Your First Year as a Homeowner: A Simple Checklist
Your first year as a homeowner comes with a surprising number of small decisions, and nobody hands you a manual at closing. The good news is that most of it is easy once you break it into stages. Here’s the checklist I’d want a friend to have on the day they get their keys, organized by when to do each thing.
Embracing your first year as a homeowner is both exciting and daunting. Understanding what to expect during your first year as a homeowner can help alleviate some of that stress.
The First Week: Get Oriented and Secure the Place
Change the locks or rekey. You don’t know who has copies of the old keys, and it’s inexpensive peace of mind. Reset any garage door codes and smart-lock codes too.
Find your shutoffs. Locate your main water shutoff, your electrical panel, and your gas shutoff if you have gas, and show everyone in the household. If a pipe ever bursts, knowing where the main valve is can save you thousands of dollars.
Test every smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Replace batteries now rather than assuming they’re fresh, and check the manufacture dates printed on the units, since detectors don’t last forever.
Set up your paperwork. Keep your closing documents, inspection report, appliance manuals, and any warranty information together in one folder, digital or physical. I walk through what those closing documents are in my guide on what happens at closing in NC.
Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance providers, and subscriptions, if you haven’t already.
As you navigate your first year as a homeowner, consider creating a checklist to keep track of essential tasks that will help you settle in comfortably.
The First Month: Learn the House
Re-read your inspection report with fresh eyes. Now that you live there, sort the findings into what needs attention soon and what can wait. My guide to how to read a home inspection report can help you triage it.
Your first year as a homeowner can also be a valuable learning experience. Take time to familiarize yourself with your home’s quirks and features.
Test for radon. This is the one many new owners skip. The NC Radon Program recommends that every home be tested for radon, whether you use a test kit or hire a certified radon professional. The EPA’s action level is 4 pCi/L, and if a test comes back at or above that, it’s worth following up rather than ignoring it. It’s inexpensive, quick, and the only way to know your home’s actual level.
During your first year as a homeowner, it’s crucial to prioritize safety, so don’t skip important tests like radon checks.
Change the HVAC filter and note the size. Then set a recurring reminder. It’s one of the easiest ways to protect a system that’s expensive to replace.
Learn how your systems work. Find out the age of your water heater, HVAC system, and roof if you can, and note them in a maintenance log. That single page becomes very valuable later, both for your own planning and for a future buyer.
Keeping a maintenance log during your first year as a homeowner will help you document any issues that arise.
If your home has a well or septic system, learn its care basics right away. Wake County’s well ownership page and septic system inspections page are good starting points, and my guide to buying a home with a septic system in NC covers the details.
The First 90 Days: Get Your Money Side Sorted
Review your homeowners insurance. Confirm your coverage, your deductible, and whether you need anything extra, like flood coverage, which standard policies don’t include. Take photos or a video of your belongings and each room while you’re at it, so a claim is easier if you ever need one.
Understand your monthly payment. If your lender escrows your taxes and insurance, your payment can change when tax assessments or insurance premiums change. My guide to property taxes in Wake County explains why.
Start a home maintenance fund. A common rule of thumb is to set aside roughly 1% of your home’s value each year for upkeep. It’s only a guideline, but having cash set aside turns a broken water heater from a crisis into an inconvenience.
Decide whether a home warranty makes sense for you. It isn’t for everyone, and I lay out the tradeoffs in is a home warranty worth it.
In your first year as a homeowner, consider whether a home warranty could provide you with additional peace of mind.
If you put down less than 20%, ask your lender when you can remove PMI. My guide to understanding PMI explains how and when.
The Rest of the Year: Follow the Seasons
Once the first 90 days are behind you, home care becomes mostly a rhythm. Each season has its own small tasks, like clearing gutters in the fall, servicing your HVAC before summer, and watching for pests as the weather warms. I put all of it in my seasonal home maintenance checklist, tailored to Raleigh’s climate.
Developing a seasonal maintenance routine during your first year as a homeowner can save you time and money in the long run.
A few extras worth putting on the calendar during year one:
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- Schedule annual service for your HVAC system and consider a termite inspection
- Walk the exterior after heavy rain to check drainage and look for anything that looks off
- Keep a running list of repairs and projects, so small things don’t pile up
Documenting your to-do list during your first year as a homeowner will help you stay organized and proactive.
A Quick Word on Not Getting Overwhelmed
You don’t need to do everything in your first week, or even your first year. Start with safety and the basics, then work through the rest at a steady pace. The buyers who end up happiest as homeowners aren’t the ones with the perfect list. They’re the ones who stay a little ahead of small problems.
Remember that your first year as a homeowner is a journey; take it one step at a time and enjoy the process.
If you’re still in the buying process and want a partner who’ll keep helping after closing, reach out and I’ll walk you through what to expect. Or start by browsing homes currently on the market.
As you settle into your first year as a homeowner, don’t hesitate to reach out for support and guidance.