Welcome to Indianapolis. Between unpacking boxes and learning your new neighborhood, exterior maintenance is easy to deprioritize — but a new home means an unknown maintenance history, and it's worth getting a baseline read early rather than waiting for a problem to show up.
Start With Gutters
You don't know how recently the previous owner cleaned the gutters, and it's not something a home inspection typically covers in detail. Clogged gutters left unaddressed can send water down siding or pool at the foundation, so this is worth checking (or having checked) within your first month, regardless of season. See our full gutter cleaning guide.
Assess the Siding's Condition
Look closely at north-facing and shaded walls for early algae streaking, which can be subtle if it's just getting started. If the previous owners hadn't cleaned in a while, an initial soft wash gives you an accurate baseline of your siding's actual condition — and photos worth keeping for comparison down the road.
Check the Driveway and Walkways for Existing Damage
Oil stains, salt residue, or moss on concrete are all things a home inspection generally won't flag as issues since they're cosmetic, not structural. Cleaning early tells you what's actually salvageable with a good wash versus what might be permanent staining you'll want to know about (and potentially factor into future resale planning).
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Look Up: Roof Condition
Black streaking on shingles is easy to miss when you're focused on everything else involved in a move, but it's worth a look from the ground during your first few weeks. If it's there, it's very likely cosmetic algae rather than a structural issue — but worth confirming rather than assuming, especially if the previous owners' maintenance records didn't come with the sale.
Why This Matters More for a New Homeowner Specifically
Homeowners who've lived in a property for years develop an instinct for what's normal wear versus what's new or worsening. You don't have that baseline yet in a new home, which is exactly why an early, thorough exterior check (and clean, where needed) is worth the effort — it establishes your own reference point going forward.
Settling Into a Seasonal Rhythm
Once you've got a baseline, our spring exterior cleaning checklist is a good reference for building an ongoing maintenance rhythm suited to Indianapolis's climate.
Getting Started
If you've recently moved to Indianapolis or suburbs like Brownsburg and want an honest first assessment of your new home's exterior, we're happy to take a look and tell you what actually needs attention versus what can wait.