There are a couple of things ALL home owners should know about their abodes. The wonderful Art of Manliness blog hits this point very well in a recent post identifying spots in the home that every owner should be familiar with for safety and maintenancereasons.  They suggest familiarizing yourself with:

• Electrical panel
• Water shutoffs
• Gas meter and shut-offs
• Attic access
• Sewer access
• Hot water temperature gauge
• Property line

If you had to, could you find all seven? I can, but I'm not necessarily saying that I really know how or what to do at any of these places, particularly if something is going wrong. Fix a gas leak? not my deal, sorry. Close a home purchase? Now you're talking....  At least I can point these things out to Susan or the repair dude as necessary and that's a start. I'm sure you will do better. Especially after you read this. Here's the report.