Closing day is exciting, and then the to-do list starts. This checklist covers what most new homeowners should handle in the first month, in a sensible order, so small problems don't turn into expensive ones.
Day one: safety and access
- Change or rekey the locks, and reset garage door and keypad codes. You don't know how many keys are out there.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries. Add detectors where any are missing.
- Find the main water shutoff, the electrical panel and the gas shutoff, and label them. In a leak or emergency, minutes matter.
- Locate fire extinguishers or buy one for the kitchen and one for the garage.
The first week: utilities and accounts
- Confirm utilities are in your name: electric, gas, water, sewer, trash and internet.
- Update your address with the post office, banks, employer, insurance, DMV and voter registration.
- Check your homeowners insurance start date and coverage, and add a home inventory with photos of rooms and valuables.
- Look into a homestead exemption or other property tax relief your county may offer. Deadlines vary.
The first two weeks: learn the house
- Write down the make, model and age of the furnace, AC, water heater, roof and major appliances. Photograph the labels.
- Gather manuals and warranties the sellers left, and download any that are missing.
- Replace HVAC filters and note the size so you buy the right one next time.
- Walk the outside: gutters, downspouts, grading, sprinkler shutoff and outdoor spigots.
- Reread your inspection report and make a prioritized repair list.
By day 30: set up for the long run
- Build a maintenance calendar: filters every one to three months, gutters each spring and fall, HVAC service yearly, water heater flush yearly.
- Start a list of trusted pros: plumber, electrician, HVAC, roofer, handyman.
- Keep your closing documents together: deed, title policy, closing disclosure, survey and mortgage paperwork.
- Save receipts for improvements. They can matter for taxes when you sell; ask a tax professional what applies.
- Write a one-page house guide for sitters, guests or family: shutoffs, Wi-Fi, trash day, alarm and quirks.
New homeowner checklist at a glance
| When | Top tasks |
|---|---|
| Day one | Locks and codes, detectors, find shutoffs |
| Week one | Utilities, address changes, insurance, tax exemptions |
| Weeks two to three | System records, manuals, filters, inspection repairs |
| Day 30 | Maintenance calendar, pros list, closing documents, house guide |
Keep it all in one binder
Every item on this list produces information you'll need again: model numbers, warranty dates, filter sizes, contractor names. A binder with tabs for manuals, warranties and receipts keeps it at hand, and our house manual checklist walks through what to put in it. For the medical part of being prepared, get the free ER-Ready Kit: the one-page Emergency Health Summary, the "Where should I go?" guide and interpreter wallet cards, in English and Spanish.
The Ambos Health team
General information only. Local codes, tax rules and insurance terms vary; check with the relevant professional for your situation.