In your first 30 days after closing on a house in Indiana, change the locks, test the smoke alarms, and put your closing papers in one folder. Make sure your homestead deduction is filed by January 15, watch for a letter from your loan servicer before you mail a payment, and call Indiana 811 before you dig for a fence.
Just bought or about to close? Call Realest at (219) 808-1520.
It’s the first Saturday morning in a house in Dyer. The moving boxes in the hallway are still taped shut.
She is on a step stool under the hallway smoke alarm with her thumb on the test button. He’s at the kitchen counter with the closing folder open and a coffee going cold.
The alarm shrieks, then stops. She twists it off the ceiling and reads the date on the back. It was made eleven years ago.
Week one: keys, locks, and alarms
On closing day, collect every key, garage remote, and mailbox key the sellers left. Then change or rekey the exterior locks. You don’t know how many copies are out there.
The U.S. Fire Administration says to test smoke alarms monthly and replace the whole alarm every 10 years. Age counts from the manufacture date printed on the alarm, not from the day you moved in. Hardwired alarms still need a new backup battery at least once a year.
Carbon monoxide alarms matter once the furnace runs. Our winterizing guide covers where they go and what to check before the first cold week.
Put the closing papers in one folder
You signed a stack at closing. Keep it together, along with your homeowners insurance declarations page and the inspection report.
IRS Publication 530 says the only closing costs you can deduct are home mortgage interest and certain real estate taxes, and only if you itemize. Some other closing costs can be added to your home’s basis instead. Basis matters when you sell, so the IRS says to keep records as long as they’re important for federal tax law.
Start a page for improvements too. A new roof or a finished basement can add to basis. Publication 530 includes a table you can copy to track them.
Papers to keep in the house folder
| Paper | Why you keep it |
|---|---|
| Closing disclosure | Shows what you paid at closing, including interest and taxes |
| Deed and title policy | Shows the house is yours and what the title insurance covers |
| Sales disclosure form copy | Can serve as your homestead application in Indiana |
| Homeowners insurance declarations | Lists your coverage, limits, and deductible |
| Receipts for improvements | Can add to your basis when you sell, says the IRS |
| Inspection report and manuals | Ages of the roof, furnace, and water heater |
Based on IRS Publication 530 and Indiana Department of Local Government Finance instructions.
File for the homestead deduction
The homestead deduction lowers the taxable value of the house you live in. It isn’t automatic for a new owner. The Indiana Property Tax Benefits form says to file with the county auditor by January 15 of the year the taxes are first due.
Under Indiana Code 6-1.1-12-44, a complete sales disclosure form filed for your purchase can count as the homestead application once the county assessor approves it, according to the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) instructions. Ask your title company to confirm it was filed. A few weeks later, look up your parcel and check that the deduction is there.
Our property tax guide for buyers explains why Indiana bills run a year behind. The homestead deduction page on Realest walks through the deduction itself.
Your first mortgage payment
Loans get sold and transferred, sometimes right after closing. Under a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule, 12 CFR 1024.33, the old servicer has to send you a notice at least 15 days before the transfer, and the new servicer has to send one within 15 days after. They can send one notice together.
For 60 days after the transfer, a payment you send to the old servicer by the due date can’t be treated as late. Read every letter before you set up autopay, and call the number on your closing papers if a letter looks off. Our escrow account guide covers how the taxes and insurance share works in your payment.
Your first 30 days after closing
| When | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Closing day | Get every key and garage remote, and read the meters | Your closing papers |
| Week one | Change or rekey the exterior locks | Realest checklist |
| Week one | Test every smoke alarm and check its date | U.S. Fire Administration |
| Week one | Submit a permanent change of address | USPS |
| Weeks one to four | Watch for a servicer transfer letter before you pay | CFPB, 12 CFR 1024.33 |
| By January 15 | Make sure the homestead deduction is filed | State Form 51781 |
| Before you dig | Request a locate two full working days ahead | Indiana 811 |
Checked October 29, 2026. Dates and rules can change.
Mail and utilities
USPS says to submit a permanent change of address when you move so your mail follows you. Update your bank, your employer, and your driver’s license address too.
Gas, electric, water, sewer, and trash should be in your name from closing day. If you read the meters at the final walkthrough or on closing day, write the numbers down. Ask the seller or your agent which companies serve the address, then call each one.
Call 811 before you dig
A fence is the first project for plenty of new owners in Lake County. Indiana 811 says every digging project, big or small, needs a request at least two full working days before you dig. That covers a fence, a mailbox post, and a new tree.
The utilities mark their buried lines with paint or flags. Then you dig around the marks.
Back in Dyer
She writes “new alarm” on the hardware store list, then “January 15” under it. He finds the sales disclosure copy in the folder and texts the title company to make sure it was filed.
The boxes can wait until Sunday afternoon.
Looking at homes nearby? See the Dyer, Schererville, and St. John pages on Realest, or read our guide to moving to Dyer.
Work with Realest
Questions about your new home? Send us a note.
Own a home already? Ask for your home value and we’ll pull the recent sales near you.
Call the shop at (219) 808-1520.
Pamela “Pam” Joveski is the founding owner of Realest. Realest Realty is at 112 S. Main St., Suite B, Crown Point.
Photo by Aneekr of a neighborhood in Dyer, Indiana, June 2006, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped, text added. Shown for illustration only. It is not a Realest listing.
Tax rules, deadlines, and federal rules can change. This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Check with your county auditor, your loan servicer, or a tax professional. The Dyer owners are an example, not real clients.
Sources
- U.S. Fire Administration: Smoke alarms
- IRS Publication 530: Tax Information for Homeowners
- State Form 51781: Indiana Property Tax Benefits
- DLGF: Sales Disclosure Form Instructions
- CFPB: 12 CFR 1024.33, Mortgage servicing transfers
- USPS: Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address
- Indiana 811: Submit a Ticket for Homeowners
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FAQ
What should I do first after closing on a house in Indiana?
Get every key, change or rekey the exterior locks, and test the smoke alarms. Then put the closing papers in one folder, make sure the homestead deduction is filed with the county auditor, and watch the mail for a letter from your loan servicer.
When do I file the homestead deduction after I buy a house in Indiana?
File with the county auditor by January 15 of the year the taxes are first due. A complete sales disclosure form filed for your purchase can count as the application once the county assessor approves it, so ask your title company to confirm it was filed. Then look up your parcel a few weeks later to check.
Which closing papers should I keep?
Keep the closing disclosure, the deed, the title policy, and receipts for any improvements. The IRS says only home mortgage interest and certain real estate taxes from closing are deductible, but some other closing costs add to your home’s basis, which matters when you sell.
What if my mortgage is transferred to a new company right after closing?
Federal rules say the old servicer has to tell you at least 15 days before the transfer, and the new servicer within 15 days after. For 60 days after the transfer, a payment sent to the old servicer on time can’t be treated as late.
Do I need to call 811 before I put up a fence in Indiana?
Yes. Indiana 811 says every digging project, big or small, needs a request at least two full working days before you dig. That includes a fence, a mailbox post, or a new tree.
How do I talk to Realest about buying a home in Northwest Indiana?
Call the shop at (219) 808-1520 or send us a note through our contact page. We can help with the house and the checklist that comes after the keys.