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Life Event Checklist

Buying a Home Checklist

Use this checklist to review the financial, insurance, inspection, closing, document and household-readiness items that can matter when you buy a home and become responsible for the property.

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This checklist provides general educational and organizational guidance. Mortgage, legal, tax, insurance and property decisions can vary by location, loan type, property and personal circumstances.

More Than the Purchase Price

Plan for ownership, not just closing day.

A home changes your financial and household responsibilities.

1
Financing & Cash Know the mortgage, down payment, closing and post-closing costs.
2
Property Condition Understand inspection findings and immediate repair priorities.
3
Insurance & Protection Have appropriate homeowners coverage ready before closing.
4
Records & Maintenance Organize important documents and plan for ongoing upkeep.
Before & After Closing

A home purchase creates a new set of responsibilities.

The mortgage is only one part of homeownership. Property taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, maintenance and emergency expenses can all become part of the household budget.

Use the checklist to separate the items that are already handled from the ones that need attention before or shortly after you take ownership.

Keep cash available after closing.

Avoid planning around a down payment and closing costs alone. New homeowners can face moving costs, utility setup, repairs, equipment and unexpected property expenses soon after taking possession.

Your Home Purchase Review

See what is ready and what still needs attention.

Mark each item Ready, Review, Action Needed or Not Applicable.

0 Ready
0 Review
0 Action Needed
0 Not Applicable
Checklist Progress 0 of 0 reviewed
Ready
Review
Action Needed
Not Applicable
Buying a Home Checklist

Review the pieces that turn a purchase into a prepared household.

Not every item applies to every property or buyer. Use Not Applicable when something genuinely does not fit your situation.

Budget & Affordability

Look beyond the monthly mortgage payment.

Review total monthly housing cost Include principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, association fees and other recurring costs that apply.
Review the planned down payment Know how much cash will be used and how much will remain available after closing.
Estimate closing costs Plan for lender, title, settlement, prepaid and other transaction costs that may apply.
Keep post-closing cash available Avoid using every available dollar for the purchase if doing so leaves the household without a reasonable cushion.

Mortgage & Financing

Understand the loan before you commit to it.

Review the interest rate and loan terms Understand the rate structure, loan length and payment obligations.
Understand whether the rate is fixed or adjustable If the rate can change, understand when and how adjustments may occur.
Review mortgage insurance requirements Know whether mortgage insurance applies and how it affects the payment.
Review estimated cash to close Make sure the required amount and source of funds are clear before closing.

Inspection & Property Condition

Know what you are buying and what may need attention.

Review the home inspection Understand significant findings instead of treating the inspection as a pass-or-fail document.
Identify urgent repairs Separate immediate safety or property concerns from improvements that can wait.
Review major home systems Consider the condition and expected life of the roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other major systems.
Review specialized inspections if needed Property age, location or inspection findings may justify additional professional evaluation.

Homeowners Insurance

Have appropriate coverage ready before ownership transfers.

Arrange homeowners insurance Make sure coverage is scheduled to begin when required for the purchase.
Review dwelling coverage Understand how the policy addresses the cost of repairing or rebuilding the insured home.
Review personal property and liability coverage Consider household belongings and personal liability protection, not only the structure.
Review deductibles and major exclusions Know what you may need to pay out of pocket and what hazards may require separate coverage.

Title & Legal Documents

Know how ownership is recorded and keep the closing paperwork organized.

Review title information Understand the ownership information and any title issues identified during the transaction.
Review title insurance if applicable Understand lender and owner title coverage where those products are part of the transaction.
Keep signed closing documents Store final transaction records where they can be found later.
Review ownership structure if buying with another person Understand how the property is legally titled and get appropriate legal guidance when circumstances are complex.

Utilities & Services

Prepare the property for the first days of ownership.

Arrange electricity and gas where applicable Confirm service start dates so essential utilities are active when needed.
Arrange water and sewer service Confirm who provides service and whether account changes are required.
Arrange internet and communications Schedule service early if installation timing matters.
Review trash and municipal services Know the local schedule, account requirements and property responsibilities.

Emergency Fund & Home Reserves

Homeownership creates expenses that renters may not have handled directly.

Review your household emergency fund Consider whether the new housing cost changes the amount of cash reserve you want available.
Plan for repairs and maintenance Set aside room in the household budget for routine upkeep and unexpected repairs.
Identify likely first-year expenses Consider repairs, equipment, furniture, locks, tools and other costs that may follow the purchase.

Move-In Readiness

Handle the practical items that make the property safer and easier to manage.

Change or rekey exterior locks Consider updating access after ownership changes.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms Confirm that required alarms are present and working.
Locate utility shutoffs and the electrical panel Know how to shut off water, gas where applicable and electrical circuits during an emergency.
Review basic household emergency supplies Prepare for power loss, severe weather and other common disruptions.

Home Records

Create a system for the documents that now belong to the property.

Organize closing documents Keep purchase, loan, settlement and title records together.
Keep homeowners insurance documents Store current declarations pages, policy records and claims contact information.
Keep inspection reports Retain reports that can help with future repairs, maintenance planning and contractor conversations.
Start a property improvement record Keep useful records for major repairs, replacements, renovations and warranties.

Home Inventory

Document important belongings before you need to prove what was there.

Create a home inventory Use photos, video or another organized record of important household property.
Keep records for major purchases Save receipts or useful proof of ownership for significant items where practical.
Keep a secure backup of the inventory Avoid keeping the only copy inside the same home the inventory documents.

Maintenance

Turn inspection findings into an ongoing upkeep plan.

Create a basic maintenance calendar Track seasonal and recurring tasks rather than waiting for systems to fail.
Prioritize known repairs Separate safety, water, structural and system issues from cosmetic improvements.
Keep contractor and service records Build a useful history of major repairs, maintenance and professional service.

Legal & Estate Review

A major property purchase can affect broader planning.

Review estate documents where appropriate A significant new asset may be a reason to review wills or broader estate planning.
Review ownership and beneficiary planning Consider how the new property fits with your broader household and estate arrangements.
Get legal guidance for complex ownership situations Unmarried co-owners, trusts, blended families, business ownership and other circumstances may require more specific planning.
After You Get the Keys

Four things new homeowners often need to manage quickly.

Repairs

Inspection reports often identify items that become your responsibility as soon as ownership transfers.

Maintenance

Routine upkeep can protect the property and reduce the chance that small problems become expensive ones.

Records

Closing documents, warranties, insurance records and repair history become part of the home's long-term file.

Cash Reserves

Unexpected home expenses are easier to handle when the purchase has not used every dollar of available savings.

Your Priorities

See what needs action before or after closing.

Items marked Action Needed appear first. Review items stay separate so you can work through them without losing track.

Action Needed

These are the home-buying items you marked as needing action.

  • No items marked Action Needed yet.

Review

These are the items you want to check more closely.

  • No items marked Review yet.
Keep Financial Details Private

Use the checklist to track tasks—not sensitive loan information.

There is no need to enter bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, mortgage account numbers, passwords, credit card details or other sensitive information into this page.

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Related Have These Now Resources

Connect the purchase to the rest of your household plan.

Home & Housing

Review the broader records, responsibilities, maintenance and safety items connected to your home.

Review Home & Housing →

Homeowners Insurance Guide

Review dwelling coverage, personal property, liability, deductibles, exclusions and claim preparation.

Review Homeowners Insurance →

Emergency Fund Planner

Estimate how much household cash reserve you may want based on essential monthly expenses.

Plan Emergency Savings →

Where Things Are Worksheet

Create a simple record showing where important home, insurance and household documents are kept.

Map Important Records →
From Buyer to Homeowner

Closing day is the beginning of the homeownership checklist.

Once the keys are yours, insurance, maintenance, records, emergency readiness and household finances all become part of protecting the home you just bought.

Review Home & Housing →

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