If you have bought a new house, then it is unlikely anything will need to be repaired in the first few years, and anything that does need to be fixed early on is likely to be covered by a warranty of some kind, or your insurance policies. A new home should be almost repair free for at least the first few years, unless the repairs are due to something you have done or not done.

However, while your home probably will not need major repairs during the first three years, there are several routine maintenance tasks that will be required to keep everything working properly:

• Depending on how many people and pets in your home, you may need to inspect and replace HVAC filters every one to three months.
• Hood range filters also require fairly regular cleaning, and they will certainly need cleaning every month or two.
• A visual inspection of fire extinguishers is another recommended monthly maintenance item.
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every three months.
• Likewise, if you have a garage door opener, make sure the auto reverse feature works by testing quarterly. Place a 2 X 4 on the ground under the door. It should close, and then release immediately as it reaches the wood.
• Twice a year, you will want to look at your hot water heater’s pressure release valve. Look for grime and corrosion, and clean or replace as necessary.
• Refrigerator coils need to be vacuumed every six months too.
• Your gutters should be checked every year, usually in spring. At the same time, take note of whether there is any water pooling near your home. Water should not be standing for longer than 24 hours near your home and if it is, you may need to work on your drainage.
• Outside of your home, your garden will require work seasonally, and you may find that your fence needs an adjustment after a freeze/ thaw cycle.
• Check locks and latches regularly. These items can be affected by weather and other factors, so they are often some of the first things that need repairs on a new home.
• HVAC equipment should probably have routine maintenance and servicing seasonally. Arrange to have a technician visit twice a year, to check heating and air conditioning systems before you need them.
• Finally, there will be repairs for anything that you have damaged accidentally. These are the unpreventable little mishaps that happen to everyone. Accidents happen though, so are prepared to pay for at least a few of these types of repairs.

Other than routine maintenance like we have mentioned above, repairs should be minor. You may need to replace a cracked tile or repair chipped paint. Hinges may need tightening, or caulking may need to be replaced in areas with very high moisture.

If you are doing any more than that in a home that is under three years old, then there is something amiss, and you probably want to make a few enquiries.