Closing day is the finish line everyone focuses on. But once you have the keys, a different kind of work begins. The first four weeks in a new home involve a long list of practical tasks, most of which are easy on their own but overwhelming if you try to do them all at once.

Here is a working order. It is not the only way to do it, but it puts the urgent things first and the less urgent things where they belong.

Before You Move In

Set up your utilities. In Ontario, electricity, gas, and water are typically separate accounts. Your real estate lawyer will usually handle the final meter readings on closing day, but you need to open your own accounts before you move in.

For electricity, you will deal with your local distribution company. In Toronto, that is Toronto Hydro. In Vaughan, Markham, and Richmond Hill, it is Alectra Utilities. In parts of Durham, it is Elexicon Energy. Each has an online sign-up process that takes about ten minutes.

For natural gas, Enbridge serves most of the GTA. You can set up your account online or by phone, and they will need your closing date and your new address.

Water is handled by the municipality. In Toronto, you contact the City of Toronto directly. In York Region municipalities, you contact the local city or town. Water accounts are usually transferred on closing day through your lawyer, but confirm that the transfer happened.

Week One

Change your locks. This is not about distrust. It is about the fact that you have no way of knowing how many copies of the existing keys are in circulation. Previous owners, contractors, cleaners, dog walkers, and neighbours may all have copies. A locksmith can rekey the existing hardware in about an hour for $150 to $300, depending on how many locks you have.

Forward your mail. Canada Post offers mail forwarding for 3, 6, or 12 months. Set it up online before closing if possible, so that nothing sent to your old address goes missing during the transition.

Update your address with your bank, your employer, the CRA, your insurance provider, your driver's licence (ServiceOntario), and your vehicle registration. The driver's licence and vehicle registration must be updated within six days of your move under Ontario law.

Week Two

Set up home insurance. If you are buying with a mortgage, your lender will have required proof of insurance before closing. But review the policy now that you are in the home. Walk through with the policy in hand and confirm that the coverage matches the property. If you have finished a basement, a home office, or expensive equipment, make sure those are covered.

Set up internet and television. Lead times vary by provider, but a week's notice is usually enough. If you work from home, this is a day one task, not a week two task.

Register with the school board if you have children. In the GTA, the four main boards are the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the York Region District School Board, and the York Catholic District School Board. Registration usually requires proof of address, your child's birth certificate, and immunisation records.

Week Three

Find a family doctor if you are new to the area. Ontario's Health Care Connect programme maintains a wait list and will match you with a physician accepting new patients. The wait can be long, so register early.

Introduce yourself to your neighbours. This sounds old fashioned, but it is practical. Your neighbours are the people who will notice if something looks wrong at your home while you are away. A short conversation now saves a longer one later.

Week Four

Review your property tax account. Your municipality will send a property tax bill, usually quarterly or monthly depending on your payment plan. Confirm that the account is in your name and that the billing address is correct. If you set up a pre-authorised payment plan, confirm the amount and the schedule.

If you bought a condominium, confirm your maintenance fee payment method and schedule with the condominium corporation. Missed maintenance fees accumulate quickly and can result in a lien on your unit.

Check your Tarion warranty if the home is new construction. You have specific deadlines to submit warranty claims. The 30 day form is due within 30 days of possession, the year end form within the first year, and the second year form within the second year. Missing these deadlines can mean losing coverage.

The One Thing People Forget

Keep every receipt. Moving expenses, utility deposits, lock changes, and certain closing costs may be deductible if you moved for work. Even if you are not sure, keep the paperwork. It is much easier to file a claim with receipts than to reconstruct them a year later.

If you are buying or selling in Toronto, Vaughan, King City, or anywhere in the GTA and want help navigating the process from start to finish, call me at 416-560-4983.

Danny Macedo, Macedo Real Estate Group, Royal LePage Supreme Realty, Brokerage.