New homeowner checklist: what to do the first year
A new house comes with a lot of things nobody tells you about, like where the water shutoff is or when the filter was last changed. This list covers what to learn and check in your first week, first month and first year, in roughly that order.
Your first week
It's the one thing to know before anything goes wrong.
Find your main water shutoff10–20 min · EasyLabel the breakers while you're there.
Circuit breaker keeps tripping15–30 min · EasyOne tripped GFCI can kill outlets in several rooms.
Reset a tripped outlet or breaker5–15 min · EasyReplace any that are more than 10 years old.
Stop a smoke alarm from chirping10 min · EasyYou need them if you have gas, oil or wood heat, or an attached garage.
Carbon monoxide alarm beeping? What it means5–15 min · EasyYou don't know when the last owner did.
Change your HVAC air filter5 min · Easy
Your first month
Previous owners rarely do.
Clean your dryer vent45–60 min · ModerateSmall drips are easy to miss in a new house.
Find and fix a leak under the sink20–60 min · ModerateRecaulking is cheap insurance against water damage.
Recaulk a tub or shower2 hrs + 24 hr cure · ModerateWatch where the water goes in the first good rain.
Water pooling at the foundation1–3 hours · EasyA hammer, screwdrivers, pliers and a flashlight cover most small jobs.
How to use a hammer (without bending nails)10 min to learn · EasyYou'll hang a lot of things this year.
How to find a wall stud (with or without a stud finder)5–15 min · Easy
Your first year
Start with the one for this season below.
Clean gutters and downspouts safely2–4 hrs · ModerateSediment builds up, especially if nobody has done it.
Why your hot water runs out so fast1–2 hrs · ModerateEasy to forget; the fridge runs better for it.
Clean your refrigerator coils20–30 min · EasyCatch small problems before they leak.
Replace a damaged roof shingle1 hr · HardA tune-up gives you a baseline on old equipment.
Furnace won't turn on15–30 min · EasyKnock one out each weekend.
Touch up wall paint so it doesn't show30 min, plus drying · Easy
Keep going
Write down where everything is on the home info sheet and keep it on the fridge. After the first year, the seasonal checklist keeps things on track, and Before You Call a Pro covers the free checks worth trying first. For the basics you'll want on hand, see the homeowner toolkit.
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Whole year