New Homeowner Checklist

The first 90 days of homeownership establish your baseline knowledge of the property. These are the tasks that prevent expensive surprises later — knowing where your water shutoff is before a pipe bursts, having functioning smoke detectors before they're needed, and understanding your HOA rules before accidentally violating them.

Day 1 priorities

Change all exterior locks immediately. This is non-negotiable — previous owners, real estate agents, contractors, and neighbors may have copies of the old keys. Re-key rather than replace for lower cost. Locate and label the main water shutoff, electrical panel, and gas shutoff. Test smoke and CO detectors on all floors.

First month tasks

Schedule HVAC service if not recently done — changing the filter and having the system inspected prevents costly mid-winter failures. Document all appliances (model numbers, purchase dates, warranties). Get to know your neighbors — they're often the best source of information about the neighborhood and local service providers. Review your home inspection report and create a list of deferred maintenance items to address in priority order.

First year maintenance

Use the Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist for ongoing quarterly tasks. In the first year, you'll learn your home's seasonal behavior — which windows draft in winter, where water pools in the yard, when the HVAC runs hardest. Build these patterns into your maintenance schedule. Keep records of all service visits, repairs, and improvements — they help with future sale documentation and warranty claims.