Moving Into a New House Checklist: First-Week Safety and Systems

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The first days in a new home are a blur of boxes, utility accounts and figuring out which light switch does what. It is also the best window to learn how the house works and to take care of a handful of safety tasks before life fills up the calendar. This moving into new house checklist focuses on the items that protect people and the property: knowing where to shut off water, power and gas, securing the locks, confirming that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work, testing for radon, and setting up basic maintenance. It also covers how to follow up on your inspection report so that items flagged before closing do not get forgotten. Most of these steps take minutes. A few are best left to a licensed professional, and those are noted along the way. Front Range homeowners will find a few Colorado-specific notes, especially about radon and winter freeze risk.

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First-Day Priorities: Shutoffs, Power and Locks

Before unpacking the kitchen, walk the house with a flashlight and find the three controls that matter most in an emergency. Label each one and make sure every adult in the household knows where they are.

Main water shutoff

A burst supply line or failed washing machine hose can release a lot of water quickly. Knowing where the main valve is, and confirming it actually turns, is one of the most useful things a new owner can do on day one. In many Front Range homes the main shutoff sits in the basement or crawl space where the water line enters through the foundation wall, often near the water heater or meter. Some homes also have a curb stop near the street that the water utility controls. Our guide to the main water shut-off valve covers valve types, how to tell if a valve is seized, and why forcing an old gate valve can cause a leak.

Electrical panel and breakers

Locate the main electrical panel, usually in the garage, basement or a utility room, and check whether the circuit directory is labeled. Many are blank, outdated or written in faded pencil. Spending an hour with a helper flipping breakers and noting which rooms lose power pays off the first time a circuit trips. Do not remove the panel cover; that is a job for an electrician. If you notice scorch marks, a burning smell, buzzing or breakers that feel hot, have an electrician evaluate the panel promptly.

Gas shutoff

If the home has natural gas service, the main shutoff is typically at the meter outside, and individual appliances such as the furnace, water heater and range usually have their own shutoff valves nearby. Gas utilities generally advise that if you smell gas, you should leave the home first and call the utility or 911 from a safe distance rather than trying to find the source. Once the main gas valve has been closed, only the utility or a qualified technician should turn it back on and relight pilot lights.

Change or rekey the locks

Previous owners, contractors, real estate agents, dog walkers and neighbors may all have had keys. Rekeying exterior locks is usually less expensive than replacing the hardware and gives you confidence that only your household has access. Reset garage door opener codes, change keypad and smart-lock codes, and update any security system accounts.

Smoke Alarms, CO Alarms and Radon

Smoke alarms

Test every smoke alarm in the house on move-in day. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends testing smoke alarms monthly and replacing the entire alarm every 10 years. For alarms powered by a 9-volt battery, and for hardwired alarms with a backup battery, USFA advises replacing the battery at least once a year. Check the manufacture date printed on the back of each alarm; if it is more than 10 years old or missing, replace it. Placement matters as well. Our guide to smoke detector placement explains where alarms belong on each level, inside and outside sleeping areas, and where to avoid installing them.

Carbon monoxide alarms

Any home with a gas furnace, gas water heater, fireplace, gas range or attached garage should have working CO alarms. The CDC recommends installing battery-operated or battery backup CO detectors near every sleeping area, checking the batteries when clocks change each spring and fall, and replacing the detector according to manufacturer instructions or every five years. Older plug-in units left by a previous owner may be past their service life. If you are shopping for new units, see our roundup of the best carbon monoxide detectors.

The CDC also recommends having the heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year. If the seller cannot document recent furnace service, scheduling a tune-up before the heating season is a sensible early task.

Radon testing in Colorado

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that you cannot see or smell. EPA states that testing is the only way to know your level of exposure and that all homes should be tested. Elevated radon is common in many Colorado counties, including much of the Front Range, so a test in the first weeks is worthwhile even if the home was tested during the sale. Results can change after renovations, after a mitigation system is altered or simply from season to season.

If the purchase included a radon test, keep the report with your closing documents. If a mitigation system is already installed, find the fan (usually in the attic, garage or outside), confirm it is running, and check the U-tube manometer on the vent pipe for a reading. Our radon testing guide for Colorado homeowners explains short-term and long-term tests, what results mean and how mitigation works.

The First-Week Moving Into New House Checklist

Use this table as a working list. Most tasks are do-it-yourself; those marked for a professional usually involve gas, electrical or work beyond routine homeowner maintenance.

Systems to Service in the First Few Weeks

Replace the HVAC filter

Nobody knows how long the current furnace filter has been in place, and moving day stirs up a lot of dust. Swap in a fresh filter of the correct size, note the size for future purchases, and set a recurring reminder. Our guide to furnace filter replacement covers MERV ratings, airflow direction and how often to change filters in homes with pets or during wildfire smoke events.

Set the water heater temperature

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges users to lower water heaters to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent tap water scalds, noting that the majority of tap water scald injuries and deaths involve older adults and children under five. CPSC’s guidance says burns can occur with a six-second exposure to 140-degree water or a thirty-second exposure to 130-degree water. To check the temperature, CPSC suggests holding a candy or meat thermometer under a faucet, ideally first thing in the morning or at least two hours after hot water use.

For electric water heaters, CPSC describes shutting off power at the circuit breaker before removing access panels, and notes that most units have two thermostats that should be set to a common temperature. For gas models, it suggests contacting the gas company for instructions because thermostats differ. If you are not comfortable working near electrical components, a plumber can make the adjustment. While you are there, check the date on the unit’s label and the condition of the temperature and pressure relief valve discharge pipe; a sediment flush may also be due, as covered in our water heater flush guide.

Clean the dryer vent

Lint buildup in a dryer duct restricts airflow, makes drying slower and can create a fire hazard. When moving in, pull the dryer away from the wall, check the duct connection, and look at the exterior hood to confirm the flap opens freely. Flexible foil or vinyl transition ducts that are crushed or kinked should be replaced with a suitable rigid or semi-rigid duct. Long or complicated duct runs may need professional cleaning. Our guide to dryer vent cleaning walks through the process.

Test GFCI outlets

Ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets protect against shock in wet locations. Press the TEST button on each GFCI in the kitchen, bathrooms, garage, laundry area, unfinished basement and exterior; the outlet should cut power, and RESET should restore it. Remember that one GFCI can protect several downstream outlets, which is why a “dead” bathroom outlet is often fixed by resetting a GFCI in the garage or another bathroom. If a GFCI will not trip or reset, see our troubleshooting guide for a GFCI outlet not working and consider calling an electrician.

Winter readiness on the Front Range

If you move in during fall or winter, disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets, confirm that frost-free sillcocks drain properly and find any separate shutoffs for exterior lines. Ask whether the sprinkler system was blown out. Freeze damage to irrigation backflow preventers and hose bibs is a common early surprise for new owners in Colorado.

Look for leaks and moisture

Empty houses can hide slow leaks that show up once water use returns to normal. In the first week, look under every sink with a flashlight, check around toilet bases for soft flooring or staining, and inspect the area around the water heater, washing machine and refrigerator water line. If the home has a water meter you can read, note the reading at night when no water is being used and check it again in the morning; movement with every fixture off can point to a hidden leak or a running toilet. In basements and crawl spaces, look for fresh staining on foundation walls, damp insulation or a musty odor, especially after the first heavy rain or snowmelt.

Utilities, Records and Paperwork

Safety tasks come first, but a few administrative steps make the rest of homeownership easier.

• Transfer utilities into your name. Confirm start dates for electricity, gas, water, sewer and trash, and ask whether the water utility or HOA has rules about irrigation days.
• Create a house binder or digital folder. Store the inspection report, radon results, appraisal, survey, closing disclosure, insurance declarations page and any home warranty contract in one place.
• Record serial numbers and ages. Note the manufacture dates for the furnace, air conditioner, water heater and roof if known. These dates help when budgeting for replacements and when talking with contractors.
• Find permit history. Many Front Range cities and counties offer online permit lookups. Comparing permits with visible additions or finished basements can reveal work that may need a closer look.

Follow Up on Your Inspection Report

The inspection report is more than a negotiating document. It is a map of the house from someone who just looked at it carefully, and it remains useful long after closing.

• Compare repair agreements to what was done. If the seller agreed to repairs, match receipts and invoices to each item. Ideally this happened at the final walkthrough, but if anything was missed, document it now.
• Sort remaining items by urgency. Safety issues such as missing handrails, reversed polarity outlets or a gas appliance venting concern come first. Water management issues such as grading, gutters and downspouts come next. Cosmetic items can wait.
• Note items marked for further evaluation. If the inspector recommended a specialist, such as a structural engineer, sewer scope or HVAC contractor, schedule those early.
• Collect manuals and warranties. Photograph appliance model and serial plates, and register equipment where manufacturers allow.

If you are still early in the process, or helping a family member through it, our overview of the steps to buying a house shows where the inspection, walkthrough and closing fit. The home inspection basics section explains what a standard inspection does and does not cover, which helps when deciding what to investigate further.

Build a Maintenance Calendar

The final step on any moving checklist is turning one-time tasks into habits. A simple calendar, whether a spreadsheet, phone reminders or a printed list on the utility room door, keeps small jobs from becoming expensive repairs. A practical starting rhythm:

• Monthly: test smoke and CO alarms; check HVAC filter; look under sinks for leaks.
• Seasonally: clean gutters, check grading and downspouts, service the furnace or air conditioner, and test the sump pump if there is one.
• Annually: replace alarm batteries as recommended, flush the water heater, clean the dryer vent, and retest radon every couple of years or after major renovations.

Our home maintenance checklist breaks these tasks down by season with Colorado weather in mind. For more on working with inspectors before and after a purchase, see the guide to hiring a home inspector.

References

• Smoke Alarms — U.S. Fire Administration
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Radon — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Avoiding Tap Water Scalds — U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Just moved into a Front Range home and want a second set of eyes on radon, the furnace or items left over from the inspection? Reach out through our contact page and we can help you schedule the right follow-up.