Moving into a new home is exciting, exhausting, and often a little overwhelming. Between unpacking boxes, surviving on pizza, and figuring out which light switch controls what, it's easy to overlook important first steps that can protect your home (and your sanity) from day one. This checklist is tailored for newly constructed homes—and after 20 years working in new construction, I can promise these steps will make a big difference.
1. Replace All Air Filters
You never know how long the HVAC system ran during construction, and trust me, construction dust is everywhere. Replacing return vent filters immediately improves air quality and protects your HVAC system. For new construction homes, change filters every two weeks for the first two months. After that, check monthly. If your home uses a whole-house filter, follow the same routine early on, then switch to changing every 3–6 months depending on the manufacturer’s guidance and your household. Got kids and dogs? You’ll be changing it more often than a quiet, empty-nest couple.
2. Seal the Grout
That fresh, clean grout might look great now, but it’s likely unsealed and highly absorbent. Seal the grout in your kitchen backsplashes, tiled showers, and any tiled floor areas before regular use. This protects it from water, stains, and premature wear—and helps keep your tile looking new.
3. Check and Lock Every Window
Do a full walk-through and test every window. Make sure they are all locked properly. This isn’t just about safety; locking windows helps with energy efficiency and keeps the frames from warping over time. I can’t count how many warranty inspections I've done where windows were left unlocked and later failed to close properly. Vinyl windows settle—lock them early to help them stay square.
4. Empty the Ice Maker and Flush the Water Line
If the refrigerator came with the home or you brought your own, toss the first two bins of ice and run at least a gallon of water through the dispenser. This flushes out anything that may have collected in the line during installation or sat stagnant during the final construction phase.
5. Burn Off the Fireplace Smell
Got a gas or electric fireplace? Run it for a few hours with windows cracked and fans on. The first burn will likely release an oily smell or a factory residue. Better to handle that now than during your first cozy night in.
6. Burn Off the Oven Smell
New ovens come with a factory coating that needs to burn off before cooking anything. Run the oven at 400°F for 30–60 minutes. You might notice a strange smell or even light smoke—totally normal. Just be sure to ventilate the area well. Trust me, you don’t want your first frozen pizza tasting like a plastic bag.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to tackle every home project immediately, but these key tasks will help your newly built home stay clean, safe, and low-maintenance from the beginning. Take it from someone who sees what gets missed during the first year—a little effort now saves a lot of hassle later.
Until next time, keep your home maintained and your inspection stress-free.
- Your Fave Female Inspector