Moving Into Your New DFW Home

Congratulations -- you have the keys! A handful of tasks in your first weeks and months will help you settle in and protect your new home. Here's the checklist I share with my buyers.

Set Up Utilities and Change Your Address

Electricity. In much of DFW you choose your own retail electricity provider, while some areas are served by an electric cooperative or a city-owned utility. Find out which applies to your address before move-in day.
Water, sewer and trash. Usually set up through the city or, in some newer communities, a municipal utility district.
Gas, internet and security. Schedule early; installation appointments fill up.
Mail. File a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service, then update your bank, employer, insurance and subscriptions.
Driver's license, vehicle registration and voter registration. Update each with your new address. Updating your driver's license early also helps with your homestead application.

Rekey the Locks

You never know how many keys are out there. Rekey or replace exterior locks, change garage door and gate codes, and reset thermostats, doorbell cameras and other smart devices to your own accounts.

File for Your Homestead Exemption

If the home is your principal residence, apply for a residence homestead exemption with the appraisal district for the county where the home sits -- for example, Tarrant or Ellis County. Some cities, including Grand Prairie, cross county lines, so confirm which district handles your address.

The exemption lowers your home's taxable value for school district taxes and may reduce other local taxes.
Once it's in place, it also limits how much your home's taxable value can rise from year to year.
Additional exemptions are available for qualifying homeowners who are 65 or older, have a disability, or are certain veterans.
Filing is free, and most appraisal districts accept applications online. You'll typically need a Texas driver's license or ID showing the property address.

Be wary of mail from companies offering to file for a fee -- you can do it yourself at no cost. For questions, check with your appraisal district or a tax professional.

Keep Your Closing Documents

Store paper and digital copies of your Closing Disclosure, deed, owner's title policy, survey, inspection report, repair receipts, warranties and HOA documents. You'll want them for taxes, insurance claims, refinancing and eventually selling. Keep records of improvements, too, since they can affect your cost basis when you sell; see capital gains when selling your home, and confirm details with a CPA.

Consider a Home Warranty

In Texas, a home warranty is called a residential service contract, and the companies that sell them are regulated by TREC. A contract may cover repair or replacement of certain systems and appliances for a service fee per claim, subject to limits and exclusions. Read the coverage carefully, and remember it's separate from your homeowners insurance.

First-Year Maintenance for North Texas

Foundation watering. Clay soil shrinks in hot, dry weather. Keeping the soil around your slab evenly moist during dry months -- often with a soaker hose set a short distance from the foundation -- helps limit movement. Avoid overwatering, which causes its own problems.
HVAC service before summer. Have the system checked in spring, and change filters on a regular schedule.
Gutters and drainage. Clean gutters after leaves fall, and make sure downspouts carry water away from the house.
Storm and hail season. Spring storms can bring hail and high winds. After a significant storm, have the roof checked, photograph any damage, and contact your insurance company before signing with a contractor. Know your policy's wind and hail deductible.
Freeze preparation. Learn where your main water shutoff is, and cover outdoor faucets and exposed pipes before hard freezes.
Alarms and water heater. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and flush the water heater as the manufacturer recommends.

I'm Here After Closing, Too

My job doesn't end at the closing table. Whether you want an updated estimate from my home value tool, a referral for a local service provider, or a plan for your next purchase or investment property, contact Tarus. Curious about building wealth through property? Read about the benefits of investing in real estate.