Moving Into an Old House: What to Do First (2026 Checklist)

Updated October 2026. A first-month checklist for anyone moving into an older home, with safety steps from the EPA and the U.S. Fire Administration.

After moving into an old house, do the safety jobs first: change the locks, test or replace smoke alarms (the U.S. Fire Administration says replace them every 10 years), test for radon, and treat paint in a pre-1978 home as possible lead paint. Then check the roof, wiring and plumbing before you spend on looks. Here’s the order we’d follow in October 2026.

Jump to: ⏱️ First week · 🏠 Radon & lead · 🪜 Roof & systems · 🤝 Moving out · ❓ FAQ

Older homes have real charm: solid framing, big trees, character you can’t buy new. They also come with decades of other people’s choices. Some of those were good. Some were done on a Saturday with the wrong parts. Your inspection report is the map. This checklist turns it into a plan.

What should you do in the first week in an old house?

Keep the first week about safety and basics. Decorating can wait.

1. Change or rekey every exterior lock. You don’t know how many keys are out there.
2. Find the main water shutoff, the electrical panel and the gas shutoff, and label them.
3. Test every smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm. Check the date on the back of each smoke alarm.
4. Read the inspection report again and list anything marked as a safety item or as needing repair now.
5. Set up utilities and homeowners insurance in your name, and save the policy where you can find it.

The U.S. Fire Administration says smoke alarms belong inside and outside each bedroom and on every level, including the basement. They should be interconnected, so when one sounds, they all sound. Older homes often have too few alarms, or alarms older than 10 years. Replacing them is cheap and quick.

A strong front door with a good deadbolt is also worth it. Many older homes have doors that warp or locks that barely catch. A security door in a style that fits the house adds protection without spoiling the look.

Should you test an old house for radon and lead?

Yes, both. You can’t see or smell either one.

Radon

Radon is a natural radioactive gas that seeps up from the ground. The EPA calls it the second leading cause of lung cancer overall and the leading cause among people who have never smoked, linked to about 21,000 deaths a year. The EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or higher and says to consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L. A short-term test kit costs little and takes a few days.

Lead paint

If your home was built before 1978, the EPA says it’s more likely to have lead-based paint. Paint in good shape is usually not a hazard. The risk comes from chips and dust, especially when you sand, scrape or open walls. Before any work that disturbs old paint, test it, and hire a lead-safe certified contractor if it’s positive. Keep kids away from peeling paint in the meantime.

Other things worth a look in older homes: asbestos in old pipe wrap, floor tiles or ceiling texture, and signs of pests in the attic or crawl space. Our guide to what to do about a pest infestation helps if you find droppings or damage.

Which old-house systems should you check first?

Spend first on what keeps water out and power safe. A beautiful new kitchen is no use if a pipe bursts behind it.

The roof

Have a roofer look at it if your inspector flagged age, missing shingles or stains on the ceiling. A small repair may buy you years. If the roof is near the end of its life, an asphalt shingle roof replacement is the long-term fix and protects everything you do inside. Our tips for an easy roof replacement walk through quotes and timing.

Wiring

Old wiring is one of the most common problems in older homes. Signs of trouble include two-prong outlets, a fuse box, breakers that trip often, warm switch plates and flickering lights. Have a licensed electrician check the panel and the wiring before you add appliances or remodel.

Plumbing and sewer

Older homes may still have galvanized steel or even lead supply pipes, and clay or cast-iron sewer lines. A plumber can tell you what you have. A camera inspection of the sewer line is a good idea if the house has big trees nearby. When work means cutting or boring through walls, slabs or ground, use pros with the right tools. In Southern California, for example, homeowners hire drilling services in Los Angeles for that kind of precise work. Our plumbing installation tips cover the basics.

Heating and cooling

Get the furnace and AC serviced so you know their condition before the first cold or hot spell. Check the attic insulation while someone is up there. Also check that your insurance matches the home’s age and systems; see what to know about property insurance.

What should you remove or replace when you move in?

Most old houses come with leftovers: dated fixtures, broken blinds, old carpet, a shed full of paint cans. Clear them early so you can see what you’re working with.

• Take old paint, chemicals and batteries to your local hazardous waste drop-off rather than the trash.
• Pull carpet only after you’ve checked for lead paint or asbestos tile underneath in very old homes.
• Keep original features worth saving: wood floors, trim, doors and hardware.
• Swap old bulbs for LEDs, which use less energy and last longer.

For the kitchen, you don’t need a full remodel on day one. A new worktop over existing base cabinets, open shelves and a few hooks can make it work while you save. If appliances came with the house, run through our checklist on inspecting pre-installed appliances.

When should you paint and decorate an old house?

Last, once the messy work is done. Paint after electrical and plumbing work, because those trades cut into walls. Choose colors that flow from room to room; this guide on how to connect colors through a house helps in homes with many small rooms. Add plants, hang art, and lay rugs when the dust settles. For bedrooms, see our quick advice for decorating your new bedroom, and for bigger plans, our guide to house remodeling.

What should you do after moving out of your old house?

If you just sold the place you left, a few loose ends protect you:

• Transfer or close utilities on the closing date, and take final meter photos.
• Forward your mail and update your address with banks, your employer and the IRS.
• Keep homeowners insurance until the sale closes, then cancel it and ask about any refund of prepaid premium.
• Leave keys, garage openers, alarm codes and manuals for the new owners.
• Save your closing statement for taxes. Most owners can exclude up to $250,000 of gain on a main home, or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly, under IRS rules.

Still shopping for an older home? The Beycome buyer program has no upfront fee: Beycome keeps 1% of the price (minimum $1,499) and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing, with lender approval. It’s open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents (the credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most FSBO homes, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers). Selling one later? A flat fee MLS listing starts at $99 with $0 due to Beycome at closing.

Moving into an old house FAQ