First-year homeowner maintenance checklist
The first year in a house is the one where nothing has broken yet — which makes it the easiest year to get ahead of everything that eventually will. You don't need to do it all at once. Here's the month-by-month version, built so a first-time owner can follow it without a contractor on speed dial.
Week 1: the move-in basics
- Find and label the main water shutoff and the electrical panel.
- Locate every gas shutoff and the HVAC emergency switch.
- Change the locks; note the alarm/garage codes.
- Test every smoke and CO detector; replace batteries.
- Find the year built and the age of the roof, HVAC, and water heater (Almwell pulls these from public records in seconds).
Month 1: set the rhythm
- Replace HVAC filters and note the size; set a 90-day reminder.
- Walk the exterior: note the roof's condition, gutter state, and any grading that slopes toward the house.
- Check for plumbing leaks under every sink and around the water heater.
Months 2–3 (settling in)
- Flush the water heater to clear sediment.
- Test the sump pump (pour in water, confirm it kicks on).
- Clean the dryer vent — a real fire risk people forget.
- Re-caulk tubs, showers, and exterior gaps as needed.
Spring (whenever it lands in your year)
- Clean gutters and downspouts.
- Service the AC before the first hot week.
- Inspect the roof from the ground with binoculars; flag missing or curling shingles.
- Check exterior paint, caulk, and seals.
Summer
- Check window and door seals; touch up weatherstripping.
- Inspect the deck/fence; reseal if water no longer beads.
- Clear vegetation back from the AC condenser and the foundation.
Fall
- Service the furnace before the first cold snap.
- Clean gutters again after leaf-fall.
- Shut off and drain exterior faucets; store hoses.
- Reverse ceiling fans; check attic insulation.
Winter
- Keep the furnace filter fresh (it works hardest now).
- Watch for ice dams on the roof edge.
- Know how to shut off water fast in case a pipe freezes.
The one habit that matters most
Pick a day each season and run the list. The homeowners who avoid five-figure surprises aren't handier than everyone else — they just caught the small thing before it became the big one. If you want the list keyed to your house instead of a generic calendar — your actual roof age, your actual systems — that's what Almwell builds from your address.
Also worth reading: how much to budget for home maintenance and how long does a roof last. See our methodology for how Almwell estimates system ages from public records.