Your First Year in a New Build: A Maintenance Checklist

by Cassandra Marks

Your First Year in a New Build: A Maintenance Checklist - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks

Published August 18, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: A new construction home goes through a "settling phase" in its first year as framing lumber dries out and materials adjust to the local climate for the first time, which is why it still needs deliberate maintenance despite being brand new. Priorities include changing HVAC filters monthly during the first year, since construction dust clogs them faster than normal, monitoring indoor humidity between 30% and 50% per EPA guidance, documenting settling cracks and nail pops as they appear rather than fixing them immediately, and checking exterior grading and drainage after heavy rain. Most of these cosmetic items should be batched and addressed at the 11-month warranty inspection rather than requested individually throughout the year. This guide covers what to do the week you move in, seasonal tasks specific to Clark County's climate, and how to sort what's urgent from what can wait for your warranty visit. AUTHOR: Cassandra Marks, REALTOR®, Clark County WA, licensed WA and OR, REAL Broker, Elite Agent, Circle of Excellence Diamond Platinum Member, Top 500 Solo Agent in Washington. 120+ homes sold, $66.1M+ closed sales, 5.0 stars, 50+ Google reviews. Phone: 503-884-2387. Website: realtorcas.com.

Your First Year in a New Build: A Maintenance Checklist

A brand-new home isn't maintenance-free, it's going through a settling phase, and what you do (or skip) in the first twelve months affects what your builder's warranty will still cover.

⚡ Quick Answer

What actually needs maintenance in the first year of a new build? More than most buyers expect. A new home goes through a genuine "settling phase" as framing lumber dries out and every material adjusts to the local climate for the first time, which is different from a resale home that's already settled. Priorities: change HVAC filters monthly rather than the usual every-three-months rule, since construction dust clogs them fast; monitor indoor humidity between 30% and 50%, per EPA indoor air quality guidance; document settling cracks and nail pops as they appear rather than requesting individual fixes; and check exterior grading after heavy rain. Most cosmetic items are best batched and addressed together at your 11-month warranty inspection.

"It's brand new, what could possibly need maintenance?" is a fair assumption, and it's also not quite right. A new build is a massive assembly of wood, concrete, and synthetic materials meeting the local climate for the very first time, and that first year is when it does most of its adjusting. Skip the small stuff now, and some of it turns into something you're paying for out of pocket later, after the warranty window closes.

This walks through what to do the week you move in, what's actually normal versus what's worth flagging, and how the whole first year builds toward one specific date: your 11-month warranty inspection, covered in more detail in what does the warranty actually cover. If something didn't get fixed from your closing walkthrough and you're not sure what to do about it, how to handle punch list items after you've already moved in covers that specific situation.

Why Does a Brand-New Home Need Maintenance in the First Year?

Because it's still "settling," literally

Brand-New Home Need Maintenance

Every new home goes through a "settling phase" during its first twelve months. Framing lumber that arrived at the job site with some moisture content continues to dry out after the home is finished, which is exactly why minor drywall cracks and small gaps in trim show up during year one on homes that were built correctly. It's not a sign of a bad build, it's wood behaving like wood.

None of this makes a new home high-maintenance. If anything, a new build starts every system at zero: nothing is worn out, nothing needs replacing yet. The first year is less about repairs and more about learning your home, establishing a few good habits, and making sure nothing slips through before your warranty window narrows.

What Should You Do the Week You Move In?

A short list, before the boxes are even fully unpacked

Read the homeowner's manual. It tells you where things are, what's covered under warranty, and who to contact, and it's the one document most new owners never actually open.

Locate the essentials. The main water shutoff valve, the individual shutoffs at sinks and toilets, and the electrical panel with which breaker controls which room. You want to know this before an emergency, not during one.

Register your appliances. Manufacturer warranties on appliances are separate from your builder's warranty and typically require registration to activate.

Start a running list. A simple note on your phone for anything you notice, dated, with a quick photo, is worth more later than trying to remember six months from now when something first appeared.

How Often Should You Change HVAC Filters in a New Build?

More often than the standard rule you've heard

How Often Should You Change HVAC Filters in a New Build?

The usual guidance is every 60 to 90 days, but that assumes a home that's already been lived in for a while. During your first year, construction dust that settled into ductwork during the build gets stirred up as the system runs, clogging filters faster than normal. Check monthly for at least the first six months, and replace as needed rather than waiting for a calendar reminder that assumes a resale home's conditions.

The EPA's consumer guide to HVAC filters is worth a quick read if you're choosing a replacement filter, since filter ratings (MERV) vary in how much they actually capture versus how much they restrict airflow, and higher isn't automatically better for every system.

Are Settling Cracks and Nail Pops Normal?

Yes, and there's a specific reason to wait before fixing them

Minor drywall cracks near corners, small nail pops in trim, and hairline gaps where two materials meet are a normal part of the settling phase, not a construction defect. This is exactly the category of item covered under "normal wear and tear" exclusions on most builder warranties, detailed in what does the warranty actually cover.

The practical tip most buyers don't know: it's often worth waiting until closer to your 11-month mark to actually request these fixed, rather than calling your builder every time one appears. Fixing a settling crack too early, before the house has finished its full first-year cycle, sometimes means it reopens later and needs to be fixed twice. Mark the location, note the date, and let your running list build toward one coordinated warranty visit instead.

What Seasonal Checks Matter Most in Clark County?

Our specific climate has its own priorities

After the first heavy rain. Walk the exterior and confirm grading still slopes water away from the foundation, and that downspouts are actually directing water where they should, not against the siding.

Through your first wet season. Check window and door seals for gaps that may have opened as the home went through its first real settling cycle under sustained rain.

Indoor humidity, year-round. Keep it in the 30% to 50% range EPA recommends; too high in our wetter months invites mold risk, too low in a heating-heavy winter can worsen wood shrinkage and cracking.

Gutters and downspouts. Clean at least once a year, more often if you're near mature trees, since clogs here cause water problems fast in a climate that gets as much rain as ours does.

For a fuller picture of what maintenance actually costs locally, not just what to do, home maintenance costs in Vancouver, WA breaks down real local numbers for the bigger-ticket items.

How Do You Know What's Urgent vs. What Can Wait for the Warranty Visit?

A simple three-tier way to sort it

Urgent, act now. Active water, a gas smell, or anything electrical that seems unsafe. Shut off the source using the valves and breakers you located in week one, and call for service immediately.

Functional, but not urgent. An appliance issue, a door that won't latch, anything that affects how the home works but isn't a safety risk. Put it on your running list and submit it through your builder's normal service request process rather than waiting for the 11-month visit.

Cosmetic, batch it. Settling cracks, nail pops, minor paint touch-ups. Document and save these for one coordinated warranty visit rather than a service call every time something small shows up.

How Do You Know What's Urgent vs. What Can Wait for the Warranty Visit?

Sorting issues this way takes most of the anxiety out of the first year, since every discovery has an obvious next step instead of feeling like a decision you're not sure how to make.

Bottom Line

Small Habits Now, Fewer Surprises Later

A new build's first year isn't about repairs, it's about learning the home and staying ahead of the settling phase every new house goes through. Change filters monthly, keep humidity in range, document cosmetic items instead of chasing each one individually, and let everything build toward a well-prepared 11-month warranty inspection. That single visit, done right, is worth more than a year of scattered service calls.

📌 Related Guides

Buying New Construction? Start Here

Overview

New Construction in the PNW

Warranty

What Does the Warranty Cover?

Punch List

Items Not Fixed After Move-In

Inspections

Is an Inspection Necessary?

Maintenance Costs

Real Local Numbers

Representation

Do I Need a Realtor?

Frequently Asked Questions

First-year new construction maintenance, common questions

Does a brand-new home really need maintenance in the first year?

Yes. New homes go through a settling phase as framing lumber dries out and materials adjust to the local climate for the first time. It's less intensive than maintaining an older home, but skipping it entirely can turn small first-year issues into bigger ones later.

How often should I change my HVAC filter in a new construction home?

Check monthly for at least the first six months, more often than the usual 60-to-90-day rule, since leftover construction dust in the ductwork clogs filters faster than normal during the first year.

Should I get settling cracks fixed right away?

Not necessarily. Minor settling cracks and nail pops are normal in the first year, and fixing them too early, before the house finishes its full settling cycle, can mean they reopen and need to be fixed twice. Many buyers document these and address them together at the 11-month warranty inspection instead.

What indoor humidity level should I maintain in a new build?

The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%. Staying in that range helps prevent mold growth on the higher end and can reduce wood shrinkage and cracking on the lower end, both relevant to a home still going through its first-year settling phase.

How do I know if a first-year issue is urgent or can wait?

Active water, gas smells, or unsafe electrical issues are urgent and need immediate attention. Functional issues like a malfunctioning appliance should go through a normal service request. Cosmetic items like settling cracks can typically be documented and batched for your 11-month warranty visit.

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This page provides general maintenance guidance and is not a substitute for your builder's homeowner manual or warranty documentation. Specific maintenance needs, timelines, and warranty coverage vary by builder, home, and climate conditions. Information current as of August 2026 and subject to change.

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Cassandra Marks

+1(503) 884-2387

Realtor, Licensed in OR & WA License ID: 201225764