“Don’t forget the garage code—CHANGE THE GARAGE CODE!”
For new homeowners, moving in often means unpacking boxes, arranging furniture, and tracking down the nearest hardware store. But according to one lender, they’re overlooking a major to-do that could compromise safety.
TikTok user @theonithelender, a professional lender, recently went viral with a video covering three essential steps new homeowners should take immediately after moving in.
The video, which has garnered over 687,400 views, highlights the most common oversights her clients make.
Her first critical tip? Change the locks.
“You’d be surprised how many of my clients, months after moving in, still haven’t changed the locks,”
she says. “The reason should be obvious, but if it’s not—consider that previous owners may not have given you all of the keys, or maybe a neighbor has a spare.”
She points out that, according to one survey, 74% of homeowners neglect to change their locks after moving in.
Her second tip is about staying organized.
“Keep all of the paperwork from closing, like your mortgage and title documents, in one place,”
she advises. She recommends a document organizer, which she gifts to her clients, noting it’s a trending item on TikTok. “You’ll be glad you have everything together when you need it,” she adds.
For her third piece of advice, she urges homeowners to tackle two often-missed cleaning tasks. “Locate the dishwasher filter and clean it,” she says, adding, “And don’t forget to change all the air filters.” She explains that even if a new home comes with fresh filters, older homes typically need this maintenance right away.
In the comments, viewers chimed in with additional tips:
“Don’t forget the garage code—CHANGE THE GARAGE CODE!” one person urged.
Another advised, “Clean out the dryer vent. Ours was so clogged, it was a fire hazard.”
Some viewers, though, admitted they hadn’t thought of these steps. “Going on four years here and have never once thought to change the locks,” one user confessed.
