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Moving In5 min read
First 30 Days in Your New Home: What to Check and Fix
The boxes aren't even unpacked yet — but a few of these are worth doing before they are.
Week one: safety basics
- Re-key or replace exterior locks if you haven't already.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries.
- Locate the main water shutoff, gas shutoff, and breaker panel — and label the panel if it isn't.
- Program a local emergency contact list (nearest hospital, an electrician, a plumber) somewhere everyone in the house can find it.
First two weeks: systems and utilities
- Replace the HVAC filter and note the filter size for future replacements.
- Check the water heater's age and set a reminder for its expected replacement window.
- Locate and test the sump pump, if the home has one, before the first heavy rain.
By day 30: settling-in admin
- Confirm your address is updated everywhere that matters — mail forwarding, driver's license, voter registration, banks, subscriptions.
- Set up (or confirm) homeowner's insurance is actually active, not just quoted.
- Walk the yard and exterior once more without moving stress clouding the view — anything from the inspection worth revisiting now that you actually live there?
This is the first-30-days phase of our free moving checklist — pick up your full move timeline from wherever you are.
Keep going with the full checklist