Things New Homeowners Need to Buy: A Comprehensive Guide

A late 2017 survey found that 32 percent of Americans plan to buy a home within the next five years. While home ownership comes with a high cost in many markets, people still view it as a better deal than renting.

If you’re in the market for a house, you may have trouble imagining what happens after your offer gets accepted. The work involved with finding the right home can give you tunnel vision.

But there are still certain things new homeowners need to buy. Keep reading for a list of 5 of the most important things to buy after buying a house.

1. A Vacuum and Mop

Sure, your new home looks nice and tidy now. But that new home aura won’t last forever. You’ll be lucky if it lasts a week.

Buy a vacuum and mop when you move in, if not before you get the keys. That way, you’ll be ready when that first spill happens.

If you already have both a vacuum and mop, now’s a good time to upgrade. Look for a vacuum that works on both wet and dry surfaces.

2. Bathroom Supplies

Sure, you might not have to fire up the kitchen stove on your first day or two in the new home. But you will need to use the bathroom.

You should walk into your new home with toilet paper and hand soap, at the very least. You’ll also need to buy a shower curtain and bathroom rugs within the first 24 hours, if not sooner.

Moving is sweaty, physical work. Make sure you’re equipped for a shower or bath break.

3. First Aid Kit

If you get out of the moving process without any cuts or scrapes, you’re either very lucky or you hired movers.

A first aid kit should be at the top of any list of things for a home. You can build your own first aid kit if you want. But most stores sell kits that include bandages, gauze, creams, and even over-the-counter painkillers.

4. Insurance Coverage

Homeowners insurance isn’t a tangible thing you can pick up at your local big box store. But new home insurance is something you absolutely must secure before moving in.

You can call a few local agents if you have time. If you don’t, never fear: you can also compare home insurance quotes online.

Homeowners insurance will be more expensive than renters insurance. But you’re responsible for a lot more now. That responsibility means you must not wait to shop for home insurance.

5. Trash Cans

You may not think of yourself as a trashy person. But we all start collecting trash within the first hour or two of moving into a new home.

It’s a fair bet that moving stirs up dust, and dust gives you allergies. After you blow your nose, where’s that dirty tissue paper going?

At a minimum, you need a trash can for both the kitchen and bathroom. It doesn’t hurt to buy a couple of extras as well.