New house move-in checklist
Updated August 2026
The first week in a new house has five jobs to finish before the boxes are unpacked: change every exterior lock, test every smoke and CO alarm and drop in fresh batteries, find and label the water and gas shutoffs and the breaker panel, swap the HVAC filters (the last owner's are always overdue), and write down the make, model, age, and serial of every major system. Do the deep-clean and a leak check while the rooms are still empty, because it is the only time you will see behind everything. From there, roll into the ongoing home checklist.
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Rekey or replace every exterior lock and garage code | Day 1 | $75–200 · DIY/pro |
| Test all smoke and CO alarms; replace batteries | Day 1 | 20 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Find and label the main water and gas shutoffs | Week 1 | 20 min · DIY |
| Map the breaker panel to each room and circuit | Week 1 | 45 min · DIY |
| Change every HVAC filter and note the size | Week 1 | 15 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Deep-clean, then check under sinks and toilets for leaks | Week 1 | 2 hours · DIY |
| Record make, model, age, and serial of each system | Week 1 | 1 hour · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Build a recurring filter, gutter, and tune-up schedule | Ongoing | 30 min setup |
What neglect costs
Skipping the first week is how new owners inherit the last owner's problems. Not rekeying means every past tenant, contractor, and dog-sitter still holds a key, when a locksmith rekey is only $75–200. A neglected filter can already be choking the HVAC and starting the coil-freeze that costs $200–600 to clear. And not knowing where the water shutoff is turns a burst supply line into thousands in damage instead of a quick twist of a valve. A handful of $15–30 water-leak sensors under the water heater and washer add a second layer for almost nothing.
Leave these to a pro
Two first-week jobs are worth a pro. A locksmith rekeys the whole house to one new key for $75–200, cheaper and faster than buying and hanging new hardware everywhere. And if the inspection flagged the HVAC, water heater, or electrical, book the relevant tech now to learn the real condition and remaining life, since an HVAC tune-up runs $80–200 and tells you what you actually bought. Everything else on the list, shutoffs, filters, alarms, and cleaning, is DIY and free beyond the cost of filters and batteries.
This whole checklist ships as reminders in OnOtto: every task above, on the right schedule for your home, snooze-proof.
Load this checklist as remindersFrequently asked questions
What should I do first when moving into a new house?
Before anything else, change the locks and test every smoke and CO alarm, then find the main water shutoff, the gas shutoff, and the breaker panel. You do not know who still has a key, and you need to be able to kill the water or power in an emergency from day one. Then change the HVAC filters and, while the house is empty, deep-clean and check for leaks. These few tasks make the home secure, safe, and known before the furniture arrives.
Should I change the locks on a house I just bought?
Yes, on day one. The sellers, their agent, past contractors, cleaners, and anyone they gave a spare to may still have working keys, and you have no way to know. Rekeying the existing locks to a single new key costs about $75–200 through a locksmith, or you can rekey compatible cylinders yourself with a kit for less. Do the same for the garage door code and any smart locks. It is the cheapest security upgrade you will ever make.
What home systems should I document when I move in?
Record the make, model, age, and serial number of the furnace, AC or heat pump, water heater, roof, and major appliances, plus filter sizes and paint colors. Photograph the data plates and file them with your inspection report. Knowing a water heater is already eleven years old or a furnace is eighteen lets you budget for replacement instead of being surprised. This one-hour inventory becomes the backbone of your maintenance schedule and a handy record for warranty or resale.
How soon should I set up a maintenance schedule?
In the first week or two, while the house is fresh in mind. Put the recurring jobs on a calendar: HVAC filters every 30–90 days, gutters spring and fall, a water-heater flush and HVAC tune-up yearly, and alarm-battery swaps annually. Anchor them to the system ages you just recorded so aging equipment gets closer attention. Setting it up once, on autopilot, is the difference between maintenance that happens and good intentions that quietly lapse into expensive repairs.