The First 30 Days
30 Things to Do After Getting the Keys to Your First Home
A prioritized first-day, first-week, and first-month checklist for new homeowners covering alarms, shutoffs, leak checks, records, and safe referrals.
Read guide →A practical field guide
Know the house. Plan the year. Make safer decisions.
A calm, evidence-backed maintenance system for first-time homeowners who need to map their home, prioritize early tasks, and keep reliable records.
Field guide systemObserve before acting
Use the safety screen, document the condition, and choose the lowest-risk next step.
Free guides
Start with the situation in front of you
Home Records
A Practical First-Month Home Inspection Checklist
Create a safe first-month visual baseline for your new home, including photos, leak checks, alarms, HVAC filters, moisture timing, and referral triggers.
Read guide →Utility Controls
How to Locate and Label Your Main Water Shutoff
Learn how to locate, confirm, label, and document the owner-side main water shutoff without forcing an unknown, utility-controlled, or unsafe valve.
Read guide →Filters & Consumables
How Often Should a Homeowner Check an HVAC Filter?
Check an accessible HVAC filter monthly, then use its condition, equipment manual, filter type, and household factors to decide when replacement is due.
Read guide →Seasonal Maintenance
A Monthly Home Maintenance Calendar That Stays Manageable
Use a manageable monthly home-maintenance calendar for alarms, water checks, HVAC filters, records, and seasonal professional service reminders.
Read guide →Repair Triage
DIY or Call a Professional? A Safer Home Repair Triage
Decide whether a home repair is suitable for low-risk DIY or needs a qualified professional by screening hazards, hidden systems, and uncertain materials.
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