The excitement of walking through the door of your home for the first time is something you'll remember for the rest of your life. But after that initial wave of excitement passes, you'll quickly come to the realization that your new house is pretty empty and there are things that you're going to need to buy to really make it yours.
Your new home shopping list will vary depending on several factors. What kind of things will you be bringing from your last home? What kind of amenities will already be included with the house? What things have already been given to you as housewarming gifts from friends or family?
At the end of the day, there are certain essentials that every homeowner should have to start off. This guide will walk you through exactly what those necessities are.
Items for your home's interior
The first thing you'll notice upon walking into your new home is just how empty it is. If someone else previously owned your home, chances are it was fully furnished when you went to view it for the first time. But now that the previous owners are gone, it's up to you to furnish and decorate the interior.
Take a look at this list of interior items that should give you a head start on furnishing and decorating:
- Window coverings - While these may not seem essential to buy when you're just starting out, you'd be surprised at just how important window coverings are when you don't have them. They provide a certain amount of privacy - nobody wants to have strangers looking through their windows at all hours of the day. Window coverings also keep cold or warm air from coming inside.
- Floor coverings - Floor coverings can include anything from throw rugs and area rugs to bath mats and kitchen mats. If you have wood floors, these are a must-have. Not only will they protect from scuffs and scratches, but also give your home a cozier feel.
- Couches or chairs - You will need at least enough seating for the occupants of your household when you first move in. If you’re awaiting a furniture shipment, pick up a few folding chairs and a matching table in the meantime, so you don’t end up having to eat your dinner on the living room floor.
- New locks and keys - It's important that you change all of the locks on any entryways into your house after you move in. This is mostly done for security reasons, as you don't know who had keys to the old locks before you moved in. You can purchase a new set of locks and keys from any major hardware store near you.
Landscaping/outdoor supplies and tools
No new home is complete without a full set of tools, because you never know when your first major home improvement project may spring up out of nowhere.
Here's a quick list of the some of the essential landscaping supplies and outdoor necessities you'll need for your new home:
- Garden hose
- Tool box
- Lawn sprinklers
- Weed whacker
- Shovel
- Rake
- Broom
- Watering can
- Lawnmower
- Garden shears
There are some items that, while not considered essential, are still pretty useful to your overall outdoor experience:
- Barbecue grill
- Lawn chairs
- Patio furniture
- Umbrella
- Snow blower
- Wheelbarrow
Appliances
Appliances are a major part of any new household. While some appliances can be expensive, you may be lucky and find that your home is already equipped with a refrigerator or microwave.
Many new homes already come with new appliances, and if you are purchasing an older home you might find that the sellers will leave some of the bigger appliances that they don't want to move, like the washer/dryer and stove.
- Stove
- Refrigerator
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Toaster/toaster oven
- Microwave oven
- Television
- Blender
- Coffee machine
TIP: For some items on this list, a good way to save money on them is to purchase them used, as long as they are still in good condition.
Living essentials
This category consists of pretty much anything that you need to live your everyday life comfortably after moving, from bathroom toiletries and shower supplies, to cooking supplies and kitchen utensils, bedspreads, and food and drink.
Remember, when you move into a new home, you're basically starting over from scratch. If you made a long distance move, you might not even receive your shipment of boxes for another week or more, which is why it's important to make sure you obtain all of these essentials:
- Flashlight
- Bottled water
- Cups
- Plates
- Bowls
- Utensils (forks, knives, spoons, etc.)
- Napkins/Paper towels
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Light bulbs
- Toilet paper
- Hand towels
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Bed sheets
- Snacks
Cleaning supplies
If your home is new, it's likely been sitting vacant for quite a while, gathering dust and dirt from people walking through it during open houses. If it's an older house, it still likely has remnants of the last owners and any debris or dirt they left behind in the process of packing and moving out.
Either way, you're going to want to give the house a thorough cleaning after you move in.
Here are some supplies you will need:
- Paper towels
- Cloth rags
- All-purpose cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Mop
- Broom
- Dustpan
- Vacuum
- Floor cleaner
- Bucket
- Sponges
Photo by: Zirconicusso (Freedigitalphotos.net)