Some Things to Consider Once You’ve Closed on Your New Home
Your home is probably the biggest investment of your life. Below is a list of some things to consider once you’ve closed on your new home. Some of these tasks are easier to do before you fully move in. Others will help maintain the value of your home or will increase your enjoyment of your new home. We’ve fine-tuned this list and know how helpful it is from feedback from our clients saying “We wish we had done these recommendations sooner” or “As a person moving from the North to Florida I never new how critical some of these things are”.
Pest Control
Newer homes may have Home Team tubes in the walls which are to be refilled annually. It has been our experience that the tube system is a bit of a gimmick and there’s no substitute for good ol’ fashioned pest control done on the exterior of your home every 60 days. We HIGHLY recommend using a professional service rather than the do-it-yourself method. The professionals are licensed to use chemicals that cannot be sold retail. You may save a bit of money doing it yourself in the short run, but the effectiveness will not be as strong, and it will need to be done more often. We have personally used Alley Cat Pest Control for many years and highly recommend their service. The company that you choose can also offer you an annual termite contract as needed.
Water Softeners/Purification Systems
Florida is a wonderful place, but, sadly, its water is just plain bad! The majority of home buyers ultimately end up purchasing some sort of water purification system. There are several types of systems and costs can vary from $1000-$5000 to have one installed. Some use salt and others do not. We recommend starting by contacting “Gary the Water Wizard” for an estimate and everything you’d ever want to know and more about Florida water and water system options.
Grout & Granite Sealing & Carpet Treatment
Did you know that granite and tile grout are porous? If you spill a bottle of red wine on your granite countertop and it spills to your tile floor, a permanent stain can form in the pours of both the grout and your beautiful granite countertop. Grout and granite sealing is the way to prevent that catastrophe. It is best to have this done before moving in if possible. It is especially important to have this done if your home is new construction, but even for resale, the tile, grout, and granite can be professionally cleaned and immediately sealed to prevent further staining. We recommend Gecko Floor Care for this service as well as anything relating to floor cleaning. This service may cost $600-$1000 but it is so very worth it in the long run.
Gecko Floor Care also offers carpet cleaning and treatment for new carpet which eliminates the toxic odor that can be present in new carpet, which has been found to have detrimental effect on people with respiratory issues and on young children since they are closer to the ground. Give Dennis at Gecko a call for more information.
Smart Home Features & Security Systems
Home security options have evolved and multiplied greatly in the past few years. This is another area where the options can be very overwhelming. Some builders offer complimentary smart home features, but you are required to use their monitoring system, which can ultimately cost you more than you saved by them giving you the equipment. The most important thing to understand is that you have options. They cannot require you to use any service and other service providers can utilize the equipment the builder has installed. Our advice is to do the required appointment with their provider to understand your equipment and costs, then GET A 2nd OPINION before committing. We recommend meeting with VK Moore at TecDivine to explore cost effective options.
Handyman Fixes to Complete Renovations
If you have needs for minor repairs to minor renovations such as backsplash, crown molding, flooring change out etc. all the way to a complete kitchen remodel or taking a wall down, Willie and his team from Willies Home Improvement should be your first call. If you have ONLY painting to be done, interior or exterior we recommend using a professional painter such as Dynamic Painting, however, Willie’s team is willing and able to do painting for you in addition to other services they are taking care of for you. When in doubt, get quotes both ways. In our experience, when having other work done anyway, it is more cost effective to add the painting job to the other services.
Solar Energy Options
Upon move in prepare to be inundated with Solar Salespeople knocking on your door. Solar is a fantastic option in Florida, but it is important to understand how the solar thing works. Solar contracts run anywhere from $15k-$60k+ paid in monthly installments. Yes, solar panels will keep you from paying an electric bill, but keep in mind this must make financial sense for you. If there is any chance you will be trying to sell your house within the next 5 years, we recommend against going solar. If you were to sell, the payoff for the solar contract would need to be assumed by the new buyer or paid off by you at closing. Over 5 years before moving, that might be a feasible option. Bottom line is do the math and make sure it makes sense for your situation.
Amenities Key Cards
Obtaining your fob or keycard for pool and other amenities from the HOA can be very frustrating. Sadly, we don’t have a magic solution for this one, we just want you to know that the process may require some diligence and patience on your part. If having trouble communicating with the HOA/CDD, try watching the social media groups for the neighborhood. Sometimes that’s the best way to find answers for your specific community.
Fences
Your community will likely have a specific fence type, color and style that is required for all residents. If you are on water and sometimes conservation, your back fence cannot be higher than 4 feet. There is no getting around this rule. A few pieces of advice:
- Get to know your neighbors and see where they are on the fence situation. Paying for half of each side of your fence and the back is much more cost effective than paying for the whole thing yourself.
- Get at least 2 quotes. Like everything else, you get what you pay for and the quality of product and service can vary greatly.
- Only a few fence companies offer financing, so if that is something that you require, ask before having them come do a quote.
- You will need a copy of your survey for them to do the quote.
- Remember that like all outside home improvements, you’ll need to fill out an Architectural Review Form which can be found on your HOA portal.
Screen Rooms
Screened lanais will also require an approved Architectural Review. If you are simply screening in your already posted lanai, you shouldn’t need approval. Full screen room build outs require special licensing. Ask to see the license of whomever you hire because if the permits are not done correctly, it will be a nightmare when you try to sell your home someday. Willie can do the screening only but he is not licensed at this point for full build outs. He is still a good first call, though as he can recommend a reputable craftsman for the job.
Annual HVAC Service
It is important to change your AC filters regularly to extend the life of your unit. A great way to remember to do it is to set up an auto reship order on Amazon for your filter for every 30 days. When your new filter shows up, it’s time to change the old one.
Also important is giving your AC an annual checkup. We highly recommend OEL Heating and Cooling for this service. Have them come the first time and they will contact you when it’s time for the next checkup.
Refinancing
We often get asked, what if interest rates go down, or my home’s value goes up, should I refinance? The answer is that there is not a straight answer on that. The answer is specific to each individual’s situation. You will be legally allowed to refinance 6 months after your closing date. If you are considering your options on refinancing, we recommend contacting either of our recommended Mortgage Brokers, Gary Parsons or Bryan Snyder to evaluate your specific situation.
Annual Homeowners Insurance Review
Your homeowner’s insurance representative should contact you each year near your closing anniversary date to revisit your insurance needs. It is important to do this review and not just take the inevitable rate increase without evaluation of your terms and limits. You’ll know so much more after the first year about what your concerns are regarding insurance coverage. If your agent doesn’t contact you, get a new agent who will. We have several listed whom we recommend.
Team Reith is Here to Help New Home Owners
There are many decisions to make as a new home owner. Hopefully this information has helped with some of those. We will always be available for you to call us with questions, recommendations, or advice. Once our client, always our client! We hope that we have earned that role with you and that you will recommend our services to your friends and family.
