New homeowner guide

First-time homeowner checklist: week 1 to year 1

Updated 9 November 2026 · 7 minute read

Most new homeowner checklists dump forty jobs on you at once. That isn’t how the first year works. Some things you need to know before anything goes wrong. Others only matter once the heating season starts, or right before a warranty ends. This list puts each job where it belongs.

Week 1: know where everything is

These are the jobs you want done before the first emergency, not during it.

• Test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. Press the test button on each one. The National Fire Protection Association suggests testing monthly. If an alarm is more than 10 years old (the date is on the back), replace it.
• Find the main water shut-off. It’s usually where the water line enters the house: basement, crawl space, utility room or near the water heater. Tag it so anyone in the house can find it. Our guide covers where to look.
• Find the breaker panel and check that the labels make sense. Flip a breaker and see what goes dark if you’re unsure.
• Find the gas shut-off if you have gas. Know where it is. If you ever smell gas, leave first, then call the gas company from outside.
• Change or rekey the locks. You can’t know who still has a key. Rekeying usually costs less than new locks.
• Write down the furnace filter size. It’s printed on the edge of the filter. Then you buy the right one the first time (see how often to change it).

Month 1: set up the basics

• Put a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Near an exit, not right next to the stove. Read the label once.
• Gather manuals and warranties. Most manuals are online. Note each appliance’s model and serial number in one place.
• Check how old the water heater is. The manufacture date is usually on the label or coded in the serial number. Knowing its age lets you plan a replacement instead of being surprised by one.
• Septic? Ask the seller or your county when the tank was last pumped.
• Private well? Test the water. The EPA suggests testing private wells at least once a year; your local health department can point you to a lab.

Month 3: walk around the outside

From the ground, look for loose or sagging gutters, missing shingles, cracked caulk around windows, and water pooling against the foundation after rain. You’re not fixing anything yet, just learning what normal looks like for this house.

Month 6: before the big season

• Book a heating and cooling check-up before the season you rely on it most.
• New build? Start a running warranty list: nail pops, drywall cracks, sticky doors, grout gaps. Add a photo and a date for each.

Month 11: send the warranty list

Many builder warranties cover workmanship for the first year. Sending your list around month 11 leaves time for the builder to schedule repairs before cover ends. Check your own papers for the exact date. Our 11-month inspection guide covers what to include.

One year in: look back

Look at what you did this year and what surprised you. That tells you what to watch next year. From here, the house settles into a routine: the monthly, seasonal and yearly jobs.

What can wait

Repainting, new furniture, the garden, upgrading appliances that work. None of these protect the house. Do them when you want to, not because a checklist said so.

Questions new homeowners ask