After receiving the keys, the first priority is not paint color or a house full of new furniture. Secure the property, take control of every account, document the condition and organize the records first. Those tasks are much harder to reconstruct months later.
I divide the first-week list into three priorities: protect the home immediately, build the ownership file during the week, and handle longer-term accounts and tax matters as soon as the buyer is eligible.
1. Photograph the property before the moving truck fills it
While the home is still empty, walk from the entry through every room with a phone. Record walls, floors, ceilings, windows, below-sink areas, the garage and exterior. Capture model and serial numbers for major equipment.
This is not a new negotiation with the seller. It creates a possession-day baseline for later water issues, moving damage, maintenance and insurance documentation.
2. Rekey or replace every point of entry
Rekey or replace exterior-door cylinders instead of counting only the keys received.
Erase old garage-door remotes from the opener and pair the remotes the buyer will use.
Change access codes and account for gates, side doors, mailboxes and community access.
Disable temporary codes used by cleaners, contractors or property-showing personnel.
The buyer cannot know how many copies existed in the past. This is not an accusation against the seller; it is ordinary security after ownership changes.
3. Reset smart doorbells, cameras and thermostats
The current Texas residential contract requires delivery of needed smart-device access information and removal of the seller’s personal-device connections when possession is delivered. The buyer should still reset administrator accounts, passwords, recovery emails and multifactor authentication.
Smart locks, doorbells, cameras and alarm panels.
Thermostats, garage doors, irrigation and lighting controls.
The router, wireless-network name and password.
Solar, water-treatment or other equipment needing an account transfer, including confirmation of whether it is owned, leased or subscription-based.
A powered-on device is not necessarily an account under the buyer’s control. For paid services, verify ownership, billing and cancellation terms.
4. Locate the main shutoffs and emergency controls
An active leak is the wrong time to start searching for the main water valve. On the first day, locate the water shutoff, gas shutoff, electrical panel, HVAC disconnect, water-heater controls, smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms.
Label breakers and valves that are difficult to identify.
Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms and check battery or device age.
Place an appropriate fire extinguisher where it is accessible but not directly beside a likely fire source.
Save plumbing, electrical, HVAC and insurance-claim contacts before an emergency occurs.
5. Confirm utilities, trash service and account dates
Do not stop at “the lights are on.” Confirm that water, electricity, gas and other accounts began in the buyer’s name on the correct date, with the correct billing address, deposit and payment setup. Greater Houston addresses can fall under different cities, municipal utility districts and providers, so a mailing-city name is not enough.
Also confirm trash and recycling days, bulky-item rules, outage or boil-water alerts, and where the provider posts hurricane or freeze notices.
6. Build one permanent home file
Keep the contract, Closing Disclosure, survey, inspection report, seller disclosure, repair invoices, foundation or roofing records, warranties and manuals in one place. The owner’s title policy may arrive after closing; add it when received.
Keep paper where useful, but store an electronic copy in long-term cloud storage. These records matter later when selling, filing an insurance claim, replacing equipment or checking whether work remains under warranty.
7. Create two sets of insurance photos
The first set records the home at possession. The second is a personal-property inventory after move-in. The Texas Department of Insurance recommends recording rooms, closets, drawers, garages and sheds, plus model numbers, serial numbers, purchase dates and receipts for important items.
Do not keep the only copy on one phone. Store it online or away from the home and update it after major purchases. Jewelry, art, bicycles and collectibles may have lower policy sublimits, so ask the insurance professional whether added coverage is appropriate.
8. Contact the homeowners association instead of waiting for a welcome letter
When the property belongs to an HOA, confirm the owner account, payment method, gate access, parking permits, trash rules, amenity reservations and maintenance-request channels. Paid closing balances do not guarantee that the next bill will reach the correct address.
Before changing a fence, roof, exterior color, pool or landscaping, check whether written approval is required. Many problems begin because the owner discovers the approval process only after work starts.
9. Turn the inspection report into a first-year maintenance calendar
Inspection items that were not negotiated do not disappear at closing. Sort them into three groups: address soon, address within six months and monitor. Add HVAC filters, drainage, roofing, pests, irrigation and equipment service to the calendar.
Houston owners should pay particular attention to drainage and cooling. Watch how the yard and downspouts behave during the first heavy rain and how the HVAC performs through sustained heat instead of waiting for interior staining or a shutdown.
10. Apply for a residence homestead exemption when eligible
A Texas residence homestead exemption generally does not transfer automatically to the new owner. The individual usually must own and use the property as a principal residence and cannot claim another residence homestead at the same time. The local appraisal district makes the final eligibility determination.
For a Harris County property, HCAD accepts applications online, through its mobile app, by mail or in person. Common requirements include the occupancy date and a Texas driver license or identification card with a matching address. Filing directly with the appraisal district is free; a homeowner does not need to pay a solicitation company to submit the application.
Greater Houston spans several counties. Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria and other properties must use their own appraisal districts. Filing timing, prorated eligibility and documentation can depend on the acquisition date and individual circumstances, so do not copy a prior owner’s or friend’s timeline.
Do not rush to pay these new-owner mailers
Offers charging a fee to file a homestead exemption or “homestead designation.”
Official-looking solicitations selling copies of deeds or property records.
Notices using a new link to set up mortgage autopay or change the loan servicer.
Urgent home-warranty offers claiming equipment coverage expires immediately.
A recorded sale triggers a wave of formal-looking marketing. Locate the official county, loan-servicer, title-company or manufacturer contact information before deciding that a notice requires action.
The practical first-week order
Record the empty-home condition, equipment models and available readings.
Rekey doors, erase old garage remotes and reset smart devices and Wi-Fi.
Locate water, electrical and gas controls and test alarms.
Confirm utilities, HOA, insurance and mortgage-servicer information.
Organize closing, inspection, repair and warranty records.
Create a personal-property inventory and first-year maintenance calendar.
Update identification and apply through the correct appraisal district when eligible for the residence homestead exemption.
Frequently asked questions
Can a new owner apply for the homestead exemption immediately?
Some qualifying owners may apply for a prorated exemption after acquiring and occupying the property as their principal residence, subject to conditions such as whether the prior owner received the same exemption that year. Verify eligibility, timing and documents directly with the appraisal district where the property is located.
The seller gave me the smart-device passwords. Should I still factory-reset everything?
At minimum, change the administrator account, password, recovery email and multifactor settings and confirm the old account is removed. Whether a factory reset is appropriate depends on the device and whether it would disrupt security, solar or other services.
How long should the buyer keep the inspection report?
Keep it long term with the purchase, title, insurance, repair and warranty records. It provides an initial-condition reference and helps plan maintenance, but it does not replace a new professional evaluation when a later problem appears.
Related reading
Signed at closing but still no keys?
The final walk-through is not a formality: what should buyers check?
Buying a Houston home: costs beyond the mortgage payment
Sources
Texas Real Estate Commission: current residential contract and smart-device turnover
Texas Department of Insurance: making a home inventory
Texas Comptroller: property-tax exemptions and residence homestead eligibility
Harris Central Appraisal District: homestead applications
Joyce's Featured Listings
AI-generated illustration: a Greater Houston housing scene, not a real or currently available listing.
If you are planning a future purchase, browse Joyce's Featured Listings to compare the ages, budgets and areas currently available—and consider the maintenance and long-term ownership costs before choosing.
View Joyce's Featured Listings →
Just received the keys and not sure what comes first?
Send me the county, home age, HOA situation and the inspection items that remain. I can help separate first-week security tasks, first-year maintenance and the questions that belong with different agencies so move-in day does not carry everything at once.
About Joyce Tang
Joyce Tang is a Greater Houston real estate agent and investor, co-founder of the North American Real Estate Association, founder of JoyHome and JoyNest, and co-leader of the Dr. Wang Real Estate Team.
She has helped more than 200 families buy or sell homes and has participated in more than 40 renovation projects. Her approach examines not only price, but also location, carrying cost, cash flow, risk and future exit options.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not tax, legal, insurance, cybersecurity, engineering or repair advice. Residence homestead eligibility, timing and documents are determined by the appraisal district and applicable law. Follow the insurance policy, manufacturer instructions and qualified professional advice for the specific property.