1. Secure your home

One of the first things to do when moving into your new home is change the locks and door codes. You definitely don't want the previous homeowner(s) to have the ability to enter your home. Aim to have this done on closing day. If not- ensure that you check around for hidden spare keys i.e. under that large rock by the garage or flower pot by the front door. 

2. Connect the utilities

It’s smart to connect all of your must-have utilities — like water, gas and electricity  before you move in. 
For other things like phone an internet, check with local providers to see what the process is like- how long it will take, and if you need to provide proof of residence/ownership. 

3. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Make sure you're safe in your new home. Check the smoke & carbon monoxide detectors and ensure theyre in good working order. Throw in a new set of batteries while you're at it. The best places to have smoke detectors is in hallways leading to bedrooms, the kitchen, and the laundry room. If you have a multilevel home - make sure there is at least one smoke detector on each level. Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed near bedrooms and nearby your gas furnace- i.e. in the basement etc. 

4. Use your inspection report as a ‘to-do’ list for maintenance

After you buy a house, deal with any issues that were in the inspection report, or anything noted by the selling agent that the owner had not fixed. Use it as a guide to make a list of things to a) immediately repair b) to eventually update c) things to generally maintain. This planning will help you avoid costly issues in the future such as leaky pipes/roof, unsealed doors/windows or dirty eavestroughs. 

5. Refresh the paint

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make a house your home is to give the interior a fresh coat of paint. Consider scheduling this also for closing day or close by so that all of your items don't need to be moved out of the way to paint. Some painters may provide discounts for empty rooms they dont have to cover furniture and move things around, saving you money and time. 

6. Check out the shut off valves, breaker panel etc. 

Even though your home might not be new, it's still new to you, so it's important to know where everything is and how it works so that if anything comes up, you're prepared. Take the time to label the breaker panel if it isn't already- this will save time and frustration trying to figure out which one it is if you trip one. Check out where your water valve shutoffs are incase of a leak, and review appliance manuals for warranties or any other pertinent information. 

7. Create a maintenance schedule

Maintaing a home is a marathon. Things deteriorate over time and dont last forever. Consider the things that need to be done more frequently i.e. changing furnace filters, cleaning the eavestroughs etc. Versus things that will need to be done less frequently i.e. replacing windows, or the roof. It's best to make a budget yearly for things that need to be tended to as well as any emergency fund for anything that comes up.  Keep in mind when making your budget, you may not always be able to do everything yourself, so extra funds to pay professionals might be required.