Do you need to re-key a new house?

Yes. Re-keying or changing the locks on the day you receive the keys is strongly recommended. You have no way of knowing how many copies of the previous keys exist or who has them. This applies to existing homes and new construction alike, since builders and contractors often have access during the build process.

When is the first mortgage payment due after closing?

Mortgage payments are paid in arrears, so your first payment is typically not due until the first of the month after next following your closing date. For example, if you close in mid-April, your first payment is usually due June 1. Confirm your specific first payment due date in your closing documents.

Does homeowners insurance in California cover earthquakes?

No. Earthquake coverage is typically not included in a standard homeowners insurance policy in California. It is a separate policy that must be purchased independently. New homeowners in California should review their policy and determine whether separate earthquake coverage makes sense for their location.

How often should you change HVAC filters in a California home?

HVAC filters should generally be checked and replaced every 60 to 90 days in California, where heating and cooling systems run frequently. Homes with pets, allergies, or dusty environments may need more frequent changes. Replacing filters on a regular schedule improves air quality, reduces energy costs, and extends the life of the system.

The Homebuyer’s Corner

What Should You Do the First Week After Buying a House?

Q: What should you do the first week after buying a house?

The most important first steps are re-keying or changing the locks, replacing toilet seats, swapping out all HVAC filters, locating and labeling the main water and gas shutoff valves, confirming your first mortgage payment due date, reviewing your homeowners insurance coverage, and setting up a basic home maintenance calendar.

Written by Armando Novelo, NMLS 237243, a mortgage loan officer in West Covina with over 20 years of experience helping Southern California buyers.

New homeowner kneeling at front door changing the deadbolt lock with a screwdriver on move-in day

The first week in your new home matters more than most people expect. Not because anything dramatic happens, but because the habits and decisions you make in those first few days set the tone for how the home runs, how safe it feels, and how prepared you are when something eventually needs attention.

Most buyers spend that first week unpacking boxes and figuring out where the furniture goes. That is fine. But there are a handful of things worth handling before life gets busy and you stop thinking about them.

Here is what I tell my buyers to take care of right away.

Change the Locks or Re-Key Them

Do this the day you get the keys. Before you unpack a single box.

You have no way of knowing how many copies of the old keys exist. The previous owners, their family members, neighbors, contractors, real estate agents, house cleaners, people who helped with repairs years ago. The list is longer than most people think and there is no inventory anywhere of who has access.

Re-keying is cheaper than a full lock replacement and just as effective. A locksmith can re-key the existing hardware in under an hour for a reasonable cost. If you want to upgrade the hardware at the same time, that is a fine time to do it. Either way, the goal is knowing that the only people with a working key are the people you gave one to yourself.

New construction is not exempt from this. Builders, subcontractors, and inspectors all have access during the build. Re-key regardless.

Replace the Toilet Seats

This sounds minor. It's not.

Replacing the toilet seats is one of the fastest ways to make a home feel like yours instead of someone else's. It costs almost nothing, takes ten minutes per bathroom, and removes one of the most visible reminders that another family lived there before you.

Most new homeowners deep clean the house top to bottom and somehow skip this. Do not skip it. Pick up new seats before move-in day and swap them out while the place is still empty. It's the kind of small thing you will be glad you did and will not think about again.

Replace Every HVAC Filter in the House

Find every air return vent in the home, pull the filters, and replace all of them on day one.

In California, HVAC systems run hard, especially during summer and late fall. A clogged or neglected filter reduces airflow, strains the system, drives up your energy bill, and recirculates dust and allergens through the home. You have no idea how long the previous owners went between filter changes. Start fresh.

Write the date on the new filters with a marker when you install them. Set a calendar reminder to check them every 60 to 90 days going forward. That one habit will extend the life of your system and keep your air quality clean.

While you are at it, check the filter size so you can order extras and keep a few on hand. Running out is usually why people let it go too long.

Locate and Label the Shutoff Valves

Find the main water shutoff, the individual shutoffs under every sink and behind every toilet, and the gas shutoff. Label them clearly, or at minimum make sure everyone in the household knows where they are.

When a pipe bursts or a toilet supply line fails at 11pm, you do not want to be searching for a valve while water spreads across your floor. That panic is completely avoidable if you spend twenty minutes walking the house now.

The main water shutoff is usually located near the front of the house, in a box set into the ground near the street, or in the garage. In California homes, it can also be near the water heater. If you are not sure where it is, ask your real estate agent or call a plumber for a quick walkthrough. Worth knowing.

Know When Your First Mortgage Payment Is Due

This one surprises more new buyers than it should.

Your first mortgage payment is almost never due the month you close. Mortgage payments are paid in arrears, meaning you pay at the end of the month for the month you just lived in. When you close in the middle of a month, your first full payment is typically not due until the first of the month after next.

For example, if you close on April 15, your first payment is usually due June 1, not May 1.

That is not a free pass to ignore your loan. It is just how the timing works and it can catch people off guard if they are not expecting it. Pull out your closing documents, find your first payment due date, and add it to your calendar now. Missing your first mortgage payment is a bad way to start your homeownership journey.

Check Your Homeowners Insurance Coverage

You bought the policy to close. Now actually read it.

Most buyers select a homeowners insurance policy quickly during escrow because it is a required checkbox on the way to closing. That is understandable. But the first week in your home is a good time to sit down and understand what you actually have.

Know your dwelling coverage amount. Know your deductible. Know whether you have replacement cost coverage or actual cash value coverage, those are very different things when you file a claim. If you are in a part of the San Gabriel Valley with any wildfire or earthquake exposure, check specifically what is and is not covered under your current policy.

Earthquake insurance is typically not included in a standard homeowners policy in California. It is a separate policy and a separate decision. Worth knowing where you stand before you need it.

Set Up a Simple Maintenance Calendar

The transition from renter to owner is a mindset shift as much as a financial one. As a renter, you called the landlord. As an owner, you are the landlord.

That does not mean you have to do everything yourself. It means you have to be aware of what the home needs and when. The easiest way to stay on top of it is a basic maintenance calendar with a few recurring reminders.

HVAC filters every 60 to 90 days. Smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries twice a year, a good habit is to change them when the clocks change. Water heater flush once a year. Gutters cleaned before rainy season. Dryer vent checked annually, this is a fire hazard that most homeowners ignore.

None of these are complicated. All of them are easy to forget when life is busy. Set the reminders now while the motivation is fresh. Your future self will appreciate it.

One More Thing

The first week is exciting and exhausting at the same time. Give yourself permission to enjoy it.

You did something significant. A lot of people in the San Gabriel Valley spend years trying to get to this moment. Getting the keys is the payoff for all of that work.

Handle the practical stuff on this list early so it is done and you can stop thinking about it. Then settle in and make the place yours.

Armando Novelo, NMLS 237243, is a mortgage loan officer at Super Mortgage Bros, powered by Golden Empire Mortgage. He has been helping Southern California buyers and homeowners since 2002. His office is located in West Covina, CA.

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Article Published: April 30, 2026

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Armando Novelo

NMLS 237243

Super Mortgage Bros

1900 W. Garvey Ave S. #100

West Covina, CA 91790

Phone: (626) 200-1838

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