FTB - first thing to do after getting the keys to the property

blupur

First time buyer here. I'm about to complete my property purchase soon hopefully within the next week or so. Once contracts have exchanged and you get the keys to the property, what were some of the first things you did afterwards before actually moving in? Contact energy suppliers and have the account name changed to your name?

Slithery

Take meter readings (with photos) and change all of the locks.

Everything else can wait.

Silvertabby

Ditto change all the locks.  You have no way of knowing how many spare keys are out there.

canaldumidi

As above. Beyond that a lot depends if you are moving in same day or have time to clean, paint, repair etc before moving in.

Pull a list off the internet of all the organisations you need to inform.

Pull a 'to do'list off the internet - google "moving home to do list"

It's all there!

nyermen

My order was:
Meter Readings
Locks
Change toilet seats

Woolsery

nyermen said:

My order was:
Meter Readings
Locks
Change toilet seats

You got toilet seats?

UnderOffer

First call I made after exchange was to removal company, second phone call was to organise Building and contents insurance. On moving day (completion) read meters and contacted suppliers. 

Silvertabby

Back on the subject of keys, I'm sure I read on these boards that a new owner returned home to find the old owner in the hallway, sorting through the post.

Seems the old owner had kept a key just so he could pop in and collect his mail.

newsgroupmonkey_

UnderOffer said:

First call I made after exchange was to removal company, second phone call was to organise Building and contents insurance. On moving day (completion) read meters and contacted suppliers. 

Call? Do people genuinely still do that?

Woolsery

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

UnderOffer said:

First call I made after exchange was to removal company, second phone call was to organise Building and contents insurance. On moving day (completion) read meters and contacted suppliers. 

Call? Do people genuinely still do that?

Of course they do, especially if there's specialist insurance needed. Easiest way to play off the few companies that would be best against each other.

Our current insurer was reluctant to quote exactly against another without a home visit and it worked out cheaper when they did.

newsgroupmonkey_

Woolsery said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

UnderOffer said:

First call I made after exchange was to removal company, second phone call was to organise Building and contents insurance. On moving day (completion) read meters and contacted suppliers. 

Call? Do people genuinely still do that?

Of course they do, especially if there's specialist insurance needed. Easiest way to play off the few companies that would be best against each other.

Our current insurer was reluctant to quote exactly against another without a home visit and it worked out cheaper when they did.

I get that, but 99% of insurance policies are done much better online.

If people actually worked in the call centre business and understood how much of their premium was swallowed up by the cost of them, they'd soon move online!