Post Home Purchase Checklist

So you just bought a house.  Now what?  There is a checklist of items that you need to pick up and be aware of right away.  We've done all of the heavy lifting for you and compiled this checklist for your convenience.  Welcome home and congratulations on your new home!

Huntsville/Madison Post Home Purchase Checklist

Pick up a recycling bin 

Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County will provide you with a recycling bin if you don't already have one.  Here are the links for each entity so you can reach out to the right person.

Madison County: Recycling - Curbside or drop-site service is available to all county residents. Call 256-532-1512. Visit the Solid Waste Disposal Authority for additional information on recycling. If there is a problem with recycling collection please call Allied Waste at 256-830-BINS(2467).

Madison City - Recycling - The Solid Waste Disposal Authority (SWDA) operates the residential curbside recycling program (blue bin) for the entire City of Madison.  This is a free service offered to all Madison single family residences every Wednesday (both Madison and Limestone).
Need a Blue Bin?
Contact SWDA at (256) 880-6054 or via email.  Please include your address and phone number so they can contact you in the event there are questions.

Huntsville City - Recycling - CURBSIDE RECYCLING COLLECTION - For information about the curbside recycling program (blue bins) contact the Solid Waste Disposal Authority at 256-880-6054 or check their website http://swdahsv.org/recycling/ , for a list of items that their program accepts for curbside pickup as well as collection schedules. 

Pick up a few Carbon-Monoxide detectors

All too often, entire families are dying in their sleep because of carbon monoxide leaks from gas heaters, fireplaces, and other deadly yet common sources.  Sorry to be so morbid, but this is a big deal!  If your new home does not have a carbon monoxide detector installed, do it right away.  You can pick one up at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe's or any other neighborhood home improvement store.

Educate yourself on how much impact one extra mortgage payment a year can make

One extra house payment per year can in fact reduce your 30 year mortgage term down by 7 years!  I know it sounds crazy, but it is true.  That one extra house payment goes towards all principle.  Often this one payment can surpass the total amount of principle you pay down throughout the whole year!  We found a really cool calculator online that simulates this for your mortgage, here give it a try!  Accelerate Your Mortgage Calculator

Give away or sell 20% of your furniture

Studies show that households with less furniture experience a healthier and happier life.  A less cluttered home has shown to have a direct correlation with less anxiety over household chores and cleaning.  Here are a few ideas on how to unload your furniture: Sell your extra furniture on Craigslist.org, donate the furniture to Habitat for Humanity, check on Facebook to see if anyone in your sphere of influence would like to purchase it, and lastly you could always store the furniture for future use if you are not ready to part with it.

Now you have our post home purchase checklist for Metro Huntsville homeowners!  We hope it helps you and that you have learned something.  Being a homeowner is a big responsibility and now you are a bit more prepared.