Key takeaways
- The most urgent tasks are security (new locks), utilities, and confirming your insurance is active from day one.
- Update your address everywhere it matters, especially your ID, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), your bank, and your employer.
- Set up property tax payments with your municipality and mark your first mortgage payment date so nothing is missed.
- Keep your closing documents and title insurance policy safe, and expect a final report from your lawyer.
What should I do first for security and safety?
Change the locks. You have no way of knowing how many copies of the old keys are floating around with previous owners, tenants, contractors, cleaners, or neighbours. Replacing the locks is the single most important thing to do the day you take possession.
While you are at it, think about anything else that opens the home: garage door codes, alarm system passwords, and any smart locks or keypads. Reset the ones you can and replace the ones you cannot. It is a small cost for real peace of mind in a home that is now entirely yours.
How do I set up utilities and internet?
Your utilities generally need to be in your name from your closing date so the essentials keep running and the bills come to you, not the previous owner. Contact each provider to either set up a brand-new account or transfer the existing service into your name.
The main ones to arrange are:
- Hydro (electricity) — so your power stays on without interruption.
- Gas — if your home uses natural gas for heat, hot water, or cooking.
- Water — often billed by your municipality.
- Internet — and any phone or television service you want ready on move-in day.
Do this a little ahead of time where you can. Some providers need a few days’ notice to switch an account or schedule an installation, and you do not want to arrive to a home with no power or no way to get online.
Who do I need to give my new address to?
Updating your address is easy to forget in the excitement of moving, but missing an important one can cost you real money or delay important mail. Work through the people and organizations that need to reach you.
At a minimum, update your address with:
- Your identification — your driver’s licence and health card, so your official ID matches where you live.
- The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) — so tax documents, benefit payments, and any correspondence reach you.
- Your bank — for statements, cards, and account notices.
- Your employer — for payroll records, tax slips, and benefits.
Beyond that short list, think about anywhere you receive bills or official letters: your family doctor, insurance providers, subscriptions, and the government agencies you deal with. Setting up mail forwarding for a few months is a helpful safety net while you catch everything you missed.
Is my home insurance actually active now?
Confirm your home insurance is active. To close your purchase, your lender generally required proof of home insurance effective on your closing date, so you should typically already have a policy in place. After closing, take a moment to verify it is genuinely active and that the coverage matches the home you now own.
Check that your policy start date lines up with your closing date, that the coverage amount reflects the home, and that your contact and payment details are correct. A quick confirmation now means you are properly protected from the very first day.
How do I handle property taxes and my mortgage?
Two ongoing payments start with your new home: property tax and your mortgage.
Set up property tax payments with the city. As the new owner, you are responsible for municipal property tax going forward. Contact your city or municipality to set up how you will pay, whether that is a pre-authorized instalment plan or paying each bill as it arrives. Getting this arranged early avoids missed instalments and any interest or penalties.
Note your first mortgage payment date. Your mortgage payments do not usually begin the moment you close. Confirm the exact date your first payment comes out and how often payments recur, then make sure that account has enough in it. Marking the date now keeps your very first payment on time, which matters for staying in good standing with your lender.
Which documents should I keep, and what is a final report?
Store your closing documents and title insurance policy somewhere safe. They record the transaction, its accounting and any insurance coverage; Ontario’s land-registration records are the authoritative record of registered ownership. Keep secure digital copies and any originals your lawyer tells you to retain for taxes, refinancing or a later sale.
Watch for your lawyer’s final report. After closing, your own lawyer sends you a final report — sometimes called a reporting letter — that confirms the purchase is complete and gives you a record of the deal. It is an important document to keep alongside your other closing paperwork. If a reasonable amount of time passes and you have not received it, follow up with your lawyer.
A simple move-in checklist
Use this list to work through everything in order once you have the keys:
| Task | Why it matters | When to do it |
|---|---|---|
| Change the locks | Old keys may still be out there | Day of possession |
| Set up / transfer utilities (hydro, gas, water) and internet | Keep the essentials on and in your name | Around closing |
| Update your address — ID, CRA, bank, employer | Bills, benefits, and mail reach you | First week |
| Confirm home insurance is active | You are protected from day one | Right after closing |
| Set up property tax payments with the city | Avoid missed instalments and penalties | First week |
| Store closing documents and title insurance policy | Proof of ownership for taxes and resale | After closing |
| Note your first mortgage payment date | First payment lands on time | After closing |
| Watch for your lawyer’s reporting letter | Confirms the deal is done; keep the record | Weeks after closing |
Work through it steadily. None of these tasks is complicated on its own, and ticking them off gives you a settled, well-organized start in your new home.