25 Things Every New Homeowner Should Know in Their First Year

The first year of homeownership is where the most expensive mistakes get made — not because new homeowners are careless, but because no one hands you a manual for the building you just bought. The information below is the manual: 25 specific items every new homeowner should locate, document, schedule, or learn within their first 12 months of ownership.

This list is not theoretical. Every item connects to a real cost, risk, or recurring task that will affect your home over the next decade. Work through them in order, and you'll be ahead of 90% of new homeowners by month twelve.

Before anything else, locate and label the four shutoffs that prevent catastrophic damage during emergencies.