First-time homeowner maintenance checklist

The first few months in a new house are for learning where things are and finding out what the last owner skipped. Nobody hands you a record of when the water heater was flushed or the alarms were replaced, so assume none of it has been done and start the clock yourself. This list is the first pass: the safety basics, the jobs that prevent the expensive surprises, and the yearly tasks that may be years overdue.

Do the first few items in the first week. The rest can spread over the first season, and once each is done, it joins the normal schedule.

The checklist

• Exercise the water shut-off valves: find the main valve on day one, and make sure it turns.
• Test the smoke and CO alarms: the first thing to check in any house you sleep in.
• Replace the smoke and CO alarms: read the dates on the back, and replace anything old or undated.
• Test the GFCI outlets: find every one and press its test button.
• Check the fire extinguishers: there may be none, in which case buy them.
• Check the home's water pressure: a cheap gauge tells you whether the plumbing is being stressed.
• Replace the HVAC filter: find the slot, learn the size, and put a fresh one in.
• Get an HVAC tune-up: a technician's report on a system you know nothing about.
• Flush the water heater: the sediment of however many years it's been.
• Test the water heater pressure relief valve: a lift of the lever while you're at the tank.
• Inspect the water heater anode rod: if the tank is a few years old, the rod may already be gone.
• Clean the dryer vent: the previous owner's lint is a fire hazard you inherited.
• Replace the washing machine hoses: hoses of unknown age are hoses to replace.
• Test the water leak sensors: or buy and place them, since most houses have none.
• Test for radon: a kit in the basement in the first closed-up month.
• Clean the gutters: and see how the water leaves the house in the first big rain.
• Inspect the roof: from the ground and the attic, to learn what shape it's in.
• Check the foundation for cracks: mark and date every crack now, so you'll know later which ones move.
• Have the electrical panel inspected: especially in an older house, or one with a panel brand you've heard warnings about.
• Inspect and lubricate the garage door: and do the balance test, since the springs are the part that hurts people.
• Test the garage door auto-reverse: before anyone treats the door as safe.

Tips

• Make a map of the house's shut-offs and switches in the first week: the main water valve, the gas valve, the electrical panel and which breaker is which, and the outdoor faucet valves.
• Start a maintenance record with the closing date. Every job on this list gets a line, and next year you'll know what's due.
• Use the home inspection report as a starting list. Everything it flagged as "monitor" or "recommend service" belongs on yours.
• Ask the previous owner, through your agent, for the model and age of the furnace, the water heater and the appliances, and any service records. Some will have them.
• Don't try to do the whole list in a weekend. The first week is the safety items; the rest is the first season.

FAQ

What should a new homeowner do first?

Find the main water shut-off and make sure it turns, test the smoke and CO alarms, and find the electrical panel. Those are the first day.

How do I know what maintenance a house needs?

Assume everything on a yearly schedule is overdue and do it once in the first season. After that, the normal schedule applies and you'll have a record.

Should I get an HVAC tune-up when I buy a house?

Yes. The technician's report tells you the system's age, condition and problems, which the sale rarely does, and the warranty on a newer system may depend on it.

What tools does a first-time homeowner need?

A flashlight, a screwdriver set, pliers, an adjustable wrench, a putty knife, a step ladder, a water pressure gauge and a caulk gun cover nearly everything on this list.