Guides
Just moved to Calgary: your first-month handyman list
Moving into a new home is a long list of small jobs. Boxes, beds to build, curtains to hang, a light fixture you already know you hate. If you have also just moved to Calgary from somewhere else, there is a second list: a climate that swings from minus 30 to plus 10 in a day, hail in the summer, a dry wind called a chinook, and an address system with quadrants.
This first-month list covers the practical handyman jobs worth doing early in a new home, plus Calgary-specific things newcomers often learn the hard way.
Week one: safety and the basics
Change or rekey the locks
You do not know how many keys to your new home are out there. Changing the exterior door locksets, or having a locksmith rekey them, is the first job on most lists. Do not forget the door from the garage and any back or side doors.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Test every alarm. Check the manufacture date on the back; alarms have a replacement date. A carbon monoxide alarm is important in any home with a gas furnace, gas water heater, gas range or attached garage, which describes most Calgary homes.
Find the shut-offs
Know where these are before you need them:
- Main water shut-off, usually in the basement near where the water line enters
- Electrical panel, with breakers labelled if possible
- Gas meter and shut-off, outside
- Shut-off valves under sinks and behind toilets
Label them now. In an emergency you will not want to be searching.
Weeks one and two: setting up
Furniture assembly
New beds, dressers, desks and shelving. Anchor tall pieces to the wall, especially if you have kids. See furniture assembly in Calgary.
Hanging things
Curtain rods, blinds, mirrors, art, TV mounts and shelves. Calgary homes are mostly drywall over wood studs; high-rise condos often have concrete walls. Each needs different anchors.
Light fixtures
Swapping dated or builder-basic fixtures on existing boxes is one of the easiest updates. New fixture locations or switches need an electrician. See light fixture installation in Calgary.
Small fixes the inspection noted
If you had a home inspection, the report likely lists small items: a loose railing, missing caulk, a running toilet. These are good to clear in the first month while the list is fresh.
Before your first Calgary winter
If you moved here in summer or fall, winter is coming quickly. Calgary can see snow from September to May.
Draft-proofing
Check weatherstripping on all exterior doors and the door from the garage. Look for daylight around frames and drafts under doors. See weatherstripping and draft-proofing.
Exterior taps
Disconnect hoses from outdoor taps before the first hard freeze. A hose left on can freeze and crack the pipe inside the wall.
Caulking
Look at exterior caulking around windows and doors. Fall is the last window for exterior sealing before spring.
The fall handyman checklist covers the full list.
Furnace filter
Find the furnace, check the filter size, and buy spares. Furnace servicing needs a licensed technician.
Snow gear
Buy a good shovel and ice melt before the first snowfall, when stores sell out. Calgary has bylaws on clearing public sidewalks next to your property after snowfall; check the City's current rules.
Garages and storage
Most Calgary houses have an attached or detached garage, and it fills fast. Garage shelving, wall hooks for bikes and tools, and a place for winter gear by the door from the garage make a big difference through the first winter. The door between an attached garage and the house should seal tightly and close on its own if it has a closer, so check its weatherstripping and hinges while you are at it.
Calgary quirks newcomers should know
Chinooks
A chinook is a warm, dry west wind off the mountains that can raise the temperature dramatically in hours. Snow melts, then refreezes overnight. It is great for your mood and hard on caulking, fences and decks. Some people get headaches during chinooks.
Dry air
Calgary is dry, and indoor air in winter gets very dry. Expect static shocks, dry skin, doors that shift in their frames and small drywall cracks that come and go. Many homes have a furnace humidifier; check whether yours does and whether it works.
Hail
Summer hailstorms can be severe in Calgary. Know where your car can go under cover and where patio cushions can be stored quickly. Take photos of your home's exterior now so you have a before picture for any future insurance claim.
Quadrants
Calgary addresses include a quadrant: NW, NE, SW or SE. The same street number can exist in more than one quadrant, so always include it when giving your address to anyone, including delivery drivers and trades.
Waste and recycling
Calgary uses black (garbage), blue (recycling) and green (food and yard waste) carts with set collection days. Large items and some materials need a trip to a City landfill or drop-off. Check the City's online tools or call 311 for your schedule.
Radon
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that can build up in basements, and Health Canada recommends testing homes. Calgary-area homes are not exempt. Long-term test kits are widely available.
Safety items for families
If you are moving in with children, a few jobs belong near the top of the list:
- Anchor tall furniture like dressers, bookcases and wardrobes to the wall
- Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs; top-of-stairs gates should be screwed into solid wood, not pressure-mounted
- Secure window blind cords or replace corded blinds with cordless ones
- Add window stops on upper-floor windows where the frame allows
- Check deck and stair railings for loose balusters and wide gaps
These are quick jobs and well worth doing before the kids settle in.
Renting rather than owning?
If you are renting, check your lease before drilling, painting or changing fixtures. Many landlords are happy to approve small upgrades if you ask first.
Getting it done in one visit
A first-month list is perfect for one visit: locks, furniture, curtain rods, a light fixture or two, weatherstripping and the small inspection items. Take a photo of each job, put them in one text with your neighbourhood and the days that suit you, and you will get one price for the lot. See the services list.
Welcome to Calgary.
Send your move-in list
Send a photo of the job, your neighbourhood and the days that suit you. You get a price back before anything is booked. Materials are agreed in the quote, and you can pay by Interac e-Transfer, cash or bank draft.
647‑806‑8070Calgary NW, NE, SW and SE, plus Airdrie and Chestermere.
Questions
What should I do first after moving into a Calgary home?
Change the exterior locks, test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and find the water, gas and electrical shut-offs. Then work through furniture, fixtures and draft-proofing.
When does winter start in Calgary?
Snow can fall from September to May. Plan outdoor jobs like caulking and hose disconnection before mid October.
What is a chinook?
A warm, dry west wind off the Rockies that can raise temperatures sharply in a few hours. The melt-and-refreeze cycles it causes are hard on caulking, fences and decks.
Can a handyman do my whole move-in list in one visit?
Usually. Send a photo of each job in one text and you get one price.
Do I need to include my quadrant when booking?
Yes. Calgary addresses include NW, NE, SW or SE, and the same street number can exist in more than one quadrant.