house and replace batteries regardless of whether they appear to work. A detector with a weak battery that fails at 2 AM in a new home is a genuine safety risk.

The Bigger Picture

The first week of homeownership is heavily administrative, but it sets the foundation for everything that follows. Buyers who skip the lock rekey, delay utility setup, or fail to store their documents properly often find themselves handling these problems reactively — which is always more stressful and more expensive than handling them on day one.

The transaction may be complete. Your obligations as a homeowner are just beginning.

The Closing Day Checklist & Wire Fraud Prevention includes a complete post-closing action checklist organized by timeline — from the moment you get the keys through the end of your first week — so nothing gets missed in the chaos of moving in.