New Home Checklist: 7 Essential First-Week Tasks

By Rick Carrier, NMLS #268110 · Innovative Mortgage Services, Inc. NMLS #250769 · Checked on October 20, 2026

The keys are in your hand and the boxes are everywhere, which is exactly when small but important jobs slip. This new home checklist covers seven essential tasks for your first week, built from official sources rather than guesswork. None of it is complicated, but a few items have deadlines, and one of them can lower your property tax bill. I am a mortgage broker, so I focus on the money and paperwork side, plus the safety basics every owner should handle early.

Before anything else, confirm when your first mortgage payment is due and how you will make it. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) lists this first among the things to do after closing, along with remembering that you agreed to pay on time each month. Put the due date in your calendar and set up automatic payment if your servicer offers it.

Next, find out how your property taxes and homeowners insurance will be paid. If your payment includes an escrow account, the servicer collects them with your payment. If it does not, the CFPB says to save money for those bills when they arrive. It also notes that property taxes may increase over time, so plan for a bill that is not frozen. My article on what to do when property taxes increase walks through your options.

What should I do first after closing on a house?

Confirm when your first mortgage payment is due and how to make it, then start updating your address with the accounts that send bills. The CFPB lists both among its post-closing steps.

How soon do I have to update my Texas driver license address?

Texas DPS says the address must be changed within 30 days after you move to your new residence. You can do it online, by mail if you qualify, or in person.

When do I apply for the Texas homestead exemption?

You apply with your county appraisal district. The Comptroller says the general deadline is before May 1, but start early, and ask the district about your situation if you bought mid-year.

Do I need both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms?

Yes, they detect different dangers. The USFA covers smoke alarm placement and the CPSC covers CO alarms. Combination alarms exist if you prefer one device.