The new homeowner checklist
Closing day hands you a building, not a manual. This is the order we'd do it in: the safety and shutoff work in week one, the systems and paperwork in month one, then the rhythm that keeps year one from turning into a repair bill.
Week one
- Re-key or replace every exterior lock, including the garage side door
- Test all smoke and CO detectors; replace batteries and note install dates
- Locate and label the water main, gas shutoff, and breaker panel
- Change the HVAC filter and write the size on the furnace with a marker
- Find the septic lid, well head, or sewer cleanout if you have one
- Set up utilities, trash pickup, and confirm which day the bins go out
- Program the thermostat and set the water heater to 120°F
Month one
- Deep-clean the dryer vent and the range hood filter
- Walk the roofline and clear the gutters and downspout extensions
- Flush the water heater and test the pressure-relief valve
- Label the breaker panel circuit by circuit with a helper
- Start a home file: deed, survey, warranties, permits, and appliance manuals
- Photograph every room for your insurance inventory
- Meet the neighbors and ask who they use for HVAC, plumbing, and tree work
Year one, by category
Systems
- HVAC serviced twice — cooling in spring, heating in fall
- Filters changed every 60–90 days
- Water softener salt and any whole-house filter cartridges
- Sump pump tested before the wet season
Exterior
- Gutters cleared spring and fall
- Hose bibs drained and covered before the first freeze
- Caulk and weatherstripping checked at doors and windows
- Trees trimmed back from the roof and service lines
Safety
- Detector batteries replaced annually, units replaced at 10 years
- Fire extinguisher on every floor, gauge checked
- Dryer vent cleaned annually
- Chimney inspected before burning season
Paperwork
- Homeowners insurance re-shopped at renewal
- Property tax assessment reviewed — appeal windows are short
- Mortgage escrow statement checked for payment changes
- Warranty registrations filed for new appliances
What to buy before you need it
- Smart or re-keyable deadbolt set
- Furnace filters (multi-pack, check your size)
- Smoke and CO detector combo
- Fire extinguisher, one per floor
- Dryer vent cleaning kit
- Gutter scoop and extension pole
- Outdoor faucet covers
- Homeowner tool kit
- Water heater flush hose and wet/dry vac
- Label maker for the breaker panel
Some links are Amazon Associates links — if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
What should a new homeowner do first?
Change every exterior lock, test the smoke and CO detectors, and find the water main, gas shutoff, and breaker panel. Those three take an afternoon and cover the failures that cost the most.
How much should I budget for home maintenance each year?
A common planning rule is 1% to 4% of the home's value per year, or roughly $1 per square foot. Newer homes trend toward the low end; homes over 25 years old trend high.
What maintenance is easiest to forget in the first year?
Furnace filters, dryer vent cleaning, water heater flushing, gutter clearing, and re-shopping your homeowners insurance at renewal. None of them announce themselves until something breaks.
Do I need a home warranty?
It can help if your major appliances and HVAC are aging and you have no repair fund yet. If your systems are newer, setting aside the same money each month usually goes further.
Related guides
- Home maintenance checklist
- House cleaning schedule & chore calendar
- How often to change your furnace filter
Let the calendar remember year one for you.
Answer a few questions about your house, climate, and yard, and LyfeMinder spaces these tasks across the year — with the supplies linked the week you need them.
Start your free week