What is the first thing you should do after closing?

A. Celebrate

B. Look for a second job

C. Change your locks

D. Notify the Post Office

Correct answer is C.  Change your locks!!! 

Purchasing your home took you through a whirlwind of emotions and activities from getting the best price for it, dealing with banks and trying to figure out the best way to finance your purchase, worrying before, during and after the home inspection and the like.  And with all the added excitement of figuring out how you would furnish the new home, what to keep and what to sell or give away, what renovations would be absolute necessities, you may just have missed something critical that may come back and haunt you later on. The first thing After you leave the closing of your home, the first thing you need to do is change the locks. This house that you now call home has keys that were in many hands.  And some of these hands might not be as trustworthy as the people who just sold you their home.

Just think of all the potential people that have had access to the home from the previous owners:

• The helpful neighbor
• Inspectors
• Cleaning people
• Contractors
• Friends and family
• Previous owners
• Former renters
• Babysitters
• ...

Any of these people has potential access to your new property.  Would you want to know that an unknown number of strangers could have access to your new home.  Think about the safety of your loved ones.  It just makes good sense to change the locks. You will sleep better knowing that you know who has the keys of your new castle.