Schedule or Set up New Utilities and Confirm Homeowners Insurance Policy
These are some of the small, annoying tasks no one thinks about doing ahead of time, but these are essential tasks to plan for, especially if you want the TV and internet working the day you move in, not to mention having lights and running water!! Call at least two weeks ahead of closing day to schedule your utilities hook up or transfer for your closing date! This includes transferring gas, water and electric service into your name at the property you’re purchasing. If your rental agreement states you notify your landlord of the rental property utility cancellation date, remember to do so or you could incur additional fees.
- Consult my resource page for county utility providers
- Do you want alarm service?
- Schedule TV and internet service setup or transfer- it could take weeks to get those appointments.
- Schedule Newspaper service, subscription services
- Schedule mail forwarding with USPS
- Update Amazon, UPS and FedEx delivery address on file
- Update diaper service delivery, CSA delivery, and medication subscription services
- Don’t forget about trash service. In most of Davidson County, this service is included in the water bill, but there are some neighborhoods where it is not.
If you’re buying in a condo building, check with the HOA President or Property Management company to see if either cable or internet are included in your HOA fee. If not, find out if there is a certain provider you have to use or if you can use whomever you’d like. If you’re planning to use satellite service, be sure you are allowed to place a dish on the property.
Schedule all of your utilities services to begin in your name on the day of closing. If you don’t do this, the former owner will most likely have the services disconnected or transferred on that date, and you could be moving in without water, heat or AC. Reconnection fees can be steep- especially if they’re emergency reconnect fees.
Setting Up or Transferring Homeowner’s Insurance
One major task your mortgage underwriter will require you do during the underwriting process is to set up or schedule a transfer Homeowner’s Insurance, so it’s better to get a start on this task now. For most people, your home is the biggest purchase you will ever make and you want to make sure it’s properly insured.
My biggest piece of advice is to shop your homeowner’s insurance around because rates can vary dramatically. I recommend starting with whatever company insures your car and getting a quote from them first as you’ll likely get a discount for already having car insurance through them and now you’ll have a homeowner’s rate.
HEAR ME SAY THIS: Schedule your homeowner’s insurance policy to go into effect the day BEFORE you close on your new home. Even if this means an overlap with coverage on your old place.
Just do it, please. That way if, dare I say, your new place burns to the ground while you’re at closing, you’ll be covered. Also, be sure to get proper documentation from your homeowner’s insurance company to provide to your underwriter; your lender will require proof of insurance before they’ll approve you for your loan.
Questions? call me @ (615) 977-8444 or email whereyoulivetn@gmail.com