Moving in is exciting and a little overwhelming. These first steps make the house safe, known, and truly yours, without trying to do everything at once.
Make it safe
Change the locks or re-key them, test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, and locate a fire extinguisher for the kitchen. You do not know who has a key to a home you just bought.
Find the shutoffs
Locate the main water shutoff, the electrical panel, and the gas shutoff if you have gas. Label them. In an emergency you will be glad you did it on a calm afternoon.
Start the memory
Note the age and model of major systems and appliances, save your closing and warranty documents, and photograph the meter readings. This record pays off at every future repair and when you sell.
First-month checklist
- Change or re-key the locks
- Test all smoke and CO alarms
- Find and label the water, power, and gas shutoffs
- Locate the HVAC filter and note its size
- Save closing, warranty, and manual documents
- Set up trash and utility accounts
Settle in safely
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Common questions
What is the very first thing to do?
Change or re-key the exterior locks. It is quick, inexpensive, and the single most important safety step.
Do I need a home warranty?
It can help in the first year while you learn the home, but read what it covers. Good records and maintenance matter more.
Build a Home Maintenance Calendar
Turn scattered home chores into a simple monthly, seasonal, and yearly rhythm you can actually keep.
Do You Need a Home Warranty?
What a home warranty actually covers, where it falls short, and how to decide if it is worth it for you.
Setting Up Utilities in a New Home
The right order to turn on electric, water, gas, and internet so nothing gets missed on moving day.