Moving Into Your First Home Checklist
Work through it in order; most of week one costs almost nothing.
The keys arrive and the process suddenly has no structure. This checklist gives the first weeks a sensible order: safety first, systems second, comfort third.
Nothing here is urgent enough to justify spending money you no longer have. The best first month is a cheap one.
Before move day
Week one: safety
Do these before decorating anything.
Week one: systems and baselines
Clean before you fill the rooms
- Deep-clean floors, cabinets and bathrooms while the house is empty.
- Clean inside appliances that conveyed.
- Replace toilet seats and shower heads if that matters to you — cheap, immediate.
- Check for pests in cabinets, basement, attic and garage.
- Handle any painting before furniture arrives, not after.
The first 90 days
Use the inspection report as your work list. It is already prioritized by a professional who saw the house.
Common mistakes
- Renovating in month one, before you know how you use the house.
- Skipping the lock rekey.
- Never finding the water shutoff until there is water on the floor.
- Losing the inspection report instead of using it as a plan.
- Spending the last of your reserves on furniture.
- Forgetting to record meter readings and appliance details.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first after moving into a new house?
Safety and orientation: rekey the locks, find the water shutoff and electrical panel, test smoke and CO detectors, and change the HVAC filter. All of it is cheap and fast.
Should I renovate right after moving in?
Doing structural or layout work before living through a season is a common regret. Urgent safety and moisture issues are the exception.
How do I know what maintenance my home needs?
Start with the inspection report and the ages of the major systems, then build a seasonal calendar around them. Needs vary by climate, home age and construction.
What should I keep from the purchase?
Closing documents, the settlement statement, the inspection and any specialist reports, warranties, manuals, permits and service records — all in one place.