Getting the keys ends escrow, but it starts a short list of tasks, and a few of them have real deadlines. Some are specific to Nevada. One of them protects your equity. None are hard, but all of them are easy to lose in the middle of a move.
This is the checklist I would hand anyone who just closed on a home in Las Vegas, Henderson or Summerlin, in roughly the order it should happen.
Before closing day: line up the utilities
Utilities in the Las Vegas Valley are not one-stop. Plan on setting up each one separately, and start a few days before you get keys so nothing is off when you walk in.
- Electric: NV Energy. Start service in your name effective your closing or possession date. New accounts can require a deposit depending on credit history, so ask when you sign up.
- Natural gas: Southwest Gas, if the home has gas. Not every home does. Many newer homes are all-electric, so check with the seller or the listing before you assume you need an account.
- Water: it depends on the address. Most of Las Vegas, Summerlin and unincorporated Clark County is served by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Homes inside Henderson or North Las Vegas city limits go through those cities instead. Confirm which one serves your parcel.
- Trash and sewer. Ask the seller, your HOA or your city who handles these for the address and whether you need to open an account yourself.
- Internet. Order it early so you are not waiting on an install date after you move in.
Within 30 days: the Nevada DMV deadlines
If you are moving to Las Vegas from another state, this is the item with a clock on it. The Nevada DMV says new residents must switch to a Nevada driver license within 30 days of establishing residency, and vehicles must be registered in Nevada within 30 days as well.
For the license, the DMV New Resident Guide lists:
- One proof of identity, one proof of your Social Security number, and proof of any name changes
- Two proofs of your Nevada residential address, such as a utility bill or lease (one more reason to get utilities in your name quickly)
- Your existing out-of-state license or ID
For registration, the DMV lists Nevada insurance (out-of-state insurance is not accepted), a Nevada emissions inspection if your vehicle needs one, a VIN inspection, your current registration, an odometer reading and your out-of-state plates. At the major metro offices, the DMV asks you to complete the VIN inspection at the station outside the building before your appointment.
Active duty military members, spouses and dependents are not required to transfer a license, and the DMV has separate guidance for them. Fees and document rules change, so check the New Resident Guide before you go.
In the first few weeks: record a Declaration of Homestead
This is the one most new Nevada owners have never heard of, and it is the one I would not skip. Nevada’s homestead law (NRS Chapter 115) protects equity in your primary residence from many general creditor claims, but only once you record a Declaration of Homestead. It is not automatic.
According to the Clark County Assessor, a recorded homestead protects equity up to $605,000 from general creditor claims such as unpaid medical bills, credit card debt, personal or business loans and accident claims. It does not protect against your mortgage or deed of trust, property taxes, IRS liens, mechanic’s liens, or child support and alimony.
The process, per the Assessor’s homestead page:
- Download the Declaration of Homestead form from the Clark County Assessor website. You will need your parcel number and legal description, which are on your recorded deed or in the Assessor’s online property records.
- Complete it legibly in black ink, keeping text inside the one-inch margins.
- Sign it in front of a notary.
- Record it with the Clark County Recorder: in person at the main office on Grand Central Parkway or the Henderson or Northwest offices, or by mail to the main office only. Call the Recorder for the current recording fee.
The Assessor’s staff cannot help complete the form. If title is held in a trust or an entity, or you have any question about whether filing fits your situation, talk to a Nevada attorney first.
The first month: HOA, mail and records
- Set up your HOA account. Confirm the association has your name, mailing address and payment method, and get gate remotes, amenity access and the current rules. In Summerlin, check whether you pay only the Summerlin Community Association or a neighborhood association as well.
- Forward your mail. File a change of address with USPS, then update your bank, employer and insurance carriers.
- Update your voter registration to the new address if you plan to vote in Nevada.
- Check your property tax record. Look up your parcel with the Clark County Assessor and Treasurer, confirm where the bill will go, and confirm the home is classified the way you expect. Primary residence status affects your tax cap; our post on Nevada’s 3% property tax cap explains how.
- Change the codes. Rekey the locks and reset garage openers, gate remotes and any smart devices left behind.
- Keep your closing package together. Closing Disclosure, deed, title policy, inspection report and warranty paperwork. You will want them at tax time and again when you sell.
The timeline at a glance
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| A few days before closing | Start electric, gas (if the home has it) and water; schedule internet |
| Closing or move-in day | Keys, garage and gate remotes, photograph meter readings |
| First week | HOA account, USPS change of address, rekey locks |
| Within 30 days of becoming a resident | Nevada driver license and vehicle registration |
| First month | Record a Declaration of Homestead; check your property tax record |
None of this is legal or tax advice. For homestead, title or tax questions, confirm specifics with a Nevada attorney or your CPA.
Still shopping and planning the move from another state? Start with buying a Las Vegas home from out of state.
Source: Nevada DMV New Resident Guide and Nevada Driver Handbook; Clark County Assessor, Homestead (NRS 115). Information is current as of the date of this post (November 10, 2026) and can change.
Geoff Zahler | Broker/Owner, Zahler Properties