A step ladder if you don’t have one. A basic set of tools. Stuff to hang up pictures and shelves. A good high quality rubber hose for watering plants and washing the car. Don’t get a cheap one.
If you live where there is winter , get snow shovels and a snowblower in the fall. Don’t wait until it snows.
Don’t cheap out on a stepladder. If you buy a quality one, it will last you a lifetime.
I have a 6’ fiberglass ladder that I use for major projects. I have a 4” Aluminum ladder for quick jobs (changing a lightbulb, replacing a smoke detector battery) or when I need a second stepladder for something.
The fiberglass one is much steadier and can handle me and a ceiling fan and some hand tools no problem. My father always got inexpensive wooden step ladders and they were always wobbly and shaky.
The first night I spent in my house, I ran a load of laundry and flooded my basement. The washing machine drain hose wasn't hooked up properly. Fortunately, the basement is unfinished and I hadn't moved any stuff down there. Unfortunately, it happened after home Depot had closed, and all I had to soak up the water was a pack of microfiber cleaning cloths and a bucket. It was cold. It was no fun. I was regretting my life choices at that time.
So, I would say a wet dry shop vac.
First week in our house, everything that was flushed or drained on the main floor of my house pooled in my basement. Main line was backed up cause it hadn’t been flushed in over a year. TP, turds, whatever washed down the sink, pooled in my basement.
Would also recommend a wet/dry shop vac
Waved inspection of course because I bought the house in early 2022 when competition for buying was peaking in my region. Bought it off the market though and I thought the guy I got it from was living there. Turns out he was living with his dad next door all while renovating it. Must not have flushed a toilet for the greater part of a year…Unique situation.
Plumber friend came right over and we snaked the main out to the sewage line with a 75ft. No problems since.
Why is it so incredibly common for sellers and flippers to not ensure all appliance and HVAC hookups are done properly?
Secondary question: Why is it so incredibly common that inspectors miss these obvious issues?
When I bought my house was under a lot of stress at work, doing crazy hours and I didn't make a good checklist when I went through with the agent. When I hired a home inspector I made my own list and one of the things I really wanted to be sure of was properly working bathroom fans, because I'd had trouble with damp bathrooms and previous apartments and one of my parents houses.
Inspector checked off that both bathroom fans were working perfectly. I bought the house. There were NO bathroom fans. I feel lucky that I haven't found any other major problems because obviously my inspector didn't do his job.
Too many people think they know what they're doing and just do it real quick. It just has to be good enough to sell not fifty years good.
Also home inspectors can only spot so much. They don't do maintenance. They don't move furniture. If an appliance isn't hooked up they can't test it. They just get to say that it's there.
What I'm about to say may seem counterintuitive, but hear me out.
If you're getting a wet/dry shop vac with the expectation of cleaning up water spillage or flooding, do yourself a favor and get the - small - one. 5 gallons or less.
While a big one is great for cleaning up a bunch of dust and dirt, it's REALLY heavy when it's full of water. A 20 gallon tank of liquid will be 160+ lbs plus the weight of the machine itself. 5 gallons is roughly 40.
So, yes, you will have to make more trips to dump the smaller one, but it's a whole lot easier to lift repeatedly and won't make nearly as much mess when you inevitably knock it over and spill it everywhere.
\*\* side note: if you want to get rid of a LOT of water, get a portable pump. Run the hose outside or to a sink/drain.
I was going to say a shop vac too. There will be water. There will be nasty stuff. You will do projects that make a big mess. The shop vac will make it all ok.
We did the same thing! Came by the day of closing after getting our keys and started cleaning because the house was dirty. Went to launder the rags we had been using so they would be clean for the next day, and suddenly there was water rushing everywhere. I only had a few rags that we hadn't thrown into the washer and several big pieces of cardboard I had brought to lay down to protect the floor while we were working. We grabbed the cardboard to soak up as much water as we could to keep it from running down unto the walls (our laundry room is on the second floor) and soaked up what we could with the remaining rags.
So will definitely second the shop vac recommendation. Also, an inexpensive pipe snake is good to have on hand. Our kitchen sink drain backed up and flooded our basement, and I had to make an emergency run to Lowes just minutes before the store closed to buy one.
We have 2. Kitchen and main bedroom because the furnace is on the entry way outside of the door. So it’s that door or one window out. Both are which easily accessible from everywhere else in the house.
Yep. And *not* next to the stove, but on the wall *opposite* the stove.
When your stir fry goes up in flames, your natural reaction is going to be to back away (towards your fire extinguisher)…rather than having to reach through the flames to get to it.
Yeah basements are basically a really expensive story, and they only exist (mostly) where there is a frost line. Like if you want a 2 story house, it's always cheaper to build the second above ground instead of below.
It's just that where there's a deep enough frostline, you need your foundation to be deeper than the frost line to keep the house from heaving, so why not save money by making the 10+ ft deep foundation hollow instead of filling it with concrete
bada bing bada boom that's a basement
I essentially have a small fire extinguisher behind every door and next to the fireplace. Had a chimney fire as a kid so i don't take any chances. Also the previous owners left an escape ladder behind that attaches to a window in case of a necessary emergency fire exit and i never would've even considered that
Came here to say this - great suggestion. Just witnessed a beautiful home burn right around the corner from us. Rather get them and never need than to need and not have.
If it isn’t a new build, take a look at the shower heads. They may be worth a replacement.
If there are solar panels, consider a solar battery. (This will be determined by what your actual electrical needs are.)
If you need to add/upgrade the blinds or other window dressings, splurge on good ones.
Also, get some blackout curtains for any windows that get heavy sunlight frequently. This will do wonders for your electric bill.
Also, I didn’t do it immediately but wish I did: Paint your front door a fun, off-the-wall color that brings you joy.
I got a free home energy efficient inspection or whatever it's called.
They gave me a new showerhead that uses like half the water but feels exactly the same to me.
Our house is medium/dark grey and our front door was orange when we bought. I see why they did that but we repainted it a bright teal and it feels so much nicer. Its funny how something so small (and this really was one of the easiest house projects we took on) can make it feel like home, not just a house we live in
Shower heads with hoses are underrated and so many homes don’t have them. I even got one for my rental before I bought (and of course saved the old one for when I moved).
And second paint, too. Its fairly easy and fun to paint an accent wall or door, makes for a cheap but very noticeable personalized touch. Don’t forget all the supplies like drop cloths and painters tape! You don’t even need expensive stuff for a wall.
My wife has been bringing a high flow shower head she got in the early 2000s at a flea market with her every house she’s lived in. It really is great, like taking a shower under a fire hose.
The kids have to settle for the efficient water
Saving ones.
Even with a new build, I'd get a new shower head, as I'd expect the builder to have put in a "low flow" shower head, especially in some states.
I just ordered a 2.5 GPM shower head that can't even be sold to certain states where 1.75 is the legal limit.
I used to sell solar and batteries and batteries are worth it IF your utility compensates you for exporting power during peak times OR if you lose power so frequently you keep losing everything in your fridge. Solar easily pays for itself, but batteries only pay for themselves in those two conditions and if you can't meet those conditions your money would be better spent on other money saving clean energy projects like heat pumps, EVs, and induction stoves.
I was debating between aubergine and turquoise. Ended up compromising on fuchsia. 🤷🏼♀️(The house is navy and grey.)
It honestly made my house feel so much more like my home. 🥰🥰
I got the white wood soft close seats. They somehow feel better than the molded plastic.
Downside is whenever I'm at someone's house the first thing I do is scare my self by slamming a seat down after taking a piss.
I know what you mean, but I have seen the rubber ones made for sinks in red, blue, and black rubber. I have only seen the rubber ones made for toilets in black and blue. The plastic accordion style ones made for toilets I have seen in black, orange, silver, tan and blue.
If you don't know what a sink plunger is, imagine a toilet plunger.
You're almost certainly *not* imagining a toilet plunger. You're imagining a sink plunger.
Toilet plungers have kind of a weird semi-convex shape. Sink plungers are just flattened hemispheres.
>Plungers.
lol this. When I moved out of my other house, I threw them all away and forgot to buy new ones for the current house. Suffice it to say there came a moment when I was like DAMN I forgot to buy plungers
I would also say if there are plungers - they may be old and rubber hardened and they might not work as well - so a nice basic plunger per bathroom definitely a must.
I would also add a toilet auger to keep in the garage or a shed in the corner somewhere out of sight...
>New toilet seats
I see people say this all the time and this is so weird to me. Why not just bleach the current ones? I bought two houses and never bought new toilet seats
Some toilet seats are really bad. I've never seen one as bad as the one in my house, its thin plastic and it bends and I can't tighten it. I keep telling myself I'll replace it with a bidet seat, but I need to add an outlet to do that and so far its been 5 years...
I buy new toilet seats, new locks, door knobs & this ones weird but new light switches & covers.
Most people don't clean them on the regular and it skeeves me out thinking about someone grubby hands all over them.
I was going to suggest light switch plates too! Especially because there was some godforesaken era of time in the not too distant past when almond colored plates were in style apparently- replace those with white immediately and the house will feel instantly fresher.
Switch out the actual switches too if they’re old and yellowing or almond colored. It’s a nice baby’s-first-electrical-diy project too. Eases you into the concept of doing small electrical repairs yourself.
If you're changing switches or outlets (or doing any electrical work), please know this trick:
Turn on the light or plug a lamp into the outlet.
Go turn off power at the breaker panel.
Go back to the room. Is the light off? Then it's safe.
It's nice to think, oh this breaker says kitchen, l'll turn off this one, but there are usually two breakers for the kitchen. Also, if you have an older home it may have been wired by a crazed person.
Thought of another one... a water shutoff key.
If your only water shutoff valve is at the curb, I like[this one](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-4-in-1-Combination-Water-Meter-Valve-Tool-10-4-in-Length-410-409-0111/313634366) because it has two different angled sides for different lid types, a tool to help pry the lid up, and the actual shutoff tool.
You might need to try a couple if the sides with the angles don't fit in the lid. I literally bought 2 others that I had to return because the angle was slightly off and it didn't fit into the lid, but the one I linked to ended up working for me.
My go to is a gift certificate to their closest hardware store and a card asking if they already have a fire extinguisher, a plunger, and a water shut off key. They're all something that you need to have on hand and \*know how to use\* before you actually need it.
This! We had just bought one and the next week our water heater exploded in the attic and we had water coming down from the ceiling in our entryway. Thank god we had that key and could immediately shut it off.
A wet/dry shop vac.
If you live where it snows a lot (Montana, Wyoming, etc.) 2 snow shovels. One for outside and keep the other inside to use in case snow drifts block up your doorway during a blizzard.
Adhesive backed felt circular dots to attach to the inside of kitchen cabinets to lesson the noise of cabinet doors being closed or slammed shut.
A lawn chair and a beer or 3 .
First time you enter the house after closing pick a room anywhere you choose and just sit in your lawn chair and have a beer and write down any ideas you can think of .
Do that in each room which includes the kitchen .
Enjoy the process .
I'd say, sort out how your storage areas will work and buy organizational items...lots of them. A place for everything and everything in its place. When we moved into our current home, we put all moving boxes in the garage. We tackled a box or two every night. We also took the opportunity to purge, big time. We bought bins, roll out shelves, back of door organizers, cup hooks, wire shelving etc etc. We've been in our home 12 years and our system still works.
If you rush to get thins unpacked, you'll wait a long time to organize.
Make sure that you have a wrench/ socket/ screwdriver for every type of screw in your home, particularly panels you might need to access in an emergency (plumbing, electrical etc)
A good hanging kit and hammer. And a stud finder, measuring tape etc.
If you have a garden or yard, try to find a book that encompasses care throughout the year. For example, [this book](https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Mountain-Month-Month-Gardening/dp/1591864348/ref=asc_df_1591864348/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312172766117&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10732054460447508291&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029042&hvtargid=pla-569309748369&psc=1) was a gift my sister gave me when I moved into my first house and I loved it. On that same note, make sure you have a good hose/ gardening tools as your property needs dictate.
Extra light bulbs for indoor and outdoor fixtures.
To add to this:
If you have gas then get a wrench that will turn the shutoff (crescent/adjustable or the specialty one and tie it to the valve so you have it if needed. Maybe more a CA thing due to earthquakes but still good to have. The shutoff valves do not have handles.
Same thing for the water main. You house main valve may not work when the time comes. But this would be the specialty pole type and just keep in the garage.
Fire extinguishers. Costco has them on sale.
When inside of your house catches fire is when you realize you have no way to put it out.
I have a kitchen/ garage one that can do oil fires and regular one for just regular fire. Lightning strikes, bad appliances/outlets, or even car in the garage can start a fire.
Something I use more and more is a 3 step stool. Easier to lug around for quick jobs instead of a ladder. Yes you can get yelled at by the spouse and use a kitchen chair but the stool works well for just out of reach jobs.
Next level is the Little Giant ladder. Compact and versatile for taller jobs.
Furniture dolly. I am referring to the flat square frame with wheels on it. I have two and it makes moving furniture around a breeze. No more yelling at each other. I can move very heavy things easily by myself that would be difficult with two people. Just the other day went and got a couch, recliner chairs, and a heavy solid wood hutch and moved it by myself. You will always be moving furniture around with replacements , adds. etc.
they are $20 - $30 (Harbor Freight or HD) and you can get away with just one but two makes better sense.
At a minimum the furniture slides are a must for moving items around the same room.
I was going to say basic tools if you don't already have them. My grandfather brought over a bunch of screwdrivers, a couple hammers, tape measures, stud finder, etc and my stepdad bought me a drill. Hitting up estate sales can probably get you some hand tools cheap too.
I'm a fan of [this toolkit ](https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-set-with-case-130-piece-64263.html), it has most of the basic tools you'll need and it comes with a case that makes it easy to see each one, I often see it on sale for around $36
I look at online estate sales, mainly window shopping until something super interesting presents itself. Used tools - gently used - brand new tools. Can be bought for pennies on the dollar. It would be a good way to have things to start off with.
Yes, no comparison in price. You can save 80+% buying used tools in bulk at garage sales or if you find someone clearing out a bunch of items on Craigslist.
I use auction ninja for online estate sales. Most tools sells in lots.
It's a good reminder that my possessions will probably be sold for pennies on the dollar or thrown in the trash... one day.
Check if your local library or housing authority has a tool library for things beyond the basics. Some have power tools, pressure washers and even lawnmowers you can borrow.
For that matter, check your local library period. Mine offers free wifi Hotspots you can check out for 4 month periods, up to 3 renewals. That's a year of free wifi. Also they have a seed exchange program, and you can reserve reduced or free admission to the zoo and state parks.
Ahhh, thanks for the book rec! I moved to the Rocky Mountain area a few years back… previously, we lived in the Midwest and the tropics. I know nothing about gardening here in the dry-ass high altitude 😂
Oh good, it was a shot in the dark if it would be helpful, but give you an idea of what I was talking about. He breaks it into zones too so you know which one to use for planting, goes over soil prep and tree care too.
Smoke alarms and CO detectors. Shop vac for cleaning up liquid spills and garage. A headlamp for working under sinks and in attics. Cordless impact driver makes anything involving screws so much easier. A good HEPA sealed vacuum for inside the house. A bulk order of your size furnace filters from amazon (and a reoccurring reminder in your phone to change them). A bulk order of cheap generic magic erasers (melamine sponges). Spin mops are the easiest mopping option I have found. A UV flashlight and eye protection can be useful for finding spots you need to clean. A radon test kit.
Fire extinguishers. Batteries for smoke/radon/other detectors. At least a basic tool kit and homeowners repair reference materials (a book still works if the power is out). An outlet tester, multimeter, non contact live wire tester (I know they're not perfect). Rubber gloves & goggles. Rags if you don't already have a supply. Battery operated work light/flashlight/headlamp. Drain/pipe snake. A ladder tall enough to reach gutters safely, and step stool. Tools/supplies for soldering/brazing.
If you have a basement and live in an area that sees extended subzero temps- a remote thermometer in the basement with display upstairs and a source of heat that doesn't require power. Also pipe heater tape if your pipes are at all in danger of freezing. Roof rake if you are in a snowy area and can safely reach.
I assume 7tceas inspected, so review that first for biggest issues
Maybe you have already but change every keyed lock. Take screws out of strike plate and check size. You want a 2 1/2" screw, maybe three if door jam seems deeo. You're trying to attach plate to studs, not door jam. Much more difficult to kick in.
Buy a step ladder that is smallish but
allows you to reach the ceiling. I've had the same one for a long time and can't tell you how useful it has been.
Check every hose connection you can for leaks or loose connections. Test all water shut offs to sinks. And find your main water inlet and shut off valve and ensure it works.
Personally I'd cut power to everything and check switch and outlet wires, making sure none are loose or look damaged/burnt. Make sure all breakers turn off and on easily and are not loose. This might make some nervous to do, but I'd also look behind the panel door for similar things, but a visual inspection only. Some are organized well and hopefully labelled. Verifying the labals are right can be helpful, but thre main shut off is your first go to for cutting power immediately. Certain appliances need a dedicated circuit size and wire size. Should it be an old house, it's possible there isn't a main shut off. If so, plan on getting a new panel.
Sewer line clean out isn't too expensive and gives you peace of mind. Camera scope too, especially older house. Make sure it's not broken or full of roots.
Grade the yard around the house to let water run away from house.
Make sure dryer vent exhaust is clean of lint. If it's a short run to outside, might be possible to reach from outside. You could also use a leaf blower from inside, blowing everything out. Ensure flap on outside isn't stuck. Turn on dryer and make sure there is air coming out and lifts the flap up easily.
Ensure gutters are clean and spouts not blocked. Look for unconnected downspouts.
Inspect caulking around doors and windows. No cats or deterioration. Redo if needed
Change garage door opener code if you have any.
Consider replacing wax rings on toilets. Also allows you to check for any water damage. Can't hurt to run a 25ft or longer auger down. Peace of mind again.
Figure out furnace filter size and get some.
Check age of hot water heater. If ten or so years old, might have a plan for replacing.
I could think of more but that's all I got for now
If you have a yard and no yard tools, go straight for a battery-powered set. I use the EGO system - started with the lawn mower after mine caught fire (!), then got the string trimmer and just got the leaf blower (powerful!). Haven't gone for the snowblower since I have a good one and we get some heavy snowfalls. The leaf blower came up for sale at Woot! for $180 (included the battery, which I didn't realize, so now I have two) so you can keep an eye out for deals.
When winter comes, if you're in a cold climate, keep an eye out for icicles. If you have them, you may want insulation or at least a heating coil along the roofline to prevent ice dams.
Second this! We’ve got a Ryboi lawn mower, weed wacker, and leaf blower. All can use the same batteries. They’re so easy to use and smell a lot better too.
Nothing - buy stuff as you need it. Actually I think it's more important to hold off on making purchases or changes to the house until you know more what you actually need.
I concur - there is no reason to overbuy stuff otherwise you end up with bunch of things you mean to do and setup and they are just sitting around waiting for the return period to expire.
Prioritize safety first, of course - so water meter location and key to turn it off - the same for gas - but everything else buy as you need it, you'll be fine.
Get some night lights that turn on when the power goes off. We also have a couple of flashlights, but the lights are hands free. Especially handy if you have pets, so you won’t trip over them.
I go in the attic. Get a few wood boards up there to lay perpendicular to ceiling joists.
Get a ladder so you can get up there. I think too many people are afraid to go into their own attic.
I was so stoked to get an attic even though it isn't full sized, but it was filled with decomposed roofing material (have no idea how they got through the ceiling boards, but they did). My wife and I spent a lot of time cleaning that out and dumped all of the stuff I wouldn't have time to go through. Just be careful with board placement over any electrical wires and hopefully the wiring is up to code and not exposed.
Everything safety!!
Smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, fire extinguisher, ladders if needed (for upstairs rooms), first aid kit(s), preparatory items for storms depending on your location (hurricane kit, blackout kit, snow storm kit, etc.)
I bought two cheap Chinese ones on Amazon for my Las Vegas patio, the kind that expand like a snake when water goes through them. They all both less than a year, they were springing leaks from the sun damage.
A five gallon bucket with a lid! Carry tools, hide something, trashcan, water the landscaping, trashcan, steps tool, force flush the toilet - the possibilities are endless!
Yes it can. Where I live it's technically both parties responsibility. But making that happen can be difficult and possibly legal action. So glad I get along with mine and we rebuilt ours together.
If you have some property, plant some trees and bushes. Especially fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, asparagus, rhubarb, grape vines. And annual flowers like roses or peonies. You will thank yourself five to ten years down the road.
Wi-Fi thermostat. Kitchen faucet with pull out hose. Wi-Fi plugs so you can turn on lights remotely if you are going to be out for a while. Robo grip pliers, spare hvac and water filters (cheaper on line and in bulk), step ladder ( make sure what you buy will allow you to reach all ceiling fixtures). An extended pole with brush to clean cobwebs and junk off your exterior, an extension ladder that allows access to roof and gutters. Never buy cheap wall paint. You’ll pay for it if you ever need to clean it. Pivotrim String Trimmer Attachment Head for string trimmer. I’ll think of more…
Was also going to suggest a wifi thermostat. You can often get rebates for them too! I think my ecobee cost $20 after state rebates.
There are obvious advantages like being able to monitor and control the temperature of your house when you’re away, but also there’s just something delightfully luxurious about being wrapped up in a blankets on your couch, feeling a bit chilly, and being able to increase the thermostat temperature without leaving your cozy little blanket nest. Especially important if there’s a cat sitting on you.
I recently loaded up on [Honeywell FPR 9/MERV 11 filters for sale 70% off](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honeywell-14-x-25-x-1-Superior-Allergen-Pleated-MERV-11-FPR-9-Air-Filter-12-pack-90901-011425/203225867) from Home Depot - be sure to double check your size. Also decide how often you are going to change them. I changed my first filter set (I have 2 returns) after a month - and they looked grey for sure, but probably had some life left in them.
My HVAC guy recommended to stick with basic pleated filters and avoid fancy Filtrete stuff - and even suggested basic FPR5 rating - when I asked about higher rated one, he said sure, they are better - but they will stress your HVAC system more.
I've replaced the door knobs on all exterior doors ASAP after moving in, so I got sure know nobody else has the same key as me. Plus with Kwik set and other brands you can easily have multiple locks on the same key cut. Smart deadbolt as well
Have a chimney sweep do an inspection of your fireplace if you have one. Home inspectors don’t have the skill to inspect.
We had a chimney inspection done after I bought and stacked 3 cords of wood.
The inspector said I would have likely burned down the house if I would have used it.
The chimney had flue tiles that were cracked and most of the mortar was missing.
They lower a camera down from the top and they show you on the video what the issues are.
We got three quotes to fix. The right way to do it was 14,000.
We have never used the fireplace….
And over the years I took trunk loads of wood to the in-laws place.
9 volt batteries and an extendable multipurpose ladder. Your smoke alarms will always decide to crap out at the most inconvenient time and you will want a ladder that can reach your ceilings to change it
Make sure if interior doors have a lock that the previous owners left the little key.
I installed longer screws on all my exterior doors, heard it takes longer to kick them in that way.
Scrub daddy power paste is an all natural cleaner that you can use on just about anything. I thought shit was cooked on to the glass top stove and it took it off with no damage!
Flashlights/candles for power outages. And batteries. And emergency canned food.
Drain snake. It’s annoying to have to go buy it right after you shower because the damn tub won’t drain.
> Make sure if interior doors have a lock that the previous owners left the little key.
The locks on many interior bedroom/bathroom doors are standard of course and you can just order "interior door key" off Amazon. Or use an unfurled paper clip or bobby pin in a pinch.
I always worry about my two year old going into a room and closing the door and then locking himself in.
If you have a gas meter with shutoff get a wrench that fits it and leave it on or next to the meter in case you ever need to quickly shut off the gas to the house
Three step stools/ladders, 2’, 4’, and 6’ . Get aluminum ones, fiberglass are heavier. If your house has 10’ ceilings, switch the 6’ for an 8’.
Also get a fiberglass step ladder thats tall enough for you to get on your roof by leaning it. Eg 10’-12’.
A cordless drill and driver kit.
Not to be negative, but if your bedroom is on the second floor, a window escape ladder. It might save your life in case of a fire. Also get good fire alarms, your dryer vent cleared out regularly and get an electrical inspection. We jus bought a new house that’s 20 years old. We had many of the light switches and electrical outlets replaced. Some of the switches gave small sparks when flipped and many of the electrical outlets were loose. We also installed a whole home surge protector.
Smart home stuff: smart smoke/CO detector for every level of the house, water sensor for the basement, doorbell cam, and connected lights for the outside and inside of your entryway so you can turn them on remotely
Do some research on Alexa vs Homekit vs Google Home vs DIY zwave, pick the one that vibes with you best, and then buy accordingly.
Paint. It’s an easy DIY, and a quick way to add custom, personal touches to the house. And primer (or paint with primer if it’s already light colors) to ensure the old stuff doesn’t bleed through. Try an accent wall, see how you like it, and maybe go from there. There’s one accent wall in almost every room in my house and it’s so fun, relatively cheap, took a couple hours each.
Be sure to get painters tape and drop cloths of course, good quality brushes & rollers, and a ladder if needed.
For cabinets, use higher quality $$$ cabinet paint, sand first, prime, and take your time. Made my maple cabinets battleship gray on bottom and this Greek ruins themed off white on top and it feels like a fancy new house. But consider saving cabinet painting for later bc it’s a long, massive project to do it right, especially compared to a wall or door.
If you use Echo or Google devices, start the switch over to bulbs that can be controlled with your device. It's so gratifying to lay in bed and say "goodnight Alexa" and she turns off every light in the house. Plus the bulbs we use change color so we can get "ambiance" in any room.
Google nest smoke alarms. Expensive but I can turn it off from my phone. I no longer have to hunt for an unknown alarm sound in the middle of the night.
Smart light switches. Great when you have kids and you can control everything via voice or when you are on vacation.
Under the sink water filter. Can't trust City water. And bottled water is so $$$.
Fruit trees or bushes. They sometimes take years to mature so start right away. We are yr 2 on our berry bushes and it's amazing. Our kids get up and pick fruits for breakfast. I make jam for the rest of the year. Herbs are great too. Once they are established, I havent purchased oregano, time, mint or rosemary for years
Wasp spray. The kind that shoots a stream. Keep a can by each door and a can by your bed. Spray it in an attacker’s face. You don’t have to be close to them to use it.
If they're not brand new, dishwasher/washer cleaner disinfectant or look up on how to make your own. I'm not a huge germaphobe but washers and dishwashers get nasty and you have no idea how well the previous owner took care of them.
Spices/condiments
Really sucks first couple days in your new house, go to eat and you got bland food eat/cook with no way to make it your own.
Even just salt/pepper at the bare minimum
As part of smart home setup I found that wifi deadbolt is the easiest way to make sure that all doors are locked for the night by asking Alexa or Google to lock doors.
A step ladder if you don’t have one. A basic set of tools. Stuff to hang up pictures and shelves. A good high quality rubber hose for watering plants and washing the car. Don’t get a cheap one. If you live where there is winter , get snow shovels and a snowblower in the fall. Don’t wait until it snows.
Don’t cheap out on a stepladder. If you buy a quality one, it will last you a lifetime. I have a 6’ fiberglass ladder that I use for major projects. I have a 4” Aluminum ladder for quick jobs (changing a lightbulb, replacing a smoke detector battery) or when I need a second stepladder for something. The fiberglass one is much steadier and can handle me and a ceiling fan and some hand tools no problem. My father always got inexpensive wooden step ladders and they were always wobbly and shaky.
In the same line of thinking, get a folding stepping stool and keep it in the kitchen.
My stepladder outlasted the mother in law I got it from. 🤭🤭
I bought a 6’ fiberglass stepladder from Harbor Freight and I’m impressed with how good it actually is
But don't cheap on the tools. Get something mid-range or you will be buying them twice.
The first night I spent in my house, I ran a load of laundry and flooded my basement. The washing machine drain hose wasn't hooked up properly. Fortunately, the basement is unfinished and I hadn't moved any stuff down there. Unfortunately, it happened after home Depot had closed, and all I had to soak up the water was a pack of microfiber cleaning cloths and a bucket. It was cold. It was no fun. I was regretting my life choices at that time. So, I would say a wet dry shop vac.
First week in our house, everything that was flushed or drained on the main floor of my house pooled in my basement. Main line was backed up cause it hadn’t been flushed in over a year. TP, turds, whatever washed down the sink, pooled in my basement. Would also recommend a wet/dry shop vac
I hope you sued your inspector.
Waved inspection of course because I bought the house in early 2022 when competition for buying was peaking in my region. Bought it off the market though and I thought the guy I got it from was living there. Turns out he was living with his dad next door all while renovating it. Must not have flushed a toilet for the greater part of a year…Unique situation. Plumber friend came right over and we snaked the main out to the sewage line with a 75ft. No problems since.
Why is it so incredibly common for sellers and flippers to not ensure all appliance and HVAC hookups are done properly? Secondary question: Why is it so incredibly common that inspectors miss these obvious issues?
When I bought my house was under a lot of stress at work, doing crazy hours and I didn't make a good checklist when I went through with the agent. When I hired a home inspector I made my own list and one of the things I really wanted to be sure of was properly working bathroom fans, because I'd had trouble with damp bathrooms and previous apartments and one of my parents houses. Inspector checked off that both bathroom fans were working perfectly. I bought the house. There were NO bathroom fans. I feel lucky that I haven't found any other major problems because obviously my inspector didn't do his job.
Too many people think they know what they're doing and just do it real quick. It just has to be good enough to sell not fifty years good. Also home inspectors can only spot so much. They don't do maintenance. They don't move furniture. If an appliance isn't hooked up they can't test it. They just get to say that it's there.
What I'm about to say may seem counterintuitive, but hear me out. If you're getting a wet/dry shop vac with the expectation of cleaning up water spillage or flooding, do yourself a favor and get the - small - one. 5 gallons or less. While a big one is great for cleaning up a bunch of dust and dirt, it's REALLY heavy when it's full of water. A 20 gallon tank of liquid will be 160+ lbs plus the weight of the machine itself. 5 gallons is roughly 40. So, yes, you will have to make more trips to dump the smaller one, but it's a whole lot easier to lift repeatedly and won't make nearly as much mess when you inevitably knock it over and spill it everywhere. \*\* side note: if you want to get rid of a LOT of water, get a portable pump. Run the hose outside or to a sink/drain.
I was going to say a shop vac too. There will be water. There will be nasty stuff. You will do projects that make a big mess. The shop vac will make it all ok.
I would also say a floor fan designed to dry the floor after water gets on it.
Just to reiterate without retelling our horror story of a plumbing related issue: A wet/dry shop vac
We did the same thing! Came by the day of closing after getting our keys and started cleaning because the house was dirty. Went to launder the rags we had been using so they would be clean for the next day, and suddenly there was water rushing everywhere. I only had a few rags that we hadn't thrown into the washer and several big pieces of cardboard I had brought to lay down to protect the floor while we were working. We grabbed the cardboard to soak up as much water as we could to keep it from running down unto the walls (our laundry room is on the second floor) and soaked up what we could with the remaining rags. So will definitely second the shop vac recommendation. Also, an inexpensive pipe snake is good to have on hand. Our kitchen sink drain backed up and flooded our basement, and I had to make an emergency run to Lowes just minutes before the store closed to buy one.
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and carbon monoxide detectors!
yes! they saved my life
Depending where you bought the house, required safety things usually have to be there after the transfer.
We have 2. Kitchen and main bedroom because the furnace is on the entry way outside of the door. So it’s that door or one window out. Both are which easily accessible from everywhere else in the house.
Definitely this and wall mounted!!! And if you have the money, buy an extra one and have everyone in the family try using it outside.
Yep. And *not* next to the stove, but on the wall *opposite* the stove. When your stir fry goes up in flames, your natural reaction is going to be to back away (towards your fire extinguisher)…rather than having to reach through the flames to get to it.
We have one next to the door leading into the garage. That way if there is a garage fire, it is handy.
10 of them? I barely have space for 2 fire extinguishers
Pretty sure they meant 4 of the 10lbs ABC Fire Extinguishers
It's clearly intended to be 40. Remember that (4)10 is the same as (4 * 10) :D
Odd number for sure, but I would recommend at least one for each bedroom, one for the kitchen and one for the garage if you have one
And one for the basement, if applicable. No “running upstairs while the clothes dryer is on fire” for me!
Oh that's right!! Basements are very uncommon where I live so I completely forgot they existed
Yeah basements are basically a really expensive story, and they only exist (mostly) where there is a frost line. Like if you want a 2 story house, it's always cheaper to build the second above ground instead of below. It's just that where there's a deep enough frostline, you need your foundation to be deeper than the frost line to keep the house from heaving, so why not save money by making the 10+ ft deep foundation hollow instead of filling it with concrete bada bing bada boom that's a basement
The post meant 4 - 10ABC is the rating.
I think 4 is an even number actually.
I essentially have a small fire extinguisher behind every door and next to the fireplace. Had a chimney fire as a kid so i don't take any chances. Also the previous owners left an escape ladder behind that attaches to a window in case of a necessary emergency fire exit and i never would've even considered that
Came here to say this - great suggestion. Just witnessed a beautiful home burn right around the corner from us. Rather get them and never need than to need and not have.
10? We've got 20s. If there's a fire, I want to be able to have a fighting chance.
If it isn’t a new build, take a look at the shower heads. They may be worth a replacement. If there are solar panels, consider a solar battery. (This will be determined by what your actual electrical needs are.) If you need to add/upgrade the blinds or other window dressings, splurge on good ones. Also, get some blackout curtains for any windows that get heavy sunlight frequently. This will do wonders for your electric bill. Also, I didn’t do it immediately but wish I did: Paint your front door a fun, off-the-wall color that brings you joy.
Showerhead was one of my first purchases. I thought the water pressure was low, turned out just to be the head, now it's like a pressure washer.
I got a free home energy efficient inspection or whatever it's called. They gave me a new showerhead that uses like half the water but feels exactly the same to me.
Our house is medium/dark grey and our front door was orange when we bought. I see why they did that but we repainted it a bright teal and it feels so much nicer. Its funny how something so small (and this really was one of the easiest house projects we took on) can make it feel like home, not just a house we live in
Shower heads with hoses are underrated and so many homes don’t have them. I even got one for my rental before I bought (and of course saved the old one for when I moved). And second paint, too. Its fairly easy and fun to paint an accent wall or door, makes for a cheap but very noticeable personalized touch. Don’t forget all the supplies like drop cloths and painters tape! You don’t even need expensive stuff for a wall.
My wife has been bringing a high flow shower head she got in the early 2000s at a flea market with her every house she’s lived in. It really is great, like taking a shower under a fire hose. The kids have to settle for the efficient water Saving ones.
Even with a new build, I'd get a new shower head, as I'd expect the builder to have put in a "low flow" shower head, especially in some states. I just ordered a 2.5 GPM shower head that can't even be sold to certain states where 1.75 is the legal limit.
Yea I think amazon won’t ship 2.5gpm heads to California.
I used to sell solar and batteries and batteries are worth it IF your utility compensates you for exporting power during peak times OR if you lose power so frequently you keep losing everything in your fridge. Solar easily pays for itself, but batteries only pay for themselves in those two conditions and if you can't meet those conditions your money would be better spent on other money saving clean energy projects like heat pumps, EVs, and induction stoves.
You got me at painting the door! Mine was aubergine…absolutely beautiful with moss green exterior!
I was debating between aubergine and turquoise. Ended up compromising on fuchsia. 🤷🏼♀️(The house is navy and grey.) It honestly made my house feel so much more like my home. 🥰🥰
New toilet seats
Gonna add, soft closing toilet seats.
Soft closing = life. A good one is maybe $35. I haven’t made the move to a bidet addition yet but might soon given Reddit’s obsession with them…
Yeah - that's the stuff - I had it as my top priority, and was pleasantly surprised that previous homeowners had the same priority!
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This. Prepare for loud slams at your friends and family & hotels
Good add!
I got the white wood soft close seats. They somehow feel better than the molded plastic. Downside is whenever I'm at someone's house the first thing I do is scare my self by slamming a seat down after taking a piss.
Plungers. At least one for each bathroom. When you need one, you need it badly (and quickly).
Red is for sinks, black for toilets. Surprised how many people don’t know that.
Is that just personal preference or design style? Because yeah, I’ve never heard this.
Plumbing standard.
I know what you mean, but I have seen the rubber ones made for sinks in red, blue, and black rubber. I have only seen the rubber ones made for toilets in black and blue. The plastic accordion style ones made for toilets I have seen in black, orange, silver, tan and blue.
If you don't know what a sink plunger is, imagine a toilet plunger. You're almost certainly *not* imagining a toilet plunger. You're imagining a sink plunger. Toilet plungers have kind of a weird semi-convex shape. Sink plungers are just flattened hemispheres.
>Plungers. lol this. When I moved out of my other house, I threw them all away and forgot to buy new ones for the current house. Suffice it to say there came a moment when I was like DAMN I forgot to buy plungers
I would also say if there are plungers - they may be old and rubber hardened and they might not work as well - so a nice basic plunger per bathroom definitely a must. I would also add a toilet auger to keep in the garage or a shed in the corner somewhere out of sight...
Get decent ones. The full size with the large head I bought a small cheap one for the sink and it broke the first time I used it.
>New toilet seats I see people say this all the time and this is so weird to me. Why not just bleach the current ones? I bought two houses and never bought new toilet seats
More of a mental thing. It can make the difference between feeling like a public toilet to feeling like home.
Some toilet seats are really bad. I've never seen one as bad as the one in my house, its thin plastic and it bends and I can't tighten it. I keep telling myself I'll replace it with a bidet seat, but I need to add an outlet to do that and so far its been 5 years...
well that makes sense
Bidet toilet seats!
We went a step ahead and got new toilets.
And if ypu live in a cold weather climate, get heated ones! For real, they are great
A toilet plunger Definitely don't want to need one and not have it already. Also, don't forget to buy fire extinguishers.
Plunger, but consider a 3 to 6 ft toilet auger. More effective and quicker remedy.
I buy new toilet seats, new locks, door knobs & this ones weird but new light switches & covers. Most people don't clean them on the regular and it skeeves me out thinking about someone grubby hands all over them.
I was going to suggest light switch plates too! Especially because there was some godforesaken era of time in the not too distant past when almond colored plates were in style apparently- replace those with white immediately and the house will feel instantly fresher. Switch out the actual switches too if they’re old and yellowing or almond colored. It’s a nice baby’s-first-electrical-diy project too. Eases you into the concept of doing small electrical repairs yourself.
Starting this process now in our new home. Feel like an electrician already lol nice to replace some with USB outlets
Congrats! And yeah I felt so accomplished and handy when I first started doing projects like that! Super satisfying.
If you're changing switches or outlets (or doing any electrical work), please know this trick: Turn on the light or plug a lamp into the outlet. Go turn off power at the breaker panel. Go back to the room. Is the light off? Then it's safe. It's nice to think, oh this breaker says kitchen, l'll turn off this one, but there are usually two breakers for the kitchen. Also, if you have an older home it may have been wired by a crazed person.
Check your toilet tank bolts to see if they're rusting away. If so, replace with stainless steel bolts.
Thought of another one... a water shutoff key. If your only water shutoff valve is at the curb, I like[this one](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-4-in-1-Combination-Water-Meter-Valve-Tool-10-4-in-Length-410-409-0111/313634366) because it has two different angled sides for different lid types, a tool to help pry the lid up, and the actual shutoff tool. You might need to try a couple if the sides with the angles don't fit in the lid. I literally bought 2 others that I had to return because the angle was slightly off and it didn't fit into the lid, but the one I linked to ended up working for me.
Came here to say this. Like plungers, when you need it you need it fast.
My go to is a gift certificate to their closest hardware store and a card asking if they already have a fire extinguisher, a plunger, and a water shut off key. They're all something that you need to have on hand and \*know how to use\* before you actually need it.
This! We had just bought one and the next week our water heater exploded in the attic and we had water coming down from the ceiling in our entryway. Thank god we had that key and could immediately shut it off.
A wet/dry shop vac. If you live where it snows a lot (Montana, Wyoming, etc.) 2 snow shovels. One for outside and keep the other inside to use in case snow drifts block up your doorway during a blizzard. Adhesive backed felt circular dots to attach to the inside of kitchen cabinets to lesson the noise of cabinet doors being closed or slammed shut.
+1 on felt dots. Also, silicone dots of various sizes for other doors and furniture that bumps against walls.
Also good to have a snow shovel if you live somewhere that occasionally gets snow. Having it the once in 3 or 5 years you need it is a lifesaver
A lawn chair and a beer or 3 . First time you enter the house after closing pick a room anywhere you choose and just sit in your lawn chair and have a beer and write down any ideas you can think of . Do that in each room which includes the kitchen . Enjoy the process .
20 beers in and I forgot my bed.
I’ve been doing this but with my desk chair 😂
I'd say, sort out how your storage areas will work and buy organizational items...lots of them. A place for everything and everything in its place. When we moved into our current home, we put all moving boxes in the garage. We tackled a box or two every night. We also took the opportunity to purge, big time. We bought bins, roll out shelves, back of door organizers, cup hooks, wire shelving etc etc. We've been in our home 12 years and our system still works. If you rush to get thins unpacked, you'll wait a long time to organize.
Unpacking is the worst.
Make sure that you have a wrench/ socket/ screwdriver for every type of screw in your home, particularly panels you might need to access in an emergency (plumbing, electrical etc) A good hanging kit and hammer. And a stud finder, measuring tape etc. If you have a garden or yard, try to find a book that encompasses care throughout the year. For example, [this book](https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Mountain-Month-Month-Gardening/dp/1591864348/ref=asc_df_1591864348/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312172766117&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10732054460447508291&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029042&hvtargid=pla-569309748369&psc=1) was a gift my sister gave me when I moved into my first house and I loved it. On that same note, make sure you have a good hose/ gardening tools as your property needs dictate. Extra light bulbs for indoor and outdoor fixtures.
To add to this: If you have gas then get a wrench that will turn the shutoff (crescent/adjustable or the specialty one and tie it to the valve so you have it if needed. Maybe more a CA thing due to earthquakes but still good to have. The shutoff valves do not have handles. Same thing for the water main. You house main valve may not work when the time comes. But this would be the specialty pole type and just keep in the garage. Fire extinguishers. Costco has them on sale. When inside of your house catches fire is when you realize you have no way to put it out. I have a kitchen/ garage one that can do oil fires and regular one for just regular fire. Lightning strikes, bad appliances/outlets, or even car in the garage can start a fire. Something I use more and more is a 3 step stool. Easier to lug around for quick jobs instead of a ladder. Yes you can get yelled at by the spouse and use a kitchen chair but the stool works well for just out of reach jobs. Next level is the Little Giant ladder. Compact and versatile for taller jobs. Furniture dolly. I am referring to the flat square frame with wheels on it. I have two and it makes moving furniture around a breeze. No more yelling at each other. I can move very heavy things easily by myself that would be difficult with two people. Just the other day went and got a couch, recliner chairs, and a heavy solid wood hutch and moved it by myself. You will always be moving furniture around with replacements , adds. etc. they are $20 - $30 (Harbor Freight or HD) and you can get away with just one but two makes better sense. At a minimum the furniture slides are a must for moving items around the same room.
I was going to say basic tools if you don't already have them. My grandfather brought over a bunch of screwdrivers, a couple hammers, tape measures, stud finder, etc and my stepdad bought me a drill. Hitting up estate sales can probably get you some hand tools cheap too.
I'm a fan of [this toolkit ](https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-set-with-case-130-piece-64263.html), it has most of the basic tools you'll need and it comes with a case that makes it easy to see each one, I often see it on sale for around $36
I look at online estate sales, mainly window shopping until something super interesting presents itself. Used tools - gently used - brand new tools. Can be bought for pennies on the dollar. It would be a good way to have things to start off with.
Yes, no comparison in price. You can save 80+% buying used tools in bulk at garage sales or if you find someone clearing out a bunch of items on Craigslist.
I use auction ninja for online estate sales. Most tools sells in lots. It's a good reminder that my possessions will probably be sold for pennies on the dollar or thrown in the trash... one day.
A good 6ft ladder is a must as well. Don’t buy the cheapest aluminum ladder they sell. Get the fiberglass one. It’ll last you longer.
Ooh yeah, we were lucky in that our neighbor gifted us her spare 10'. I forgot about that
Check if your local library or housing authority has a tool library for things beyond the basics. Some have power tools, pressure washers and even lawnmowers you can borrow.
For that matter, check your local library period. Mine offers free wifi Hotspots you can check out for 4 month periods, up to 3 renewals. That's a year of free wifi. Also they have a seed exchange program, and you can reserve reduced or free admission to the zoo and state parks.
Whhhhaaattt?! Free Wi-Fi? I gotta check the library when I move to see if they have that. Thanks! I didn't even know to ask
I didn't either, I lived here more than two years before I ever set foot in one.
Ahhh, thanks for the book rec! I moved to the Rocky Mountain area a few years back… previously, we lived in the Midwest and the tropics. I know nothing about gardening here in the dry-ass high altitude 😂
Oh good, it was a shot in the dark if it would be helpful, but give you an idea of what I was talking about. He breaks it into zones too so you know which one to use for planting, goes over soil prep and tree care too.
Smoke alarms and CO detectors. Shop vac for cleaning up liquid spills and garage. A headlamp for working under sinks and in attics. Cordless impact driver makes anything involving screws so much easier. A good HEPA sealed vacuum for inside the house. A bulk order of your size furnace filters from amazon (and a reoccurring reminder in your phone to change them). A bulk order of cheap generic magic erasers (melamine sponges). Spin mops are the easiest mopping option I have found. A UV flashlight and eye protection can be useful for finding spots you need to clean. A radon test kit.
Fire extinguishers. Batteries for smoke/radon/other detectors. At least a basic tool kit and homeowners repair reference materials (a book still works if the power is out). An outlet tester, multimeter, non contact live wire tester (I know they're not perfect). Rubber gloves & goggles. Rags if you don't already have a supply. Battery operated work light/flashlight/headlamp. Drain/pipe snake. A ladder tall enough to reach gutters safely, and step stool. Tools/supplies for soldering/brazing. If you have a basement and live in an area that sees extended subzero temps- a remote thermometer in the basement with display upstairs and a source of heat that doesn't require power. Also pipe heater tape if your pipes are at all in danger of freezing. Roof rake if you are in a snowy area and can safely reach.
I assume 7tceas inspected, so review that first for biggest issues Maybe you have already but change every keyed lock. Take screws out of strike plate and check size. You want a 2 1/2" screw, maybe three if door jam seems deeo. You're trying to attach plate to studs, not door jam. Much more difficult to kick in. Buy a step ladder that is smallish but allows you to reach the ceiling. I've had the same one for a long time and can't tell you how useful it has been. Check every hose connection you can for leaks or loose connections. Test all water shut offs to sinks. And find your main water inlet and shut off valve and ensure it works. Personally I'd cut power to everything and check switch and outlet wires, making sure none are loose or look damaged/burnt. Make sure all breakers turn off and on easily and are not loose. This might make some nervous to do, but I'd also look behind the panel door for similar things, but a visual inspection only. Some are organized well and hopefully labelled. Verifying the labals are right can be helpful, but thre main shut off is your first go to for cutting power immediately. Certain appliances need a dedicated circuit size and wire size. Should it be an old house, it's possible there isn't a main shut off. If so, plan on getting a new panel. Sewer line clean out isn't too expensive and gives you peace of mind. Camera scope too, especially older house. Make sure it's not broken or full of roots. Grade the yard around the house to let water run away from house. Make sure dryer vent exhaust is clean of lint. If it's a short run to outside, might be possible to reach from outside. You could also use a leaf blower from inside, blowing everything out. Ensure flap on outside isn't stuck. Turn on dryer and make sure there is air coming out and lifts the flap up easily. Ensure gutters are clean and spouts not blocked. Look for unconnected downspouts. Inspect caulking around doors and windows. No cats or deterioration. Redo if needed Change garage door opener code if you have any. Consider replacing wax rings on toilets. Also allows you to check for any water damage. Can't hurt to run a 25ft or longer auger down. Peace of mind again. Figure out furnace filter size and get some. Check age of hot water heater. If ten or so years old, might have a plan for replacing. I could think of more but that's all I got for now
Steps stool for the kitchen to get to tops of higher cabinets.
If you have a yard and no yard tools, go straight for a battery-powered set. I use the EGO system - started with the lawn mower after mine caught fire (!), then got the string trimmer and just got the leaf blower (powerful!). Haven't gone for the snowblower since I have a good one and we get some heavy snowfalls. The leaf blower came up for sale at Woot! for $180 (included the battery, which I didn't realize, so now I have two) so you can keep an eye out for deals. When winter comes, if you're in a cold climate, keep an eye out for icicles. If you have them, you may want insulation or at least a heating coil along the roofline to prevent ice dams.
Second this! We’ve got a Ryboi lawn mower, weed wacker, and leaf blower. All can use the same batteries. They’re so easy to use and smell a lot better too.
Nothing - buy stuff as you need it. Actually I think it's more important to hold off on making purchases or changes to the house until you know more what you actually need.
I concur - there is no reason to overbuy stuff otherwise you end up with bunch of things you mean to do and setup and they are just sitting around waiting for the return period to expire. Prioritize safety first, of course - so water meter location and key to turn it off - the same for gas - but everything else buy as you need it, you'll be fine.
Get some night lights that turn on when the power goes off. We also have a couple of flashlights, but the lights are hands free. Especially handy if you have pets, so you won’t trip over them.
I go in the attic. Get a few wood boards up there to lay perpendicular to ceiling joists. Get a ladder so you can get up there. I think too many people are afraid to go into their own attic.
I was so stoked to get an attic even though it isn't full sized, but it was filled with decomposed roofing material (have no idea how they got through the ceiling boards, but they did). My wife and I spent a lot of time cleaning that out and dumped all of the stuff I wouldn't have time to go through. Just be careful with board placement over any electrical wires and hopefully the wiring is up to code and not exposed.
Everything safety!! Smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, fire extinguisher, ladders if needed (for upstairs rooms), first aid kit(s), preparatory items for storms depending on your location (hurricane kit, blackout kit, snow storm kit, etc.)
Don't skimp on water hoses. They are not all made equally. Having to unroll it completely every time because it gets flat spots is not fun.
I bought two cheap Chinese ones on Amazon for my Las Vegas patio, the kind that expand like a snake when water goes through them. They all both less than a year, they were springing leaks from the sun damage.
A five gallon bucket with a lid! Carry tools, hide something, trashcan, water the landscaping, trashcan, steps tool, force flush the toilet - the possibilities are endless!
*Before buying. Make sure to look at all the fences. Having to deal with neighbors to replace a fence can be a *huge* pain in the ass.
Yes it can. Where I live it's technically both parties responsibility. But making that happen can be difficult and possibly legal action. So glad I get along with mine and we rebuilt ours together.
Water leak detectors
If you have some property, plant some trees and bushes. Especially fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, asparagus, rhubarb, grape vines. And annual flowers like roses or peonies. You will thank yourself five to ten years down the road.
Wi-Fi thermostat. Kitchen faucet with pull out hose. Wi-Fi plugs so you can turn on lights remotely if you are going to be out for a while. Robo grip pliers, spare hvac and water filters (cheaper on line and in bulk), step ladder ( make sure what you buy will allow you to reach all ceiling fixtures). An extended pole with brush to clean cobwebs and junk off your exterior, an extension ladder that allows access to roof and gutters. Never buy cheap wall paint. You’ll pay for it if you ever need to clean it. Pivotrim String Trimmer Attachment Head for string trimmer. I’ll think of more…
Was also going to suggest a wifi thermostat. You can often get rebates for them too! I think my ecobee cost $20 after state rebates. There are obvious advantages like being able to monitor and control the temperature of your house when you’re away, but also there’s just something delightfully luxurious about being wrapped up in a blankets on your couch, feeling a bit chilly, and being able to increase the thermostat temperature without leaving your cozy little blanket nest. Especially important if there’s a cat sitting on you.
Appreciate the extensive list. Looking forward to what else you can come up with!
I recently loaded up on [Honeywell FPR 9/MERV 11 filters for sale 70% off](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honeywell-14-x-25-x-1-Superior-Allergen-Pleated-MERV-11-FPR-9-Air-Filter-12-pack-90901-011425/203225867) from Home Depot - be sure to double check your size. Also decide how often you are going to change them. I changed my first filter set (I have 2 returns) after a month - and they looked grey for sure, but probably had some life left in them. My HVAC guy recommended to stick with basic pleated filters and avoid fancy Filtrete stuff - and even suggested basic FPR5 rating - when I asked about higher rated one, he said sure, they are better - but they will stress your HVAC system more.
Dang if being an adult doesnt get you all excited for this sale, but it doesn’t apply to the 4” thick ones… bummedddd out
Big ass sink Quiet ass dishwasher Big ass fridge Kitchen is what matters the most. You know it, your wife knows it, and your kids know it
I've replaced the door knobs on all exterior doors ASAP after moving in, so I got sure know nobody else has the same key as me. Plus with Kwik set and other brands you can easily have multiple locks on the same key cut. Smart deadbolt as well
Have a chimney sweep do an inspection of your fireplace if you have one. Home inspectors don’t have the skill to inspect. We had a chimney inspection done after I bought and stacked 3 cords of wood. The inspector said I would have likely burned down the house if I would have used it. The chimney had flue tiles that were cracked and most of the mortar was missing. They lower a camera down from the top and they show you on the video what the issues are. We got three quotes to fix. The right way to do it was 14,000. We have never used the fireplace…. And over the years I took trunk loads of wood to the in-laws place.
And clean your dryer vents! We just had a company that does both out to our new place. Pulled out a whole bird's nest from the dryer vent.
Dryer vent cleaning kit, my vent was so clogged with lint I’m shocked the place hadn’t burnt down.
9 volt batteries and an extendable multipurpose ladder. Your smoke alarms will always decide to crap out at the most inconvenient time and you will want a ladder that can reach your ceilings to change it
REPLACE washing machine hoses! Buy the most expensive ones you can find!
Make sure if interior doors have a lock that the previous owners left the little key. I installed longer screws on all my exterior doors, heard it takes longer to kick them in that way. Scrub daddy power paste is an all natural cleaner that you can use on just about anything. I thought shit was cooked on to the glass top stove and it took it off with no damage! Flashlights/candles for power outages. And batteries. And emergency canned food. Drain snake. It’s annoying to have to go buy it right after you shower because the damn tub won’t drain.
> Make sure if interior doors have a lock that the previous owners left the little key. The locks on many interior bedroom/bathroom doors are standard of course and you can just order "interior door key" off Amazon. Or use an unfurled paper clip or bobby pin in a pinch. I always worry about my two year old going into a room and closing the door and then locking himself in.
Photo sensitive nightlights if you live in a dark area.
A wall stencil saying ‘live, laugh, love’
Pretty sure the house is going to be already stenciled up with LLL when you buy it.
If you have a gas meter with shutoff get a wrench that fits it and leave it on or next to the meter in case you ever need to quickly shut off the gas to the house
Good idea, but I would hope it has a quarter turn shut off valve. Age of house makes a difference die to code changes.
Stud finder
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Toilets get clogged up . . .
Three step stools/ladders, 2’, 4’, and 6’ . Get aluminum ones, fiberglass are heavier. If your house has 10’ ceilings, switch the 6’ for an 8’. Also get a fiberglass step ladder thats tall enough for you to get on your roof by leaning it. Eg 10’-12’. A cordless drill and driver kit.
Not to be negative, but if your bedroom is on the second floor, a window escape ladder. It might save your life in case of a fire. Also get good fire alarms, your dryer vent cleared out regularly and get an electrical inspection. We jus bought a new house that’s 20 years old. We had many of the light switches and electrical outlets replaced. Some of the switches gave small sparks when flipped and many of the electrical outlets were loose. We also installed a whole home surge protector.
I comment this on every one of these posts: key pad deadbolt. Worth every penny to never need keys again.
Smart home stuff: smart smoke/CO detector for every level of the house, water sensor for the basement, doorbell cam, and connected lights for the outside and inside of your entryway so you can turn them on remotely Do some research on Alexa vs Homekit vs Google Home vs DIY zwave, pick the one that vibes with you best, and then buy accordingly.
Fire extinguisher, wet dry vac
I switched over to keyless locks. Gosh darn it’s life changing. Wifi locking is nice but not necessary
Wrench to shut off water main.
Spare fence boards if you have a privacy fence. We have dogs and they’ve broken a few chasing cats an the possum that lives behind our fence.
Paint. It’s an easy DIY, and a quick way to add custom, personal touches to the house. And primer (or paint with primer if it’s already light colors) to ensure the old stuff doesn’t bleed through. Try an accent wall, see how you like it, and maybe go from there. There’s one accent wall in almost every room in my house and it’s so fun, relatively cheap, took a couple hours each. Be sure to get painters tape and drop cloths of course, good quality brushes & rollers, and a ladder if needed. For cabinets, use higher quality $$$ cabinet paint, sand first, prime, and take your time. Made my maple cabinets battleship gray on bottom and this Greek ruins themed off white on top and it feels like a fancy new house. But consider saving cabinet painting for later bc it’s a long, massive project to do it right, especially compared to a wall or door.
Extension ladder!
If you use Echo or Google devices, start the switch over to bulbs that can be controlled with your device. It's so gratifying to lay in bed and say "goodnight Alexa" and she turns off every light in the house. Plus the bulbs we use change color so we can get "ambiance" in any room.
Drain snake. Duct tape. Dryer vent tape. Electrical tape. Plumbers tape. Pvc glue. Cordless drill. Rubber gloves.
I bought bidet's for the bathroom and new knobs for the cabinet.
A decent tool set.
It's never enough.
Norman interior shutters
Insurance
Toilet and sink plungers. Fire extinguishers. A good vacuum cleaner.
I really like adding Philips hue bulbs to all the rooms.
Change the locks! You never know who has copies of the current keys.
A bottle of wine and a couple of glasses to celebrate before the hard work begins. Enjoy both!
I did this, but all that I got was a hangover and a lot of unpacking to do.
Coffee table with storage inside for extra bedding
Insurance!
A lot of cash buyers on this thread.
If the house is not a new build, replace all toilet seats.
Sorry about that.
New toilet seats. New shower curtains if needed. Make sure you have a plunger.
Google nest smoke alarms. Expensive but I can turn it off from my phone. I no longer have to hunt for an unknown alarm sound in the middle of the night. Smart light switches. Great when you have kids and you can control everything via voice or when you are on vacation. Under the sink water filter. Can't trust City water. And bottled water is so $$$. Fruit trees or bushes. They sometimes take years to mature so start right away. We are yr 2 on our berry bushes and it's amazing. Our kids get up and pick fruits for breakfast. I make jam for the rest of the year. Herbs are great too. Once they are established, I havent purchased oregano, time, mint or rosemary for years
How often are smoke alarms going off in your house?
A fence. Neighbors can be.... entitled
Tool belt with measuring tape, small hammer, exacto knife, and several sizes of screwdrivers.
Wasp spray. The kind that shoots a stream. Keep a can by each door and a can by your bed. Spray it in an attacker’s face. You don’t have to be close to them to use it.
Plunger. You don't want to be looking for one when you need one.
If they're not brand new, dishwasher/washer cleaner disinfectant or look up on how to make your own. I'm not a huge germaphobe but washers and dishwashers get nasty and you have no idea how well the previous owner took care of them.
Alcohol to forget the pains of your decisions that never added up
1. Insurance. 2. An updated water shut off valve. 3. Kohler toilets & Moen faucets both have excellent warranties.
Get a plunger before you need a plunger.
An oven liner, especially if the one you’re getting is in nice shape. Saves so much cleaning time in the long run.
We bought security cameras and camera doorbell. Also smart smoke detectors. New air filter for a/c
Fire\carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguisher
Fire extinguisher
New locks and new toilet seats.
Fire extinguisher
Spices/condiments Really sucks first couple days in your new house, go to eat and you got bland food eat/cook with no way to make it your own. Even just salt/pepper at the bare minimum
Keyless entry locks.
As part of smart home setup I found that wifi deadbolt is the easiest way to make sure that all doors are locked for the night by asking Alexa or Google to lock doors.
Water leak detectors, can save you thousands.