Moving into a new home is exciting. You’ve got the keys, the boxes are (hopefully) making their way inside, and you’re ready to make the place your own.

Then reality hits.

Who do you call when the furnace starts making a strange noise? Who handles your water? What happens if you discover ants in the kitchen or a plumbing problem in the basement?

Whether you’re new to Macomb County or simply new to homeownership, having a few trusted local businesses in your phone can save you a lot of time—and possibly a few headaches.

Here are 10 people and places every new Macomb County homeowner should know.

1. Your City or Township

Before anything else, find out who handles the basics for your particular community. Water and sewer service, garbage and recycling, bulk pickup, brush collection and other services can vary from one city or township to another.

Tip: Save your city or township website and phone number. You’ll be surprised how often you need to look something up during your first year in a new home.

2. DTE Energy

If your new home uses DTE for electricity or natural gas, make sure your service is transferred or established before moving day. DTE offers online start/stop service for customers who are moving, along with online account management and outage information.

DTE Energy: Start or stop service online through DTE Energy or call 1-800-477-4747. Join their text alerts to get up to the minute info on power outages and restoration times as well. 

3. Your Local Assessor

This one is especially important for Michigan homeowners.

If your new house is your primary residence, you may be eligible for the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE). Homeowners need to file the appropriate PRE affidavit with the assessor for the city or township where the property is located.

Don't assume this happens automatically when you purchase a home. Make sure you know who your local assessor is and whether your PRE paperwork has been filed.

4. A Locksmith

One of the first things we recommend doing after moving into a home? Change or re-key the locks.

You don't know who has a copy of the old keys—previous owners, relatives, contractors, neighbors or anyone else who may have had access to the house.

For a local option, Reliable Lock & Key provides residential locksmith services throughout Macomb County, including rekeying, lock repair and new lock installation. With a 4.9 Google rating, this is the place to call.

And for those times you get locked out they are open 24/7!

Reliable Lock & Key: (248) 270-LOCK.

5. Distribution Air HVAC

You may not think about your furnace, air conditioner or water heater until something goes wrong. That's exactly why it's smart to establish a relationship with an HVAC company before you need an emergency repair.

Distribution Air HVAC in Shelby Township provides HVAC services and is a local option for homeowners who want to have their heating and cooling equipment checked, maintained or repaired.

It's also a good idea to find out how old your furnace, A/C and water heater are when you move in. Knowing their age can help you plan for future maintenance or replacement instead of getting caught completely off guard.

6. Belcrest Pest Elimination

New house, new neighborhood—and sometimes, new bugs.

Belcrest Pest Elimination is a Harrison Township-based pest control company serving the Metro Detroit area. They handle common residential pest problems including ants, spiders, mosquitoes, bees and other household pests.

Even if you don't currently have a pest problem, knowing who to call when you discover something crawling around where it shouldn't be is worth having in your contacts.

Belcrest Pest Elimination: (586) 465-0418.

7. A Plumber

Every homeowner eventually learns that water has a remarkable ability to find places it shouldn't be.

A good local plumber is one of those contacts you want before the emergency happens.

One Macomb County option is Cicotte Plumbing & Drain, located in Clinton Township. They provide residential plumbing services including leak detection, drain cleaning, fixture repairs, water heater work and sump pump replacement, along with 24/7 emergency service.

Cicotte Plumbing & Drain: (586) 264-5200
24/7 Emergency: (586) 663-5439.

8. An Electrician

Older homes can come with older electrical systems, and even newer homes eventually need electrical work. Whether you're adding lighting, installing outlets, troubleshooting an issue or planning a larger upgrade, it's smart to have a licensed electrician you can call.

The Neighborhood Electrician, based in Shelby Township, provides residential electrical services throughout Macomb County and surrounding Metro Detroit communities. Their services include electrical repairs, upgrades, custom lighting and smart-home solutions.

The Neighborhood Electrician: (586) 489-1504.

9. A Local Junk Removal Company

Moving tends to reveal just how much stuff you actually own.

You may also discover that the previous homeowner left behind a few things that weren't exactly part of the dream-home package.

For larger cleanouts, Remove It Right Demo is a Chesterfield-based, locally operated company serving Macomb County and southern St. Clair County. They handle junk removal, property cleanouts, renovation cleanup and light non-structural demolition.

Remove It Right Demo: (586) 210-0405.

10. Cleaning by Jen

There's something pretty satisfying about starting life in a new house with everything clean from top to bottom.

Cleaning by Jen is a family-owned business based in Chesterfield Township and serving communities throughout Macomb County and Metro Detroit. They offer recurring house cleaning as well as customized cleaning services and carpet, tile and hardwood floor cleaning.

Cleaning by Jen: (586) 648-0510.

One Last Thing: Make Your Own Homeowner Contact List

Once you've moved in, take a few minutes to save these numbers along with your insurance agent, mortgage company, local police department's non-emergency number and your city's or township's contact information.

You don't want to be searching Google at 2 a.m. because your basement suddenly has an indoor swimming pool.

A little preparation now can make homeownership a whole lot easier later.

And if you're thinking about buying a home in Macomb County, we're always happy to help you navigate the process—from finding the right neighborhood, helping set-up a homeowner's inspection to getting settled after you get the keys.

Jesse Long | RE/MAX First
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