Resources — Buying process · 4 min

Completion & First-Week Checklist

Completion isn't the finish line — it's the handover into your systems. The first week sets up everything after; run it as a checklist and nothing leaks.

How to use this

Print it the week before completion and start ticking from the moment the keys are in your hand. Everything on it is easier today than in month three.

Download the PDF Run the numbers →

Day one

Every meter read and photographed; suppliers notified of ownership change
Locks changed — you have no idea how many keys exist
Full photo survey of every room before anything moves
Water stopcock, fuse board and gas shut-off located and photographed
Heating tested, alarms tested, obvious leaks checked

First week

Council tax registered (or exemption applied for during works)
Buildings insurance confirmed in force with correct works disclosure
Utilities moved to your accounts or your preferred suppliers
Trades walkthrough against the refurb plan — surprises surface now, not week four
Post redirect or collection arrangement for previous-owner mail

Set up the file

One folder per property: completion statement, title, certificates, warranties, photos
Key dates diarised: insurance renewal, product end, certificate expiries
The property added to your portfolio tracker with day-one numbers