Just Bought a Home in Minnesota? Here's What to Do Before Moving In

Your new home is yours! Now it's time to get settled, prepare for the seasons ahead, and learn everything you need to know about maintaining your investment.

Buying a home is an exciting milestone. Between signing paperwork, getting the keys, planning your move, and figuring out where everything belongs, it's easy to overlook some important first steps.

Whether you've purchased your first home or are moving into your next one, a little preparation can make the transition easier and help prevent unexpected headaches down the road.

If you're buying a home in Minnesota, there are a few extra things worth putting on your checklist, especially when it comes to preparing for winter.

Here's what to do before closing, on moving day, and during your first few weeks as a homeowner.

1. Before Closing: Get Your Utilities Set Up

One of the first things to take care of is contacting your utility providers.

You don't want to arrive at your new home only to discover the electricity or water isn't turned on!

Contact the appropriate companies ahead of closing to arrange service starting on your closing date or possession date, as applicable.

Depending on the property, you may need to arrange:

• Electricity

• Natural gas or propane

• City water or a private well

• City sewer or a septic system

• Garbage and recycling service

If the home has a private well or septic system, make sure you understand how those systems work and where important components are located.

Helpful tip: Ask the previous owner or your real estate agent which utility providers service the property.

2. Closing Day: Change or Rekey the Locks

You have the keys! One of the first things to consider is changing or rekeying the exterior door locks.

You don't necessarily know how many copies of the old keys are out there or who might still have one.

Changing the locks gives you greater control over who has access to your new home.

While you're at it, consider checking:

• Garage door openers and remotes

• Keypad entry codes

• Security system access codes

• Smart locks and connected devices

Make sure any previous owner's access is removed from smart home accounts and devices.

3. Before Moving In: Clean, Paint, and Replace Flooring

An empty home is the perfect opportunity to take care of projects that become much harder once furniture and belongings are inside.

If you're planning to make improvements, now is the time!

Start with a deep clean.

Clean the home from top to bottom while it's empty. Pay particular attention to:

• Kitchen cabinets and drawers

• Appliances and refrigerator

• Bathrooms and fixtures

• Closets and storage areas

• Baseboards and trim

• Windows and window tracks

• Floors and corners

Planning to paint? Do that before replacing the floors.

If you're planning both projects, painting first helps prevent paint drips, splatters, and damage to your new flooring.

A good order to follow is:

1. Deep clean the home.

2. Complete painting and wall repairs.

3. Install new flooring.

4. Give everything a final cleaning before moving in.

Taking care of these projects while the house is empty can save you time and effort later.

4. Find Your Main Water Shutoff and Gas Shutoff

This is something every homeowner should know before an emergency happens.

Locate your main water shutoff valve.

If a pipe bursts or a plumbing fixture starts leaking, knowing how to shut off the water quickly can help prevent significant water damage.

Find the valve, make sure you can access it, and learn how it operates.

Know where your gas shutoff is, if applicable.

If your home uses natural gas or propane, familiarize yourself with the location of the appropriate shutoff and the safe procedures for your system.

Don't attempt to operate unfamiliar gas equipment. Ask your utility provider or a qualified professional to explain the proper procedure.

If you smell gas, leave the home immediately. Don't operate switches or use anything that could create a spark. Call 911 or your gas provider from a safe location.

5. Buy a Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is one of those things you hope you never need, but you'll be glad to have if you do.

Consider keeping an appropriately rated multipurpose ABC fire extinguisher in an accessible location, such as the kitchen area.

Make sure everyone in the household knows where it is and understands how to use it.

Also take a few minutes to check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Test them and replace batteries when needed.

6. Set Up Your Trash and Recycling Reminders

Here's a little moving-day tip that can save you an embarrassing first-week surprise!

Find out which day garbage and recycling are collected at your new address.

Check whether your service requires bins to be placed at the curb the night before or the morning of pickup.

Then set a recurring reminder on your phone.

It's a small thing, but when you're busy unpacking and settling in, it's easy to forget!

7. Start a Home Maintenance Binder

This is one of the best habits you can start as a new homeowner.

Create a physical binder or digital folder where you keep important information about your home.

Over time, it becomes a useful record of everything you've maintained, repaired, replaced, or improved.

Consider keeping:

• Appliance manuals and warranty information

• Furnace and HVAC service records

• Water heater information

• Roofing and siding receipts

• Plumbing and electrical repairs

• Flooring and remodeling receipts

• Paint colors and product information

• Well and septic service records, if applicable

• Home inspection reports

• Contractor contact information

You can also keep a running list of routine maintenance tasks and the dates they were completed.

When it's eventually time to sell, having organized maintenance records can be helpful when answering questions about the home's history.

8. Prepare Your New Home for a Minnesota Winter

If you've purchased a home in Minnesota, winter preparation deserves its own checklist.

Cold temperatures, snow, ice, and freezing conditions can create challenges for homeowners, particularly if you're unfamiliar with the property.

Don't wait until the first big snowfall or below-zero temperatures to figure everything out.

Prevent Frozen Pipes

Learn where your water pipes are located, especially in colder areas such as basements, crawl spaces, garages, and exterior walls.

During extreme cold:

• Keep your home adequately heated.

• Open cabinet doors under sinks when appropriate to allow warm air to circulate.

• Know how to respond if a pipe begins freezing.

• Ask a plumber about insulating vulnerable pipes.

If you leave your home during winter, make sure the heating system remains at a safe temperature.

Disconnect Outdoor Garden Hoses

Before freezing weather arrives, disconnect garden hoses and drain outdoor water lines where applicable.

If your home has interior shutoff valves for exterior faucets, learn where they are and how to use them.

This can help prevent frozen and burst pipes.

Check Your Furnace

Your heating system will be working hard during a Minnesota winter.

Before cold weather arrives:

• Locate your furnace filter.

• Find out what size filter your system requires.

• Learn how often it should be replaced.

• Schedule professional maintenance as recommended.

• Make sure vents and returns aren't blocked.

A properly maintained heating system helps keep your home comfortable when temperatures drop.

Check Windows and Doors for Drafts

Walk through your home and check for noticeable drafts around windows and exterior doors.

Inspect weatherstripping, door sweeps, and window seals.

Addressing drafts before winter can improve comfort and help reduce unnecessary heating costs.

Get Your Snow Removal Supplies Ready

Don't wait for the first snowstorm to discover you don't have a shovel!

Make sure you have:

• A sturdy snow shovel

• Ice melt suitable for your walkways and surfaces

• Snow brushes and ice scrapers for vehicles

• A plan for driveway and sidewalk snow removal

If your property has a long driveway, think ahead about whether you'll handle snow removal yourself or arrange for a service.

Check Your Sump Pump

If your home has a sump pump, learn where it is and how it operates.

Check that it's working properly and that the discharge line is clear.

Understanding your home's drainage system before you need it can help you respond more quickly if water becomes a problem.

9. Learn the Little Things About Your New Home

Every home is different, and the previous owner may have had routines or systems that aren't immediately obvious.

Take time to familiarize yourself with the property.

Find out:

• Where the electrical breaker panel is located.

• Which breakers control important areas.

• Where the furnace and water heater are located.

• How to operate the thermostat.

• Where exterior water shutoffs are located.

• How the garage door and opener work.

• Whether the home has a water softener or filtration system.

• Where the septic tank and drain field are located, if applicable.

If something isn't familiar, ask questions or have a qualified professional walk you through it.

The more you understand about your home, the more comfortable you'll feel maintaining it.

10. Don't Feel Like You Have to Do Everything in One Day

Moving into a new home comes with plenty of excitement, but it also comes with a learning curve.

You don't have to complete every project immediately.

Start with the important safety items, get your utilities and essential services established, and work through your maintenance checklist as you settle in.

Keep notes, save receipts, and take pictures of important equipment and systems. Future you will appreciate having that information!

Your Minnesota Homeowner Checklist

Before you get too comfortable, save this quick checklist:

Before Closing

• Contact utility companies.

• Arrange garbage and recycling service.

Closing Day

• Change or rekey exterior door locks.

• Update garage codes and security access.

Before Moving In

• Deep clean the empty home.

• Complete painting.

• Replace flooring.

• Locate water and gas shutoffs.

• Purchase a fire extinguisher.

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

First Week

• Set trash and recycling reminders.

• Locate the furnace filter.

• Find the electrical breaker panel.

• Start a home maintenance binder.

• Gather appliance manuals and warranties.

Minnesota Winter Preparation

• Protect vulnerable pipes from freezing.

• Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses and lines as appropriate.

• Check furnace operation and filters.

• Inspect windows and doors for drafts.

• Prepare snow removal supplies.

• Check the sump pump, if applicable.

Buying a Home in Minnesota? We're Here to Help.

At Headwaters Realty Services, we believe helpful guidance doesn't stop when the closing papers are signed.

Buying a home is a big investment, and knowing what to expect before and after closing can make the experience much easier.

Whether you're looking for your first home, moving to the Bemidji area, or searching for a lake home or rural property, having a knowledgeable local real estate team makes a difference.

We're proud to help buyers navigate the Minnesota real estate market with local knowledge, helpful guidance, and a team you can count on.

Thinking about buying a home in northern Minnesota?

Headwaters Realty Services
Bemidji, Minnesota
218-444-2621
HeadwatersRealtyMN.com

The Start of Something Great in Real Estate.