New Homeowner Checklist: 30 Things to Do in Your First 90 Days

Quick answer

Handle the things that can ruin an otherwise good Tuesday.

You bought this home to be comfortable in it, not to spend your first month chasing a water bill, waiting for Wi-Fi, or wondering whether the insurance actually started. Get power, water, internet, trash pickup, mail, payments, coverage, and secure access settled first. Now, there's a lot to do here, but you can make it easier by downloading the Homekeepr app, and we'll build and store this for you with custom actions and insights.

The first-week setup

Get the boring-but-important stuff handled, then enjoy the place

These five groups cover most of the calls, logins, dates, and documents that new homeowners end up hunting for later. Set them once, keep the details somewhere useful, and get back to making the house feel like yours.

Setup groupConfirmKeep handy

UtilitiesElectricity, gas or fuel, water, and sewer are activeStart dates, account numbers, shutoff locations, and outage lines.

Weekly servicesInternet, trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulk pickupInstall date, router login, collection day, and local rules.

Coverage and paymentsInsurance, mortgage, escrow, taxes, and HOA or condo duesEffective dates, deductibles, due dates, claim number, and payment portal.

Address and accessMail forwarding, keys, locks, remotes, codes, and smart-home ownershipEvery person who needs access and every account that needs the new address.

Warranties and recordsBuilder, product, manufacturer, and paid service-contract coverageTransfer deadlines, claim steps, receipts, exclusions, and service fees.

A paid "home warranty" is generally a service contract, not the same thing as a builder or manufacturer warranty. Compare its coverage, exclusions, fees, and claims process before assuming it will pay for a repair. Read the FTC home-warranty guidance

First 90 days

The 30-step new homeowner checklist

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Do not try to finish all 30 in one heroic weekend. Use the timing as a sequence, move any active leak or safety issue to the front, and check things off as life allows. Your progress is saved in this browser.

A checklist that leaves with you

Email me the first-90-days PDF

Get the printable checklist, then receive Weekend Warrior each Friday: one useful plan for the home you actually own.

Days 1-3Make it yours

Turn on what you need and close the obvious gaps

Start here because a dark house, a missed trash day, an insurance gap, or a payment sent to the wrong company is both annoying and completely avoidable.

1. Transfer electricity and gas or fuel serviceMatch the service start dates to closing or move-in so you do not inherit a cold, dark gap between owners. While you have each utility on the phone, put the account in your name, confirm the billing address, ask whether automatic or paperless billing earns a discount, save the outage number, and turn on alerts.Seasoned homeowner tip: Find the meters now, not during an outage. Electric and gas meters are often outside near the service entry, though older and multifamily homes may keep them inside. For propane or heating oil, look for the prior provider's sticker, then confirm whether the tank is owned or rented before you place an order.Before closing 2. Start water and sewer serviceOpen the account, confirm the date you become responsible, and ask whether the first reading will be actual or estimated. Then find the main water shutoff. If the home has a private well or septic system, your version of this step is collecting the latest water test, pump record, permits, and service contacts.Seasoned homeowner tip: Take a timestamped photo of the water meter when you get the keys. It gives you a clean starting point if the first bill includes the seller's usage, and it can expose a quiet leak if the meter still moves while every fixture is off.Before closing 3. Set up trash, recycling, and bulk pickupFigure out who collects what, which night the bins go out, what happens on holidays, and how yard waste or a future couch gets picked up. If the seller left no carts, request them now instead of discovering the problem with a week's worth of moving trash in the garage.Seasoned homeowner tip: Ask a neighbor what actually happens on your street; they will usually give you the useful answer faster than the municipal website. Carts often belong to the town or hauler, so photograph the serial numbers before reporting one missing.Day 1 4. Schedule internet and set up the home networkBook the installation before move-in appointments fill up. Confirm the real monthly price, speed, equipment fees, return rules, and activation date, then test Wi-Fi in the rooms where you plan to work, stream, or put smart-home devices. Fast service is not useful if the signal dies in the bedroom.Seasoned homeowner tip: Find the cable line, fiber terminal, or network panel before the technician arrives, and make sure the seller closed the old account. Use a unique router password and separate guest or smart-device networks when your equipment supports them.Day 1 5. Confirm homeowners insurance is activeDo not stop at "the lender has it." Ask your agent to confirm the address, effective date, named insureds, mortgage holder, coverage limits, deductibles, major exclusions, discounts, and claim number. Coverage should begin when the ownership risk becomes yours, not when the moving truck arrives.Seasoned homeowner tip: Ask specifically about water or sump backup, service lines, ordinance or law coverage, and whether flood, earthquake, wind, or named storms need separate coverage. When someone says "covered," ask for the dollar limit and deductible. That is the part you will care about during a claim.Before closing 6. Set up mortgage, tax, and HOA paymentsPut the first mortgage date, property-tax responsibility, escrow details, HOA or condo dues, and any special assessment on one calendar. Set reminders before you trust autopay. A late fee is a frustrating way to learn that one of these accounts never finished setting up.Seasoned homeowner tip: Mortgages are often transferred to a new servicer after closing. Verify any new payment instructions using a trusted number or your closing documents, and wait for a real statement before assuming an automatic draft is active.Day 1 7. Change the address where it mattersFile official mail forwarding, then update the places that can cost you money or create identity headaches: employer, banks, cards, insurance, licenses, vehicle registration, voter registration, schools, health providers, subscriptions, and recurring deliveries.Seasoned homeowner tip: Mail forwarding is backup, not the job itself. For the next two billing cycles, keep a list of every sender still using the old address and fix it directly. Financial accounts and identity documents deserve your attention first.Day 1 8. Secure every way into the homeRekey the exterior locks and reset garage remotes, keypads, smart locks, alarm codes, gate controls, and any access once shared with contractors or prior occupants. Walk the perimeter once and test windows, side doors, basement entries, and sheds while you are already there.Seasoned homeowner tip: A locksmith can usually rekey good hardware for less than replacing every lock, and may be able to make several doors use one key. Erase every stored garage remote before adding yours; changing only the keypad code can leave an old remote active.Day 1

Use the official USPS change-of-address process, then update important organizations directly; forwarding does not update the address held by your bank, insurer, employer, or DMV. Review USPS change-of-address basics

Days 4-14Make it comfortable

Set up the routines that make the house easy to live in

This is the part that makes the place feel settled: people can get in, the Wi-Fi works, the alarms are trustworthy, the basics are where you need them, and nobody has to text you to find the water shutoff.

9. Account for every key and access itemTest the mailbox key, garage doors, gates, sheds, storage rooms, parking access, elevators, and package-entry instructions. Make the spares your household actually needs and keep track of who has them so the first lockout is inconvenient, not a crisis.Seasoned homeowner tip: Never put the street address on a spare key. Photograph odd keys and access cards, and learn the replacement process before the only mailbox key or parking fob disappears.Week 1 10. Transfer the home's connected accountsClaim the thermostat, security system, doorbell, cameras, garage opener, solar monitoring, irrigation, leak sensors, generator, and any other app-connected equipment that stays with the house. Check which subscriptions, hubs, or cellular plans are separate from the physical device.Seasoned homeowner tip: Photograph useful schedules and settings before resetting anything. The seller may have to remove a device from their account first, and changing the Wi-Fi name too early can knock the entire connected home offline at once.Week 1 11. Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarmsCheck the manufacture date on every alarm, replace missing or expired units, confirm placement, test interconnected alarms, put an appropriate extinguisher near an exit, and choose a household meeting place. This is a one-hour job that should not live on the someday list.Seasoned homeowner tip: The date on the back matters more than the battery date. Have someone stand in each sleeping area while you test so you know the alarm is actually loud enough with the doors closed.Week 1 12. Find the shutoffs and save emergency contactsYou want to know where the water shutoff and electrical panel are before water is crossing the floor or half the house loses power. Find the accessible fixture, appliance, irrigation, fuel, and well controls too, then save the utility, insurance, restoration, and local non-emergency numbers.Seasoned homeowner tip: Label what you find, but do not force a corroded valve to prove it moves. Have a plumber service a questionable water shutoff, and follow the utility's instructions before touching a gas control.Week 1 13. Build the household calendarAdd trash and recycling, bill due dates, filter changes, HOA deadlines, parking rules, school dates, deliveries, and seasonal service. The goal is not to schedule your entire life; it is to stop the house from surprising you at the least convenient time.Seasoned homeowner tip: Attach home tasks to routines you already remember: check the filter on the first trash day of the month, walk the exterior when the clocks change, and book heating or cooling service 30 to 45 days before everyone else starts calling.Week 2 14. Stock the practical home basicsBuy the boring things before you need them at 11 p.m.: toilet and sink plungers, flashlights, batteries, first-aid supplies, safety glasses, basic tools, the correct filters and bulbs, cleaning supplies, properly rated extension cords, a stable step stool, fire extinguishers, and complete smoke and carbon-monoxide alarm coverage.Seasoned homeowner tip: A flange plunger is for a toilet; a flat cup works better on a sink or tub. Keep a flashlight on each occupied level, save the HVAC filter size in your phone, and never use an extension cord as permanent wiring.Week 2 15. Create a move-in photo and video inventoryWalk every room, closet, exterior side, and mechanical area with your phone. Narrate what you see, capture existing damage and belongings, and get readable closeups of valuable items, finishes, model plates, and serial numbers. You are making evidence for future-you, not a home tour.Seasoned homeowner tip: Open cabinets and drawers, and show receipts or appraisals beside high-value items when possible. Keep the finished inventory in a secure cloud account or off-site location, then update it after major purchases.Week 2 16. Give the household a five-minute handoffWalk another adult or responsible household member to the shutoffs, panel, alarms, exits, insurance information, spare keys, pet supplies, and important records. Show them what to do first for a leak, outage, alarm, or evacuation so you are not the home's only instruction manual.Seasoned homeowner tip: Do the walk in person instead of sending a text. Keep a one-page emergency sheet inside a cabinet or utility-room door, and include one nearby contact who can enter if everyone is away.Week 2

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends smoke alarms inside and outside sleeping areas and on every level, monthly testing, and replacement at 10 years. Local requirements may be stricter. Review USFA smoke-alarm guidance

Homekeepr app home screen showing a personalized home plan, maintenance tasks, and household systems — **Real Homekeepr product example.** We can walk you through a custom plan for your house in the Homekeepr app. Otherwise, this checklist is a great way to DIY the details of your home as a new homeowner.

Days 15-30Keep the proof

Save the information that keeps you from paying twice

Warranties, model numbers, service history, and the name of the person who already knows the boiler can save real money. Pull that information out of the moving boxes before you need it on a bad day.

17. Review every warranty and service contractSeparate builder coverage, manufacturer warranties, installer guarantees, roof coverage, and any paid home-service plan. Save the provider, number, dates, exclusions, service fee, maintenance rules, claim steps, and proof required. This is how you avoid paying cash for something that was already covered.Seasoned homeowner tip: Some transferable warranties must be registered within 30 to 90 days of the sale. A service plan may also require authorization before you choose a contractor, so learn the claim process now and keep the maintenance receipts it may demand later.By day 15 18. Gather the documents that explain the housePull together the inspection, disclosures, survey, permits, manuals, warranties, invoices, paint notes, renovation records, and contractor contacts. File them by the part of the house they explain so a roof, plumbing, paint, appliance, or insurance question has one obvious place to start.Seasoned homeowner tip: Filing by system beats filing by date. Make searchable scans and an encrypted backup, but keep originals such as the survey, permits, title documents, and closing disclosure.By day 21 19. Photograph the model and serial platesFor the HVAC, water heater, major appliances, sump pump, generator, and other important equipment, take one photo showing where it lives and one closeup of the full label. The model, serial number, manufacture date, and fuel or electrical details are what get you the right manual, filter, part, or service call.Seasoned homeowner tip: Check every number before trusting photo search; a zero mistaken for the letter O can send you to the wrong manual or part. Use a flashlight or phone zoom, but never remove a guard or open energized equipment just to reach a label.By day 21 20. Decide which existing service providers to keepAsk the seller who serviced the HVAC, plumbing, electrical, pest, lawn, pool, chimney, irrigation, septic, well, generator, and anything else recurring. A company that already knows the property can save diagnostic time, but you still want the invoices, dates, and notes before you decide to keep them.Seasoned homeowner tip: Familiarity with the house is useful, not a lifetime contract. Get the full record, verify current licensing and insurance where appropriate, and compare the scope and price before renewing a plan.By day 21 21. Learn the heating, cooling, and hot-water controlsSet a comfortable thermostat schedule, identify the zones, photograph the HVAC filter size and airflow direction, and record the water heater's fuel, age, control, and shutoff. You do not need to master the equipment; you need to know the normal settings and where the manual is before you change anything.Seasoned homeowner tip: The arrow on a filter points toward the blower or air handler, not toward the room. Buy two in the correct size, and do not assume a higher MERV number is always better; too much restriction can reduce airflow.By day 30 22. Check the daily-use water and laundry pointsLook under sinks, around toilets, behind accessible appliances, and at supply hoses for moisture, corrosion, or old staining. Then confirm the dryer vents outdoors, the duct is not crushed, and the exterior hood opens while it runs. Small leaks and poor dryer airflow are cheap to catch early and expensive to ignore.Seasoned homeowner tip: A dry paper towel finds tiny leaks better than a glance. With every fixture off, see whether the water meter still moves. Date new supply hoses, and keep fine mesh off the dryer outlet because it traps lint.By day 30 23. Build the first-month cost baselineSave the first utility bills and meter readings, then list the mortgage, insurance, HOA, internet, waste service, subscriptions, fuel delivery, and expected maintenance. Divide annual or seasonal costs by 12 so irregular bills do not masquerade as surprises later.Seasoned homeowner tip: Ask the utility or seller for 12 months of past usage when available. Use it as context, not a promise; weather, rates, occupancy, thermostat habits, and electric vehicles can make your bills look very different.By day 30

Keep the policy declarations page with the claim number and a home inventory. The NAIC notes that it identifies the insured property, policy dates, coverages, limits, premium, discounts, and mortgage holder. Review the NAIC homeowners-policy guide

Days 31-90Get ahead

Learn the few things that could surprise you later

By now you have lived in the house long enough to notice what the inspection could not tell you. Use the report, your first bills, and a few weeks of real life to choose the small number of issues worth your money or attention.

24. Turn the inspection report into a short action listDo not let a 70-page report convince you that 70 things are urgent. Sort findings into: handle now, schedule soon, and watch or improve later. Put safety, active damage, and inexpensive prevention first, then give each real priority one owner, due date, photo, and next step.Seasoned homeowner tip: An inspection is a set of observations, not a repair estimate. For a major item, ask the right specialist to confirm the cause, options, and price before paying someone to fix the report's wording instead of the actual problem.By day 45 25. Walk the property after rain and windA dry walkthrough cannot show you where the water really goes. From safe ground, watch for overflowing gutters, short downspouts, runoff toward the foundation, blocked drains, moving branches, and changes around siding, doors, or windows. Photograph anything that deserves a professional look.Seasoned homeowner tip: Recheck the basement or crawlspace within 24 hours and photograph the same trouble spots after future storms. Stay off wet ladders and roofs, and stay out of standing water.By day 45 26. Establish the baseline for special systemsIf your home has a sump pump, well, septic system, generator, solar, chimney, pool, irrigation, or other special equipment, learn just five things: what normal looks like, what it consumes, when it needs service, where the control is, and who to call.Seasoned homeowner tip: Record normal pressure readings, indicator lights, startup sounds, fuel levels, or pump cycles while everything works. Test backup equipment only as the manual directs, and leave electrical, fuel, confined-space, and contamination risks to a qualified provider.By day 60 27. Test for radonThis is easy to postpone because you cannot see or smell it. Use an EPA-recognized method in the lowest level that is or could be regularly occupied, follow the placement and timing instructions exactly, and confirm an elevated result with a qualified radon professional.Seasoned homeowner tip: New homes and houses without basements can still test high. Keep the device away from kitchens, bathrooms, exterior doors, windows, fans, and direct sunlight, and do not move it halfway through.By day 60 28. Build the seasonal maintenance calendarChoose only the tasks your climate and equipment actually need: filters, drainage, freeze protection, cooling startup, storm preparation, irrigation, chimney, well, septic, generator, or second-home shutdown. Add the month, supplies, responsible person, and service contact so each reminder already knows what "done" means.Seasoned homeowner tip: Schedule by lead time, not just the due date. Heating, cooling, chimney, irrigation, and generator companies can book 30 to 45 days before peak season, so call before everyone else remembers.By day 75 29. Set a monthly home-maintenance reserveStart with known annual service, then add the near-term needs suggested by the roof, HVAC, water heater, appliances, exterior, and special systems. Use local estimates and keep this planning money separate from the emergency cushion you may need for a deductible or true surprise.Seasoned homeowner tip: The one-percent rule is a rough placeholder, not a budget for your house. Set an automatic transfer, update it after real quotes and the first year of bills, and raise it when a major system enters its likely replacement window.By day 90 30. Put the house into Homekeepr and choose the next three actionsStart the Homegraph with the information you would hate to search for under pressure: water shutoff, HVAC filter, water heater, insurance, and any sump pump, well, septic, generator, or other critical system. Add manuals and service history, then pick only the next three actions.Seasoned homeowner tip: A plan becomes noise when everything is urgent. Keep three actions in focus and add details whenever you buy a filter, call a contractor, or touch a system. The record should grow naturally as you enjoy and care for the home.Day 90

Need a backup plan for basement water? Compare real flow, battery, alerts, and installation fit in Homekeepr Recommends: battery backup sump pumps

Once the house is organized, make severe weather part of the calendar with the Homekeepr severe-storm preparation checklist

Because radon cannot be seen or smelled, follow the test instructions carefully and confirm an elevated result before deciding what to do next. Review EPA radon guidance

A maintenance reserve built for this house

Build a maintenance budget around your house, not a generic rule

The one-percent rule is easy to repeat, but it has never seen your roof, HVAC, septic system, or local labor rates. Use the equipment and condition you now understand to build a reserve that is useful for your home.

A useful monthly planning number has three parts

Known annual maintenance / 12 plus near-term replacement estimates / months remaining, while preserving a separate emergency cushion for surprises. Use local quotes and current condition, not a national average presented as a promise.

Reserve inputWhat to collectHow to use it

Predictable serviceAnnual or seasonal quotesDivide the expected yearly total by 12.

Near-term systemsCondition, age, and local replacement estimatePlan over the realistic decision window, updating after each inspection or repair.

Unknown failuresA separate emergency cushionKeep liquid enough for an urgent deductible, repair, or temporary housing need.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends including maintenance, repairs, utilities, and an emergency cushion when deciding what homeownership costs you can carry. Read the CFPB home-budget guidance

New homeowner FAQ

What new homeowners ask after closing

01

What should I do first after buying a house?

Confirm electricity, fuel, water, sewer, insurance, internet, trash pickup, payment accounts, address changes, and secure access. Get daily life comfortable and protected before starting projects.

02

Which services should be set up before moving day?

Arrange electricity, gas or delivered fuel, water and sewer, internet, homeowners insurance, and any local trash or recycling account that does not transfer automatically.

03

Is a home warranty the same as a builder or product warranty?

No. A paid home warranty is generally a service contract. Builder and manufacturer warranties cover different promises. Record each provider, term, exclusion, fee, transfer deadline, and claim process separately.

04

How much should I save for home maintenance?

Start with actual annual service plus near-term replacement needs based on condition, local estimates, and time remaining. Review it every year and keep a separate emergency cushion. If you need a number to work from, take the Homekeepr quiz here.

05

Do I need to fix everything in the inspection report?

No. Move life-safety issues, active damage, and low-cost prevention to the front. Give each one a next action, then keep comfort and cosmetic work in a separate queue.

06

What if my first 90 days already passed?

Start now. Handle utilities, services, coverage, address changes, and access first, then work through the rest in order. The shortcut still works even if the calendar got away from you.

New homeowner checklist: 30 things to do in your first 90 days