First 90 Days After Closing

Closing day is the finish line of the homebuying process — and the starting line of homeownership. The days and weeks that follow the handoff of keys involve a specific set of tasks, decisions, and priorities that new owners consistently underestimate.

Most first-time buyers and many move-up buyers focus so intensely on getting to close that they arrive at the other side without a clear plan for what comes next. Here is the practical guide to the first 90 days of homeownership that nobody gives you at the closing table.

The First Week: Security, Utilities, and Documentation

The first priority in any new home is security. Change the locks — all exterior locks — before you move anything in. You have no way of knowing how many keys were made over the years of previous ownership, and the cost of rekeying a home is trivial compared to the risk of not doing it. Many locksmiths can rekey all exterior locks in a single visit for under $150.

Contact SMUD — your Rancho Cordova utility provider — to transfer the account to your name. SMUD service transfers are typically straightforward and can be initiated online or by phone before your closing date so service is active when you arrive. Similarly transfer or establish accounts for gas, internet, and any other utilities that were in the previous owner's name.

Organize your closing documents immediately — before they get scattered into boxes during the move. Your closing disclosure, your deed, your title insurance policy, your home warranty documentation if applicable, and your inspection report are all documents you may need to reference over the coming years. Create a dedicated folder, physical or digital, where these live permanently.

The First Month: Know Your Home's Systems

One of the most valuable things a new homeowner can do in the first month is walk through every major system in the home and understand how it operates, where the shutoffs are, and what its current condition and maintenance history look like.

Locate the main water shutoff — know where it is and that it works before you have a plumbing emergency that requires using it immediately. Do the same for the gas shutoff and the main electrical panel. Label any unlabeled breakers. Know where your HVAC filter is located and check its current condition — replacing a dirty filter is a $15 task that immediately improves air quality and extends the life of your system.

Review the inspection report with fresh eyes now that you are in the home. Items that seemed abstract during the transaction become specific and locatable now that you can walk to them. Note any items with recommended timelines for repair or replacement and create a simple maintenance calendar that keeps you ahead of these issues rather than reacting to them.

The First 90 Days: Financial Foundations

Update your address with every financial institution, government agency, and subscription service. California DMV requires address updates within 10 days of moving. The IRS, the Social Security Administration, your bank, your insurance companies, and your employer's HR department all need your current address for tax forms, benefit statements, and correspondence that matters.

File for the California Homeowners Exemption with the Sacramento County Assessor's office. This exemption reduces your assessed value by $7,000, resulting in a property tax savings of roughly $70 per year — a small but real benefit available to owner-occupants that requires a one-time filing to activate.

Establish a dedicated home maintenance fund. A common recommendation is to set aside 1% to 2% of your home's value annually for maintenance and repairs. For a $500,000 Rancho Cordova home, that is $5,000 to $10,000 per year. You may not spend it every year — but when the HVAC needs replacement or the water heater fails, having that reserve prevents a maintenance emergency from becoming a financial crisis.

Finally, resist the urge to make major renovations immediately. The first several months of homeownership are the most important time to live in a home and understand how you actually use the space before you invest in changing it. The kitchen renovation that seemed essential during the purchase process may look very different after you have cooked in the kitchen for six months. Patient observation before major investment is one of the best financial habits new homeowners can develop.

Building Your Local Professional Network

Homeownership requires a network of reliable local professionals — a plumber, an electrician, an HVAC technician, a general handyman — that most new owners do not have when they move in and scramble to find when something breaks.

Build this network before you need it. Ask neighbors for referrals. Ask your agent — who has facilitated dozens of transactions and knows which contractors perform reliably — for their recommendations. Check reviews for local service providers and make a few calls to establish relationships before an emergency forces you to hire whoever is available on a Saturday afternoon.

The professionals you establish relationships with proactively, during non-emergency moments, will almost always serve you better and cost you less than those you hire reactively under pressure. That network is one of the most underappreciated assets of long-term homeownership — and it starts being built in the first 90 days