"We just got the keys. What should we actually be doing this first month?"
That's one of the most common questions I get from new residents moving into homes we manage in Keller, Roanoke, Northlake, Haslet and the towns around them. Moving is exhausting, and the last thing anyone wants is a surprise in week three: a utility that was never switched over, an HOA letter about trash cans, or a small leak nobody mentioned until it became a big one.
So here's the move-in checklist I'd hand a friend renting a house in DFW, broken into the first day, the first week and the rest of the first month.
The Short Answer
Get your utilities and renters insurance in place before or on move-in day, walk the home carefully and document its condition, learn where the shutoffs are, and set up your resident portal so rent and maintenance requests are easy from day one. Do those things in the first week, and the rest of your lease tends to go smoothly for everyone.
Day One: Keys, Safety and the Basics
- Test the smoke alarms with us: Texas law requires a smoke alarm in each bedroom, and on each level of a multi-level home (Texas Property Code § 92.255). We test them at the start of your lease, as § 92.258 requires. If one ever chirps or stops working, let us know right away. Under the same section, swapping batteries after move-in is generally the resident's job.
- Know your locks are fresh: Texas requires landlords to rekey exterior locks within seven days after each resident turnover (§ 92.156). We take care of that, so the keys you hold aren't floating around from the last household.
- Find the shutoffs: Locate the main water shutoff, the water heater, the electrical panel and the gas meter if the home has gas. Take a photo of each with your phone. If a pipe ever bursts in a North Texas freeze, knowing where the water shutoff is in the first minute saves a lot of damage.
- Save our maintenance number: Put (304) 878-8629 in your phone now. It answers 24/7, so a true emergency like a leak, no heat in a freeze or a sparking outlet gets a response any time of day.
The First Week: Paperwork That Prevents Headaches
- Complete your move-in condition report: Walk every room and note anything already scuffed, stained, chipped or not working, with photos. Turn it in by the deadline in your move-in paperwork. This protects you at move-out, and it helps us fix anything we missed during make-ready.
- Confirm your utilities are in your name: In much of DFW you choose your own electricity provider, and the state's official comparison site is Power to Choose, run by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Some homes, including parts of Denton County, are served by an electric co-op instead, and you sign up with the co-op directly. Water, sewer and trash usually go through your city or a local water district. If you're not sure who serves your address, ask us.
- Activate renters insurance: We require it, and it's one of the best deals in housing. A typical policy covers your belongings and your personal liability, which the owner's insurance does not. Send us proof of coverage by your lease start date.
- Set up your resident portal: Our resident portal is where you pay rent, submit maintenance requests with photos and keep a record of everything. Setting up autopay in week one means you never have to think about the first of the month.
Weeks Two Through Four: Settling Into the Neighborhood
- Read the HOA basics: Many homes in Keller, Roanoke, Northlake and Haslet are in master-planned communities with rules about trash can storage, parking, yard care and pools. We'll share the HOA rules that apply to your home. A quick read now avoids a violation letter later.
- Learn your trash and recycling day: Pickup days and bulk-trash rules vary by city and even by neighborhood. Your city's website lists them, and your neighbors will happily tell you too.
- Change the HVAC filter on schedule: Note the filter size on move-in day and set a phone reminder. Clean filters help the system run efficiently through our hot summers and keep your electric bill down. Your lease spells out how often to change them.
- Check before you dig or mount: Want to plant a garden, add a TV mount or put up a basketball goal? Ask us first. For anything that goes into the ground, utility lines have to be marked first through Texas811, and we'll make sure that happens.
- Report small issues early: A slow drip under the sink, a running toilet or a door that won't latch is easy to fix in week two. The same problem ignored until month six usually isn't. Submit it through the portal with a photo and a good description, and we'll take it from there.
Getting to Know Your New Town
One of the best parts of renting in these towns is how much there is to do close to home. Roanoke's Oak Street has earned its "Unique Dining Capital of Texas" nickname, Keller has miles of trails and Bear Creek Park, and Northlake and Haslet sit right by the AllianceTexas job corridor with easy access to I-35W and State Highway 114. Northwest ISD and Keller ISD serve many of the homes we manage, so if you have kids, register early so the first day of school is one less thing to chase.
Why We Do It This Way
We work for the owners of the homes we manage, and the best thing for an owner is a resident who is comfortable, informed and wants to stay. A smooth first month sets that up. Clear expectations, a fast maintenance process and a manager who answers the phone make the whole lease better for everyone. That's how we've leased more than 500 homes, with an average of about 12 days on market and 70+ five-star reviews, and between Parker and me we bring 22+ years of combined experience to every home.
This post is general information, not legal advice. Your lease is the final word on your responsibilities.
Own a Home in Keller, Roanoke or Northlake?
If you're a homeowner thinking about renting out your house, I'm happy to put together a free, no-obligation rental analysis. You'll get an honest read on what it should rent for and how we'd take care of it and the people living in it. Call (304) 878-8629 anytime, or reach out through our contact page. You can also read more about our Keller property management, Roanoke property management and Northlake property management, and how we handle maintenance.
