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The First-Year Homeowner Maintenance Checklist
Nobody hands you a manual when you buy a house. This is the manual — everything worth doing in year one, grouped by when it actually needs to happen. Bookmark this page or save it to your notes app.
Week One
- Locate the main water shutoff valve and label it clearly
- Locate the electrical panel and label each breaker
- Locate the gas shutoff valve, if your home has gas service
- Change or rekey exterior door locks
- Test every smoke and carbon monoxide detector, and replace batteries
- Write down the brand, model, and age of major systems: water heater, HVAC, roof
First 90 Days
- Change the HVAC filter and note the size for reordering
- Check under every sink and around every toilet for leaks
- Inspect caulking around tubs, showers, and windows
- Locate and test the sump pump, if you have one
- Find the irrigation or sprinkler shutoff location
- Save manuals and warranty information for major appliances
Every 3 to 6 Months
- Change the HVAC filter again
- Re-test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Inspect the water heater for leaks, rust, or unusual noises
- Walk the exterior for cracks, peeling paint, or signs of pests
Once a Year
- Schedule a professional HVAC tune-up: air conditioning in spring, heating in fall
- Clean gutters and downspouts, ideally in both spring and fall
- Flush sediment from the water heater
- Inspect the roof for damage or missing shingles
- Reseal exterior caulking wherever it has cracked or shrunk
- Review the year's repairs and maintenance spending
Skip the spreadsheet
Halemere turns this checklist into a schedule built around your actual home — your equipment, your systems, your timeline — and reminds you before anything is due.
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