Closing on a house is exciting, but prepping that house for move-in day can be stressful. Ronda Kaysen, The New York Times columnist of "Right at Home" joins Your Future Home to give a list of things you need to do before you can call it home sweet home.
What's the first thing you should do when you're handed the keys to your new house? Change the locks! Kaysen says you have no idea who has a copy of keys and you'll feel a lot safer if you're the only person who has access to the house. Plus, if you are looking to change the locks this may be a good time to invest in a new security system.
Additionally, Kaysen says to give your new house a nice bath. It may seem clean because it's new to you, but you don't know how long its gone without a deep clean. She suggests hiring a professional service who will make sure to hit your light fixtures, floorboards, closets and even heating/cooling vents.
When police responded to an alarm call at a TJ Maxx in Rockland, Maine on Thanksgiving Day last week, they weren't sure what exactly they would find. The alarm hadn't been tripped by a burglar but instead, it was a different kind of break-in -- a white-tailed deer.