Rockland County
Welcome Committee
is a Non-Profit collaborative effort developed to assist new residents to connect with their neighborhood and to connect with local and county services.
Congratulations, and Welcome To The Neighborhood!
There are few better feelings than being handed the keys to your new home! New homeownership is a very exciting and busy time in life. With all the packing and moving, it is easy to over-look some basic items that need to be done as soon as you move in:
Call the Utility Companies:
Gas, electric, cable, telephone, water, garbage service, and any other providers for your home must be called to ensure service is in your name.
You can also double check what days your garbage and recyclables will be picked up.
Your House Number visibility:
Make sure your street number is identified and easily visible from the road. Reflecting house numbers on your mailbox work well.
New Home Safety:
Have an Emergency kit on hand. Have some type of first aid kit in a central location in your home and make sure everyone knows where it is.
Make sure to have the Emergency numbers (included in your welcome basket) posted in one place where everyone can find them quickly in case they are needed.
Be sure to have at least one basic “all-purpose” fire extinguisher on each floor in your home and one for the kitchen.
Go over the proper way to use it.
Emergency Exits:
Get the family together and plan your evacuation routes in case of such as fire. Just a few minutes of discussion can ease your mind in the long run.
It is much better to be safe than sorry!
Find Your Main Circuit Breaker:
Take the time to locate the main breaker box for your home and label each breaker correctly
Find the Off Switch:
Locate the main water shut-off and gas shut-off and make sure all household members know where it is located. It is also not a bad idea to purchase a water cut-off wrench in case it ever is necessary to turn off your water supply from the meter.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors Detectors:
Make sure there are adequate smoke detectors in your home and all work properly. Change batteries every six months
Know your School District
Find out about local school bus stops through your School District’s Transportation Department.
Rockland County School closings:
Radio Rockland Emergency Radio 1640 AM and WHUD 100.7 FM
Great Website: http://cancellations.com
Extra Paint:
Many new homes will have cans of unused paint left in them. These are great for touch-ups and for getting an exact match when re-painting. Make sure these cans are stored all in one place where they are free from freezing or getting too hot.
Local County Tax Office:
Find out where it is. Also find out if there is being given homestead exemption, and if so where to pick up or download an application (and the cut-off date to apply)
Protect Those Floors:
If your home has hardwood, ceramic, or tile floors, don’t forget to put protective covers under furniture legs.
As you settle in to your new home, you will find a peaceful state of mind knowing that all of these bases are covered.
Your New Address:
Don’t forget to inform creditors and magazine subscriptions of your new address. In most areas, you can now change your address online through the Post Office.
