Essential Checklist for First-Time Home Buyers

Congratulations, you're a first-time homeowner! As you've likely already learned, owning a home can be a big responsibility. You've already navigated the hard part and made it through the home-buying process, but now it's time to move on to the next steps. Many new homeowners don't realize how much work goes into maintaining a house, but we're here to help. We've put together a list of 12 tips for new homeowners, from rekeying or changing locks to preparing for emergencies. 

#1: Deep Clean Before Moving In

This may not be possible in all situations, but if you can, deep clean the home before moving your belongings in. You'll have access to all the hard-to-reach spaces and areas that may be obstructed after you move in your furniture. 

Related: Check out this list of things you didn't know you needed to clean.

#2: Re-key or Change the Locks

Re-keying the locks is great first-time homeowner advice to help keep your new home safe and secure. You never know how many keys the old owners gave out, and you'll want to have the added security of new locks when you start moving your belongings into your home. If you have a First American home warranty as part of your new home purchase, Re-key Service is a member benefit you can use right after you close.

If you’re looking for an upgrade in security, style, or both, consider changing the locks entirely. This involves changing all the hardware and can be more expensive. But if you’re renovating or want to refresh the look of your doors, changing out locks altogether can be a good option.

#3: Meet Your Neighbors

It may sound a little old-school, but when you move into a new neighborhood, it's a great idea to meet your neighbors. They can offer insights into the area and be great connections to form a sense of community. They may have tips for first-time homeowners in the area you hadn't even thought of yet. 

#4: Make a Budget

If you've recently bought a home, you're likely familiar with budgeting. It takes a lot to save and scrounge for that down payment! But now it's time to make a new budget and stick to it. Set aside as much as you can each month for a financial buffer while maintaining the quality of life you'd like. Sometimes, you may need to make financial sacrifices to set aside funds for home maintenance, emergencies, or other home expenses. 

First-time homeowner advice: A home warranty from First American lets you pay a set amount monthly or yearly to cover unexpected appliance and system breakdowns in your home. You'll only pay a service call fee for covered repairs and replacements — which can be a big help to your budget. 

#5: Prepare for Emergencies 

Setting aside funds for unforeseen events is a great place to start your emergency preparedness. This can be challenging for a first-time homeowner since buying the home is a large expense. Here are a few other things you should do to prepare, just in case: 

• Buy a fire extinguisher for your home 
• Locate your home's shutoff valves
• Keep emergency phone numbers handy 
• Make and practice a plan for natural disasters

#6: Organize Paperwork

If you don't already have a filing system, it's time to start one! Keep any paperwork like appliance warranties, HVAC warranties, and other documents in an easy-to-access location. Inspections, insurance documents, maintenance and repair services, and tax paperwork should be filed safely away in an organized manner. 

#7: Find a Repair Person

While those appliance warranties may come in handy for some issues, it's a good idea to know a handyman or repair person to call if you need repairs on your home. As a first-time homeowner, you may not know of a reputable repair person yet. Ask around the neighborhood or see if friends and family can recommend anyone — or if you're new to the area, your real estate agent is a great resource. You can also check online reviews for the recommended repair person.

Tips for first-time homeowners: Having a home warranty means having a repair person on hand so you can skip the tedious searching. First American works with a network of prescreened technicians to save you the hassle. 

#8: Set a Maintenance Schedule

When it comes to regular cleaning and maintenance, here are a few of the most important tasks and how often you should complete them: 

Monthly Tasks: 

• Clean your garbage disposal
• Clean air return vents
• Deep clean bathrooms and kitchen
• Clean water fixtures to remove deposits 
• Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors 

Quarterly Tasks (Every 3 to 4 Months)

• Replace HVAC Air Filters
• Clean and wipe down baseboards 
• Check dryer vents
• Clean washer and clean dishwasher 

Seasonal Tasks

For help keeping up with seasonal maintenance and some fun seasonal family activities, check out our checklists:

Spring Maintenance Checklist

Summer Maintenance Checklist

Fall Maintenance Checklist

Winter Maintenance Checklist

#9 Prioritize Improvements

Complete improvements based on their impact on your quality of life. Improving the safety of the home — whether that means updating stair railings to current code, installing security systems, or hiring an electrician — likely will be high on the list of tips for first-time homeowners. Cosmetic projects like painting, remodeling, or installing a new front door may come next.

#10 Get an Energy Audit

An energy audit will help you determine how much energy your home uses. These results may lead you to investigate upgrades to the home's efficiency — which may even score you a tax credit! 

#11 Prep for Taxes

Filing your taxes as a first-time homeowner can be a big change from what you're used to. You'll need to keep track of the following, as these expenses may be eligible for tax deductions: 

• Mortgage interest paid
• Mortgage points paid
• State and local property taxes
• Home-business expenses
• Energy-efficient upgrades
• First-time homeowner tax credits (Check with your tax professional to see if any are available at the time of your home purchase and/or in your state or local area.)

Read more about the tax benefits of owning a home. 

#12 Get a Home Warranty

What if we told you there's one piece of first-time homeowner advice that can help you find a repair person, budget for appliance and system failures, and more? A home warranty can help with a lot of items on your new homeowner checklist. When you have a home warranty from First American, membership includes the repair and replacement of covered appliances and systems. But it doesn't stop there — you can also get plans with bi-annual HVAC tune-ups and enjoy member benefits discounts on handyman services through our trusted partners, discounts on buying new appliances from several major brands, and more. 

Ready to get a free home warranty quote? It only takes a few minutes to learn more about First American plans. 

FAQs About Buying Your First Home

Does a home warranty transfer to a new owner? 

A seller's home warranty is the only warranty that is transferrable to the buyer. This coverage can help protect new homeowners from the high costs of repairing or replacing appliances and systems in the first year of homeownership. 

Do you need owner's title insurance on a new home? 

Having owner's title insurance on your new home is a good idea. Most lenders require it. Owner's title insurance protects you from claims made on your home or property before you owned it.

The contents of this article are provided for general guidance only. First American Home Warranty does not assume any responsibility for losses or damages as a result of using this information.