10 Tips for Maintaining Your New Home
10 Tips for Maintaining Your New Home
Updated January 2025
Congratulations on your new home! At Ernest Homes, we know how exciting it is to move into a place that’s completely fresh, clean, and truly yours. And just like anything new, your home needs a little ongoing care to stay looking and performing its best. With a simple plan and consistent habits, you can prevent costly repairs, protect your investment, and enjoy your home for years to come.
Here are ten smart, homeowner-approved tips to keep your new home in great shape—starting today.
1. Commit to a regular maintenance schedule
Create a list of monthly, quarterly, and annual tasks for both the interior and exterior of your home. Assign tasks to family members or bundle bigger items into weekend projects. A predictable schedule keeps little issues from becoming big ones.
2. Deep clean your home twice a year
A top-to-bottom clean helps your home look amazing and keeps allergens at bay. Shampoo carpets, wash drapes, clean cabinets, refresh appliances, and wipe down baseboards. After a thorough cleaning, your home feels brand new again.
3. Train your pets—and your children
Establish boundaries early. Decide where food and drinks are allowed, designate pet areas, and give kittens a scratching post before they discover your furniture. A bit of training helps protect floors, upholstery, and walls.
4. Change your filters regularly
Air filters should be changed every 30 days (or according to the manufacturer’s recommendation) to keep your HVAC system running efficiently. Don’t forget the refrigerator filter while you’re at it!
5. Clean out the gutters
When gutters are clogged with leaves and debris, water has nowhere to go except down your siding or into your foundation. Clean gutters seasonally—or more often if you have heavy tree cover.
6. Visit the great outdoors
Maintaining the exterior matters just as much as the interior. Keep grass trimmed, remove debris, refresh mulch, clean walkways, and keep entryways swept to reduce dirt being tracked into the home.
7. Protect your family from fire hazards
If your home has a fireplace, schedule a chimney cleaning every year. Clean out your dryer lint trap after each load and vacuum the dryer vent regularly—lint buildup is extremely flammable. Test your smoke detectors twice a year and replace the batteries at Daylight Savings Time.
8. Register your new appliances
Registering appliances not only activates warranties but makes it easier to schedule repairs. Keep model numbers and purchase dates in one place for quick reference.
9. Make a list of professionals to handle the “big stuff”
While many tasks are DIY-friendly, bigger issues—electrical, plumbing, or emergency repairs—need professionals. Create a list of trusted experts so you don’t waste time searching in an emergency.
10. Don’t take chances—fix problems early
If something seems off, address it as soon as possible. Minor issues like drips, cracks, slow drains, or strange odors often signal a bigger problem brewing. Early attention saves money and prevents long-term damage.
With a little planning and seasonal attention, maintaining your new home becomes simple, manageable, and even enjoyable. Ernest Homes is here to support you long after move-in day—giving you peace of mind and a home you’ll love for years to come.
