So, you’ve finally bought your dream home and now you’re getting ready to move in! Congratulations! As a first-time homeowner, you’re probably pretty excited about the prospect of moving into a place of your own and being able to personalize it however you want. When you’re renting, there are often restrictions about what kinds of changes you can make. But when you’re the owner of the property, you can do whatever you want!
Still, before you get carried away, it may be helpful to think about what things you want versus those you actually need. Owning a home is different from renting. As a first-time buyer, it’s important to make sure that you have all the essentials so you can enjoy your experience to its fullest.
Below, we’ve shared our list of first-time homeowner must-haves.
Essential Items to Buy for Your First Home
It’s common for first-time buyers to get caught up in the excitement of moving day. You’ve spent the past few months going through the tedious process of the purchase process – from house shopping to waiting on inspection and appraisal reports. Now, you have the keys to your new home in hand and finally get to experience the moment when all your hard work and effort has paid off!
But before you start shopping for decorations or picking out paint colors, it’s important to make sure you have the essentials. Here’s a short list of must-have items for first-time homebuyers:
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Safety first. You’ll want to make sure that your home is equipped with working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure that all detectors work and have functioning batteries.
New Locks
Unless you’ve bought a new construction home, it’s important to keep in mind that someone had keys to your home before you did. Furthermore, it’s very likely in this day and age that they made copies at some point. To be on the safe side, you’ll want to switch out the locks. This will provide you with security and peace of mind.
Bathroom & Shower Essentials
Don’t forget the soap! You’ll want to make sure that your bathroom is stocked with essentials like hand soap, towels, and toilet paper right away. Also, you may want to leave anything you’ll need for bathing (shower curtains, shampoo, etc.) unpacked or at least make sure it’s easy to access.
Cleaning Supplies
Sellers aren’t necessarily required to have the home professionally cleaned before the buyers move in. Most real estate contracts require the home to be “broom-clean” or “swept-clean.” Therefore, there could be some areas that still require cleaning. You’ll want to make sure that you have basic cleaning supplies on hand so that you can remove dust and debris before you bring all your belongings inside.
Get More Helpful Advice
As a first-time homeowner, it’s normal to have questions. If you have any concerns about moving day or what items you should have on hand, please do not hesitate to reach out. We’ll be happy to provide whatever advice and assistance we can.
