The first year in a new home, one task at a time. Your checkmarks are saved in this browser, with no account needed.
Nashville Buys only connects buyers, sellers, and local pros. We are not a broker, we don't hold funds, we take no fee tied to any transaction, and we don't give legal, pricing, or financial advice. Talk with a Tennessee real estate attorney about your purchase.
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You don't know who still has a key. Rekeying every exterior door, plus garage and gate codes, is cheap peace of mind.
Press the test button, replace batteries, and replace any alarm past the date printed on it. Add CO alarms near bedrooms if the home has gas appliances or an attached garage.
Label them and show everyone in the house. When a pipe bursts, minutes matter.
Start with anything electrical, gas, water, or structural the inspector flagged, using licensed trades.
Look up your property with the county register of deeds a few weeks after closing, and keep your recorded deed with your closing file.
A tune-up before the season you'll lean on it most tells you the system's age and condition, and a fresh filter protects it.
Note its age from the label, look for rust or leaks around the base, and ask a plumber whether it needs flushing or its relief valve tested.
Termites are common in Middle Tennessee. A licensed pest control company can inspect and explain treatment contracts and what their warranty covers.
Tennessee's environment department reports that about one in four Tennessee homes tested is above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. A simple test tells you whether yours is.
Check that coverage matches rebuilding cost, look at your deductible, and ask whether flood coverage makes sense for your address.
Clogged gutters send water where it doesn't belong. A roofer can spot lifted shingles and flashing problems before a storm finds them.
Standing water, damp insulation, or a musty smell point to drainage or vapor problems worth fixing early.
Your county trustee (and your city, if it bills separately) collects property tax. Check the trustee's website for the due date, and ask your lender whether taxes are paid from an escrow account.
Tennessee doesn't have a general homestead tax exemption. The state's Property Tax Relief program helps some older, disabled, and disabled veteran homeowners, and counties and cities that adopt the Tax Freeze program hold taxes steady for qualifying homeowners 65 and older. Details are on the Tennessee Comptroller's website.
Record what you fixed, who did it, what it cost, and every warranty and manual. It helps with future repairs, insurance claims, and someday, selling.
Independent businesses you contact and hire directly. Verified vendors are listed first, and the order rotates daily. No vendor pays for placement.
We're adding vetted handymen in Nashville.
Are you a local handyman? Join free
We're adding vetted electricians in Nashville.
We're adding vetted plumbers in Nashville.
We're adding vetted HVAC pros in Nashville.
We're adding vetted pest and termite control pros in Nashville.
We're adding vetted home inspectors in Nashville.
Are you a local home inspector? Join free
We're adding vetted home insurance agents in Nashville.
Are you a local home insurance agent? Join free
We're adding vetted roofers in Nashville.
We're adding vetted foundation and crawlspace pros in Nashville.
A home is a system that ages. Budget a little every month for maintenance, and call a licensed pro for anything electrical, gas, or structural.
The buyer checklist covers everything from pre-approval to getting your keys.
