New Homeowner Checklist: Your First 30 Days

Quick answer: In your first 30 days, secure the house (locks, shutoffs, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms), set up utilities and insurance, record every appliance and system, file your closing paperwork and warranties, then build a maintenance schedule. Do the safety items first because they cannot wait. The rest can follow in weekly steps, and some deadlines, such as property tax exemptions, depend on your state.

Day one: secure the house and find the shutoffs

You can do these before you unpack a single box.

• Change or rekey the locks. You cannot know who still has a copy of the old keys. Change the garage door code and any smart lock or alarm codes too.
• Find the main water shutoff. Check the basement, a utility room, the garage wall or near the water meter. Make sure the valve turns, and show everyone in the household where it is.
• Locate the gas shutoff and the electrical panel. If you have gas, the shutoff is usually at the meter. Photograph the panel and label any unmarked breakers as you trace them.
• Test GFCI outlets. Press TEST, then RESET, on the outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages and outdoors.
• Take baseline photos. Photograph every room and the exterior before you move in. They help if you later need to document a problem.

Week one: safety, utilities and insurance

Check smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and the fire extinguisher

The U.S. Fire Administration says to put smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and on every level, test them monthly, and replace each alarm 10 years from its manufacture date. Look for the date on the back of each alarm. If you cannot find one, or it is older than 10 years, replace the alarm.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, and not in kitchens or directly above fuel-burning appliances. Replacement age varies, so follow the date in the manufacturer's literature. Keep a fire extinguisher where you can reach it, and check its pressure gauge and for dents or rust.

Put utilities and your address in order

1. Transfer electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash and internet into your name, and note each account number.
2. Update your address with the post office, your employer, banks, subscriptions and your state motor vehicle agency.
3. Confirm who your mortgage servicer is and how to pay. Keep the first few statements.

Review your homeowners insurance

Read your declarations page now rather than after a loss. Check the dwelling coverage amount, the deductibles, and what is excluded. Many policies in storm-prone areas carry a separate wind, hail or hurricane deductible, which can be a percentage of the insured value rather than a flat amount.

A standard homeowners policy typically does not cover flood or earthquake damage. FEMA notes that most homeowners policies do not cover flood, that flood insurance typically has a 30-day waiting period, and that over 40% of flood claims come from outside high-risk areas. Ask your agent whether the dwelling amount would cover a rebuild at today's local costs. Your agent and policy are the authority, not this checklist.

Week two: learn and record your systems

Document every major appliance and system

For each appliance, the water heater and the HVAC equipment, record the brand, model number, serial number and manufacture or install date. Photograph the data label. The guide to finding an appliance serial number shows where labels usually are, and how old is my water heater explains reading its date. Look for manuals and warranty papers left by the previous owner and scan them.

Do the quick system checks

• HVAC filter. The Department of Energy says to clean or replace your air conditioning filter every month or two during the cooling season, and more often with constant use, dust or pets. Write the filter size on the unit and buy a spare.
• Water heater temperature. The Department of Energy's home energy checklist suggests the warm setting, 120 degrees F, to save energy and avoid scalding. Check the manual for the manufacturer's flushing advice.
• Leaks. Look under sinks and around toilets and the water heater. The EPA suggests reading your water meter, using no water for two hours, then reading it again. If the meter moves, you probably have a leak.
• Attic, crawl space and exterior. Look for stains, moisture, pests, damaged flashing and clogged gutters. Note anything you cannot judge and ask a licensed professional.
• Radon. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor, and advise fixing a home that tests at 4 pCi/L or higher. Test kits are widely available, and your state radon office can point you to qualified testers.
• Lead paint. If the house was built before 1978, read the EPA's lead guidance before sanding, scraping or renovating painted surfaces.

If your inspection report listed repairs, schedule them now and keep the invoices.

Week three: paperwork, warranties and recalls

1. File your closing documents. Keep the deed, title policy, closing disclosure and inspection report. Store scans in a secure cloud folder as well as a fireproof box.
2. Register warranties. Keep receipts, note the expiry date of each manufacturer, builder or seller warranty, and register new appliances if the maker asks you to.
3. Check for recalls. The CPSC lets you search recalls and subscribe to recall emails. Check each appliance by brand and model.
4. Keep improvement records. IRS Publication 523 explains that your cost basis includes the purchase price, closing costs and improvements, and says to keep those records until three years after the due date of the return for the year you sell. Confirm how this applies to you with a tax professional.
5. Start a home maintenance fund. How much you need depends on the age and condition of the house. Ask your inspector which systems are nearest the end of their life, and budget for those first.

Week four: set up ongoing maintenance

• Build a schedule. Set recurring reminders for filters, alarm tests, gutters and seasonal checks. The home maintenance checklist lists what to do and when.
• Spot aging systems. Compare each system's age with the manufacturer's expected life or your inspector's estimate, and set money aside for anything near the end.
• Build a contractor list. Collect plumbers, electricians and HVAC technicians before an emergency. Ask neighbors, and check each license with your state licensing board.
• Make a home inventory. Photograph or video your belongings with serial numbers for insurance, and store the files outside the house.

How this varies by state and region

State and local rules

Several first-month tasks depend on where you live. Confirm each one with the office named below.

Climate and hazards

Keeping it all in one place

Steadwell's free plan covers most of this list: unlimited maintenance tasks, warranty tracking with expiry alerts, federal recall alerts, document storage and calendar sync. Adding an appliance by hand takes a minute. On Plus and Pro, AI scanning can read a nameplate or receipt for you. It is a place to keep your records, not a substitute for an inspection or a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions