What should new homeowners do first?

Find the water main shutoff. Then the gas shutoff. Then the breaker panel. Then locate every fixture shutoff under sinks and behind toilets. Ninety percent of expensive first-year surprises get smaller if you can shut something off in under 60 seconds.

How much should new homeowners budget for maintenance?

Plan for 2–4% of the purchase price in year one, higher than the long-term average, because you'll surface deferred maintenance the seller didn't handle. Roof issues, HVAC service backlogs, plumbing that hasn't been inspected in a decade, exterior caulking that failed two winters ago. It smooths out after year one.

Is a home warranty worth it for a new homeowner?

Sometimes, but a warranty only pays out after something fails. A maintenance membership prevents the failures in the first place, and includes the tune-ups a warranty typically excludes. Many Austin homeowners run both for the first year, then drop the warranty once the reserve fund is healthy.

What's the biggest mistake new homeowners make?

Waiting for something to break before they think about the system that broke. The pattern is: something fails, you spend a weekend researching, you overpay for an emergency visit, you promise yourself you'll be proactive next time. A checklist and a calendar break that loop on the first cycle, not the third.

Guide · New homeowners

The New Homeowner's Maintenance Checklist (First Year)

Updated July 2026 · 5 min read

The first year of homeownership sets the pattern for the next twenty. Do it well and maintenance feels boring for a decade. Do it reactively and you'll pay for the same lessons twice. Here's what to do in the first 30 days, 90 days, and 12 months, plus how to hand the ongoing work off to a system. For the long-term rhythm, see our Austin home maintenance schedule pillar guide.

First 30 days

Learn the house before anything breaks.

✓Locate and label every shutoff valve: main water, individual fixtures, gas main, electrical panel main.
✓Read every appliance and HVAC label; write serial numbers and install dates into one document.
✓Test every smoke and CO detector; replace any that don't have a manufacture date on the back.
✓Change every exterior lock; walk the whole perimeter with a flashlight after dark.
✓Note the age of the roof, water heater, and HVAC, these are your top three future expenses.

First 90 days

Set up the systems that keep the house healthy.

✓Set a monthly HVAC filter reminder; buy 6–12 filters up front to remove the excuse.
✓Book the first HVAC tune-up (spring cooling or fall heating, whichever is closer).
✓Clean the gutters and dryer vent, both are unknowns until you look.
✓Deep-clean the water heater with a flush; note the anode condition.
✓Photograph every wall from every corner, this is your baseline for spotting future settlement.

First 12 months

Complete a full year of preventative care.

✓Execute one full seasonal maintenance pass in each of the four seasons.
✓Get the roof inspected once, especially if it's older than 10 years.
✓Have a plumber do a full inspection, shutoffs, supply lines, water heater, hose bibs.
✓Reseal exterior caulking around windows, doors, and penetrations.
✓Review your homeowner's insurance policy against actual home value and rebuild cost.
✓Build a service folder with every receipt and technician report from year one.

Just bought a home in Austin?

We start every new membership with a full home walkthrough, an inventory of every system, and a first-year plan tailored to your house. Then we run it.

See plans How to build a maintenance plan

FAQ

What should new homeowners do first?: Find the water main shutoff. Then the gas shutoff. Then the breaker panel. Then locate every fixture shutoff under sinks and behind toilets. Ninety percent of expensive first-year surprises get smaller if you can shut something off in under 60 seconds.
How much should new homeowners budget for maintenance?: Plan for 2–4% of the purchase price in year one, higher than the long-term average, because you'll surface deferred maintenance the seller didn't handle. Roof issues, HVAC service backlogs, plumbing that hasn't been inspected in a decade, exterior caulking that failed two winters ago. It smooths out after year one.
Is a home warranty worth it for a new homeowner?: Sometimes, but a warranty only pays out after something fails. A maintenance membership prevents the failures in the first place, and includes the tune-ups a warranty typically excludes. Many Austin homeowners run both for the first year, then drop the warranty once the reserve fund is healthy.
What's the biggest mistake new homeowners make?: Waiting for something to break before they think about the system that broke. The pattern is: something fails, you spend a weekend researching, you overpay for an emergency visit, you promise yourself you'll be proactive next time. A checklist and a calendar break that loop on the first cycle, not the third.