What to do in the first week in a new house
In the first week in a new house, change or rekey the exterior locks, find and label the main water shutoff and the electrical panel, test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, and note where the gas meter is. Put utilities in your name, update your address, file the closing papers somewhere safe, and write down the model numbers of the furnace and water heater.
Why it matters: The first week is when nobody knows where anything is, and a few jobs done early save a crisis later.
Steps
- Change or rekey every exterior lock, since you cannot know who kept a key.
- Find the main water shutoff and label it, and show everyone who lives there.
- Label the electrical panel if the circuits are not marked.
- Test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm and replace any past their date.
- Note where the gas meter is, and never try to operate gas valves yourself.
- Put utilities in your name and update your address with your bank, employer and the post office.
- File the closing documents, the deed record and the policies in your document vault.
- Photograph the furnace and water heater labels for model numbers and dates.
Stop and call a professional if
- you smell gas: leave the house and call the gas company from outside
- an alarm, the panel or the water heater looks damaged or scorched: call a licensed trade
Common mistakes
- Keeping the old locks.
- Waiting for a leak to find the water shutoff.
- Leaving closing papers in a moving box.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: What to do in the first week in a new house
What to say
In the first week in a new house, change or rekey the exterior locks, find and label the main water shutoff and the electrical panel, test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, and note where the gas meter is. Put utilities in your name, update your address, file the closing papers somewhere safe, and write down the model numbers of the furnace and water heater.
What to show
- Change or rekey every exterior lock, since you cannot know who kept a key.
- Find the main water shutoff and label it, and show everyone who lives there.
- Label the electrical panel if the circuits are not marked.
- Test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm and replace any past their date.
- Note where the gas meter is, and never try to operate gas valves yourself.
- Put utilities in your name and update your address with your bank, employer and the post office.
- File the closing documents, the deed record and the policies in your document vault.
- Photograph the furnace and water heater labels for model numbers and dates.
Where it stops
Stop and call a professional if you smell gas: leave the house and call the gas company from outside.
Check question
Why rekey the locks in a new house?
Answer: You cannot know who kept a key. Previous owners, contractors and neighbors may have copies.
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Related skills
Sources
- Home inspector standards of practice, 2024. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .