Moving into a new home: the maintenance checks to do in the first week

In the first week in a new home, locate the water, gas and electricity shut-offs, test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm and the circuit breaker, look for leaks and damp, and write down the age and last service of the main appliances. None of this needs tools or expertise, and it gives you a baseline: if something goes wrong in six months, you will know what the home was like when you arrived. Do the safety checks first, the comfort checks second.

Day 1: know how to switch things off

When a pipe bursts, you want to know where to turn off the water in seconds, not after twenty minutes of searching.

• Main water shut-off. Often near the meter, under the kitchen sink or where the pipe enters the home. Turn it off and on once to check it moves freely. Mark it with a label.
• Gas shut-off. At the meter or at the appliance. Learn where it is. Do not touch or adjust gas installations yourself.
• Electrical panel. Find the main switch and see whether the circuits are labelled. Label them if not.
• Appliance valves. Washing machine, dishwasher and water heater usually have their own taps.

Take a photo of each one and keep them in your phone. In a shared building, ask the building manager which shut-offs are common and which are yours.

Day 1-2: alarms and safety

• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Press the test button on each and note if any is missing. Check the manufacture date on the unit, and replace the batteries on day one so you know when they were last changed. Smoke detector batteries are an annual job.
• Fire extinguisher. If there is one, look at the gauge or the label for the date and where it is kept.
• Circuit breaker (RCD). Press its test button. It should trip. Reset it afterwards. If it does not trip, ask an electrician to look at it.
• Gas appliances and hoses. Look at the condition and the date printed on the flexible hose, if there is one. If you smell gas, leave, open the windows and call the gas emergency number. If something looks old or damaged, have a licensed professional replace it.

More on this routine in the home safety check.

Day 3: water and damp

Water damage is the most expensive surprise in a home, and the cheapest to spot early.

1. Look under every sink and behind the toilet for stains, drips or a musty smell.
2. Check the toilet tank: put a few drops of food colouring in the tank and see if colour appears in the bowl after 15 minutes without flushing.
3. Look for damp on ceilings and in corners, and for peeling paint or bubbled plaster. Note anything you find with a photo.
4. Run all taps and the shower and check the pressure and the drainage.
5. Look at the silicone around the bath and shower for gaps or black marks.

Our guide on preventing water damage goes further. If you rent, tell the landlord about anything you find in writing and with photos during the first days, so the problem is on record before it becomes your responsibility to explain. Who pays varies by country and lease: see renting: what is yours.

Day 4: the appliances you inherit

Open every appliance that came with the home and write down:

• the brand, the model and the age, if the label shows it;
• when it was last serviced, if the previous owner or landlord knows;
• where the manual is, or find it online;
• the filters you will need to clean: washing machine, dishwasher, range hood, air conditioner.

Ask the previous owner, the agent or the landlord for any records of the water heater, the heating and the chimney, if there is one. The water heater in particular is often forgotten.

Day 5-7: the locks, the outside and the first clean

• Locks and keys. Consider changing or re-keying the locks of a home you bought or a flat where the previous tenant could keep a key. Ask the landlord first if you rent.
• Windows and doors. Check that they close, lock and seal.
• Outside. On a house, look at the gutters, the roof and the walls from the ground. See the first-time homeowner checklist.
• A first clean. Even a clean home deserves one: the oven, the fridge, the bathroom and the inside of cabinets.

Start the calendar now

The first week gives you a list. The next step is turning it into dates, because a home you understand and then forget gets neglected anyway. HouseKiper lets you pick your home type and set up the recurring tasks in minutes, with reminders based on how often each one is needed. See the complete checklist to know where to start.

What should I check first in a new home?

The shut-offs for water, gas and electricity, the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and the circuit breaker. They are about safety and about being ready for a problem.

Should I change the locks when I move in?

For a home you have bought, it is a common precaution. In a rental, ask the landlord first. In both cases the aim is to know who has keys.

How do I check for hidden leaks?

Look under sinks and behind the toilet, test the toilet tank with a few drops of colouring and check for stains, damp or musty smells on walls and ceilings. If you have doubts, ask a plumber.

What should I ask the previous owner or landlord?

Manuals and warranties, the last service of the water heater and heating, and where the shut-offs are.