You just closed on a house, and somewhere between the movers leaving and the first strange noise from the attic, the question hits you: what am I actually supposed to be doing right now?
Most new homeowners handle this one of two ways. They do nothing until something breaks, or they try to do everything at once off a 200-item list they found online and burn out by week three. Both cost money. The fix is a short list, correctly ordered, so you spend your first year on the ten things that actually prevent five-figure problems instead of the ninety things that don't.
This is that list. It's organized by timing, not alphabet, and every task tells you whether it's a DIY job or a call-a-pro job before you start.
Every task on this page is ranked by four filters, in this order:
Tasks are grouped into three tiers: Critical (first 30 days), High Priority (first 90 days), and Ongoing/Seasonal (the rest of year one).
Reporting in June 2026 found the five biggest US home insurers closed 44% of claims last year without paying, most often for lack of documentation. Your first 30 days are when you build that documentation, before furniture and before anything can go wrong. Skip that window and you're rebuilding your evidence case after the fact, which is a much weaker position.
Do these first, in roughly this order. Nothing else on this page matters if a pipe bursts and nobody knows where the shutoff is.
Want the complete day-by-day breakdown for your first month, including the exact order to tackle these in and what to do if you score high risk on any of them? Read the full First 30 Days guide →
Once the critical safety items are done, shift to the systems that create expensive problems if they sit ignored through your first spring or fall.
This section covers the essential high-impact tasks. The 90-Day Survival Pack breaks your first quarter into a week-by-week plan with a repair cost estimator and an expanded troubleshooting matrix, built for exactly this window.
Once your first 90 days are done, maintenance becomes a rhythm rather than a scramble. Keep it simple: a short monthly check, plus deeper seasonal tasks tied to whichever season is coming next.
These look manageable to a new homeowner and regularly turn into the most expensive mistakes on this whole list.
If it involves electricity, gas, the roof, foundation, or structural elements, hire a licensed professional. The cost of getting it wrong always exceeds the cost of hiring right.
Budget 1-2% of your home's value annually for maintenance. On a $400,000 home, that's $4,000-$8,000 a year. Here's roughly where that lands depending on how much you handle yourself.
| Scenario | Typical Range | What It Assumes |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic DIY | $1,000-$2,500 | You handle filters, caulking, gutters, and minor plumbing yourself, and hire out HVAC, roof, and electrical |
| Realistic average | $2,500-$5,000 | A mix of DIY and pro work, plus one unplanned repair most homeowners hit in year one |
| All-professional | $4,000-$8,000+ | Every task hired out, no DIY at all |
| Big-ticket surprise if ignored | $8,000-$20,000+ | A roof leak, basement flood, or HVAC failure that was caught late instead of early |
Want the full year-one budget breakdown, including where the money actually goes month by month? Read the full budgeting guide →
This page gives you the priority order for year one. HomePlaybook Mastery gives you all 47 ranked tasks, the full 12-month calendar, a Home Health Scorecard, contractor negotiation scripts, 2026 cost tables, and the Audio Edition, so you can listen on the commute and fix on the weekend.
Get HomePlaybook Mastery: $44 →🛡️ Save $370 or it's free guarantee
Or start smaller with the 90-Day Survival Pack (+$17) →Set aside 1-2% of your home's value for the year. On a $400,000 home that's $4,000-$8,000, covering routine service plus a buffer for the one thing that always comes up. Stay on top of small tasks and you'll land closer to the low end.
Locate and physically test your main water shutoff. Water damage claims average $13,954, and most of that damage happens in the minutes before someone finds the valve. Test it, don't just look at it, and label it clearly.
It depends on your systems' age. A warranty can make sense if your HVAC, water heater, or appliances are already older. It's less valuable right after a full inspection with newer systems, since warranties often exclude pre-existing conditions and still charge service call fees.
Every 1-3 months, depending on filter type, pets, and system runtime. Write the filter size on the panel door the first time so you're never guessing at the store.
Anything involving electricity, gas, the roof, foundation, or structural elements goes to a licensed professional every time. The cost of getting it wrong always exceeds the cost of hiring right.
This page gives you the essential first-year tasks and the order to tackle them in. Mastery is the full 12-month system: all 47 ranked tasks, step-by-step protocols, the Home Health Scorecard, contractor scripts, and the Audio Edition, backed by the "save $370 or it's free" guarantee.
This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute professional advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before undertaking repairs or maintenance. Cost estimates are 2026 US national averages and vary by region, property age, and local market conditions.