The house is all yours!

You just closed and the house is now yours. There will be plenty of time to enjoy what you have worked so hard to attain, but before you settle in, there are some items you should check off your list.

Let’s start with the walls. Before you move in, freshen up the paint since it will be easier to get the job done without all your personal belongings in the way. And don’t forget to do the ceilings as well. Most people only do the walls and leave the ceilings since they are usually white. Even if the walls were done recently, who knows the last time the ceiling was actually painted?

Your all moved in now and have started hanging art on the walls or placing your precious mementos around the home. Did you know that sunlight will deteriorate the color over time? Solve this problem by adding UV film to your windows. With the right product, you won’t even notice it on the glass while at the same time preventing UV rays from damaging your items. Some products have the added bonus of additional privacy because they don’t allow someone to see in from the outside. Now you can leave the drapes or blinds open and not have to worry about prying eyes.

How old is the home you just purchased? How old is the heating and cooling systems in it? How dirty are the inside of the vents that blows the air around your home? It is always best to get the vents professionally cleaned for health reasons. This goes double if your home is new construction! All the drywall and wood that was cut sanded sent particles into the air, with quite a bit of it ending up in your ductwork.

Have a dog? Take it out for a walk around the neighborhood so he or she can meet the neighbors and other dogs around. This will come in handy one day if it ever gets loose, since the neighbors will know who to return it to. And the neighbors may be a little kinder to the early morning or late evening barking if they know the dog a little better.

Don’t forget to place fresh batteries inside the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors along with checking the battery levels on any backup system like a whole-house generator or a sump-pump backup system. Save all your receipts since some items may be tax deductible, especially if you are using a portion of your home as a home office. Ask a qualified accountant for more details on that.

As you go down your checklist, be sure to ask your realtor for a corresponding list of trusted professionals they have dealt with in the past.

Now that you’re all set, plan a small back yard gathering, invite your friends and new neighbors & enjoy your new home!

To contact me, call 847-292-4700, e-mail gz@zerillorealty.com or visit www.zerillorealty.com.