Bought your first Toronto home? Congratulations — and welcome to the world of deferred maintenance. Here’s the community-compiled checklist of what to assess and address in Year 1.
Immediate Safety Checks (Before Moving In)
- Change all exterior door locks — you don’t know how many keys exist
- Test every smoke detector and CO detector; replace any that are over 10 years old
- Locate main water shutoff valve, electrical panel, and gas shutoff — know where they are before you need them
- Flush all toilets and run all faucets — identify any that run slow or have low pressure
- Check furnace filter condition and replace
Year 1 Assessment Priorities
Roof: Get a roofer to walk it and give you a condition report. Cost: $150–$300. Worth every dollar.
Electrical panel: If it’s a Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) or Zinsco, prioritize replacement — these are known fire hazards. If it’s 100 amp, assess whether your lifestyle requires a 200 amp upgrade.
Plumbing: If the home is pre-1970 and you see galvanized pipes (grey, magnetic), start planning full replumbing.
Basement: Run a dehumidifier and monitor humidity through a full rain season. If walls dampen, address drainage before finishing.
Windows: Original windows pre-1995? Get them on your upgrade list.
Year 2–3 Projects
Once safety is confirmed, plan ROI-positive projects: kitchen update, bathroom refresh, basement finishing, exterior maintenance (interlock, siding, eavestroughs).
Drop your questions below — this community has collective experience across virtually every Toronto house type.