You Got the Keys! 10 Things Every New Louisville Homeowner Should Do in the First 90 Days

by Rhonda Roberts

The boxes are everywhere.

Your kitchen looks like a moving truck exploded.

You have no idea where the coffee maker is.

But there's one thing you know:

You're officially a homeowner.

Congratulations.

Now what?

The first 90 days in your new Louisville home are the perfect time to get organized, learn your property, and take care of the things that are easy to overlook.

Here are 10 things we recommend putting on your new-home checklist.

Change the Locks
Locate Your Main Shutoffs
Create a Home Maintenance File
Learn Your Home
Change Your HVAC Filters
Check Your Insurance Coverage
Understand Your Property Taxes
Don't Renovate Everything at Once
Build a Maintenance Calendar
Meet Your Neighbors
Your First 90-Day Checklist
Don't Forget What Got You Here
A Louisville Home Is More Than an Address
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line

1. Change the Locks

You don't know who has copies of the previous keys.

Former owners.

Family members.

Neighbors.

Contractors.

It's worth considering changing or rekeying the locks so you know exactly who has access.

2. Locate Your Main Shutoffs

Find:

Main water shutoff
Electrical panel
Gas shutoff, if applicable
HVAC controls
Water heater
Sump pump, if applicable

You don't want to discover where the water shutoff is after a pipe breaks.

3. Create a Home Maintenance File

Start collecting:

Inspection report
Closing documents
Appliance manuals
Warranties
Contractor information
Receipts
Service records

You may thank yourself later.

4. Learn Your Home

Spend time exploring.

Where does water collect after heavy rain?

Which rooms get morning sunlight?

Which windows are draftier?

How quickly does the HVAC heat and cool the house?

Your first year is essentially a crash course in your particular property.

5. Change Your HVAC Filters

Don't assume the previous owner recently replaced them.

Start fresh.

Then put replacement dates on your calendar.

6. Check Your Insurance Coverage

Your homeowners insurance is not something you should simply file away and forget.

Make sure you understand:

Deductible
Coverage limits
Exclusions
Personal property coverage
Liability coverage

If you make significant improvements later, talk with your insurance professional about whether your coverage should be updated.

7. Understand Your Property Taxes

Louisville-area homeowners should understand how property taxes apply to their particular property and where to find official property information.

The Jefferson County Property Valuation Administrator is an important local resource for property valuation information.

And Louisville Metro's online property tools can provide information including parcel, zoning, and other property-related details.

Don't wait until tax time to figure out how your property is handled.

8. Don't Renovate Everything at Once

This is one of the biggest mistakes new homeowners make.

They move in and immediately think:

"We need to change everything."

Slow down.

Live in the house.

After six months, you may discover that:

You don't actually hate the paint
The kitchen layout works fine
The backyard needs different landscaping
The room you thought would be an office is better as a guest room

Your home will tell you what it needs.

9. Build a Maintenance Calendar

Create reminders for:

Monthly

HVAC filters
Smoke/CO detector checks
Basic plumbing checks

Seasonally

Gutters
Landscaping
Exterior inspection
HVAC maintenance

Annually

Roof inspection as appropriate
Major systems
Insurance review
General property maintenance

Your future self will appreciate it.

10. Meet Your Neighbors

This one isn't financial.

It's just good living.

Your neighbors can tell you things you won't find on Zillow.

They know:

Which roads get busy
Where the best pizza is
Which parks are nearby
Who provides reliable lawn service
What happens during storms
Which local events are worth attending

And that's when you start going from:

"I bought a house in Louisville."

to:

"I live here."

Your First 90-Day Checklist

Timeframe	Priority
First week	Locks, utilities, shutoffs, documents
First month	Maintenance plan, insurance, property information
First 60 days	Learn the home and identify projects
First 90 days	Prioritize improvements and settle into the neighborhood

Don't Forget What Got You Here

If you've followed our buyer series, you've already learned:

"Should You Buy a Home in Louisville Now or Wait Until 2027?"

Then:

"The Louisville Homebuyer’s Negotiation Playbook."

Then:

"You Found the Louisville Home You Love—Now What?"

Now you've made it.

That's exactly why we believe the value of a REALTOR® doesn't end when the offer is accepted.

A knowledgeable agent can help you navigate the entire journey—from the first showing to the closing table and beyond.

A Louisville Home Is More Than an Address

Whether you've purchased in the Highlands, St. Matthews, Middletown, Prospect, Anchorage, J-Town, Norton Commons, or another Louisville-area community, you're not just buying four walls.

You're buying into a community.

You're creating routines.

You're building memories.

And hopefully, you're creating a place that feels like home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first after buying a house?

Start with security, utilities, emergency shutoffs, insurance, and organizing your important documents.

Should I remodel immediately?

Usually, there's no need to rush cosmetic renovations. Living in the home first can help you determine what actually needs to change.

How often should I maintain my home?

Different systems require different schedules. Create a maintenance calendar based on your home's age, systems, manufacturer recommendations, and professional advice.

What local resources should Louisville homeowners know about?

Louisville Metro provides online property and zoning information, while Jefferson County property records and valuation resources can help homeowners understand their property.