It’s official – you have finally found, closed on and moved into the home of your dreams in Omaha, NE. We think a congratulations are in order as that is no small feat! But once the celebratory Champaign bubbles have fizzled out and all the boxes have been put away, it is now time to ensure that a few things are in order in your new abode. Below we have listed a couple items for you to tackle in the areas of security, home documents, emergency planning and maintenance to not only help keep you organized, but also avoid any costly home repairs down the road. 

Home safety and security:
First thing’s first! When it comes to home safety for you and your family, this is something you want to jump on right away:

-Before anything else, make sure to change the locks on the home. You never know who had a spare key and could let themselves into your house at any point.
-On that same note, you want to reset any codes that allow access into the house/property, such as gates, garage doors, etc. 
-It is always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher near the kitchen in the event of an emergency/fire.
-Set aside some time to test carbon monoxide and fire detectors to ensure they are working properly. 
-In all exterior lights, make sure that all bulbs are working and replace any that need to be fixed. 
-Lastly, be sure to hide extra sets of keys in a lockbox out of sight. Robbers have gotten cleaver and know to check under flower pots! 

Important home documents: 
There are a few important documents that you may want to keep handy in case an unexpected dispute arises, or you need to reference information: 

-Insurance documents
-Final closing documents
-Contact information for lender
-Inspection report 

Emergency planning:
The least ideal time to plan for an emergency is while it is happening. Here are a few things to keep in mind and plan for:

-Be sure to familiarize yourself with the circuit box, as well as label the circuit breakers.
-If you have gas, make sure to know where the gas shut-off valve is in case of an emergency. 
-Find where the main water shut-off value is in the event of a broken pipe. 
-For quick reference, make a list of emergency contacts such as your insurance agent, utility companies, electrician and plumber, and make it easily accessible to everyone in the home. 

Maintenance: 
As a homeowner, you now are responsible for all maintenance of your property (we know, *sigh..*) To make it a bit easier for you, we have created some bullets below for you to reference. It may be beneficial for you to set calendar events, so you don’t miss these basic maintenance tasks: 

-Schedule HVAC maintenance in the spring and fall, as well as change the filters at least once a season. 
-Check on and clean out those gutters at least once a year. 
-Clean out the dryer vent and hose at least once yearly to avoid fires.
-Once a year, drain your water heater. 
-If your refrigerator was not purchased recently, be sure to clean the coils at least once a year.