Things to Buy For a New House

While moving into a new home is an exciting process, it can also quickly become overwhelming. Not only do you have mountains of boxes to unpack, you may find that you are also lacking certain necessities for daily life. Many times during a move, we discard things like pantry items, cleaning supplies, and even a mattress or two in favor of lightening the load. It can be difficult, at first, to know which items to replace immediately, and which can wait until you are more settled in. Read our list of things to buy for a new house to help you get started. 

Must-Have Items When You Move to a New House

Insurance

It isn’t just “stuff” you’ll be needing when you first move in. Make sure you have purchased homeowners insurance for your new dwelling that provides adequate coverage and a reasonable deductible for things like roof or water damage. Depending on where you live, you may also want to purchase flood insurance and umbrella insurance. 

You will also need to update your auto insurance information to your new address. If you have moved to a different state, you will also need to transfer your registration and purchase a new state license. 

Health insurance information will also need to be updated. Again, if you are in a new state, you may need to cancel your policy and find a new one on the state’s health marketplace. Your move qualifies you for a special enrollment, so you shouldn’t have any trouble even if you are outside of the general enrollment period. 

Utilities

You will need to purchase gas, electric, water, and trash services for your new home. If you will be using the same company for one or more of these, you may only need to transfer your services to the new address. In other cases where you will be working with a new provider, be sure to set up your services for the day you plan to move in. You will not want to attempt moving without running water, lights, or air conditioning. 

Internet Service

In today’s world, the internet is a necessity, especially if you are planning on resuming remote work fairly quickly after your move. It will also be handy to have WIFI so you can order a few takeout meals while you get your kitchen ready. Again, if you are using the same provider, you may just need to update your address. Otherwise, cancel your current provider and set up a new account with your local Internet Services Provider as soon as possible. 

Kitchen

The kitchen is undoubtedly one of the biggest undertakings in a new home. You will need quite a few items to transform it into a fully functioning space:

Refrigerator

Unless you plan on eating out for every single meal, you will need a refrigerator. Hopefully, your new home has one already installed. If not, consider ordering a new or used one as soon as possible. Tip: you can often get great deals on new refrigerators with slight cosmetic defects. 

Small Appliances

Most small appliances can wait in your new kitchen, but a few might be important to have right away:

• Coffee maker
• Toaster
• Blender
• Tea kettle

Miscellaneous Kitchen Items

Other items that will be nice to have on hand right away in your new kitchen (if you didn’t pack them already) include:

• Oven mitts
• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Paring knife
• Aluminum foil
• Ziploc bags
• Dishwasher detergent
• Liquid soap
• Sponge/scrub brush
• Spatula
• Mixing spoons
• Trash can and liners
• Can opener
• Utensils
• Plates
• Cups
• Coffee mugs
• Paper towels and holder
• Dish towels

Bedroom

If you haven’t packed your mattress, plan on purchasing a new one as soon as possible. While you can, theoretically, sleep on the floor or an air mattress, your body and soul will thank you for a good night’s rest during all the chaos and heavy lifting. 

Miscellaneous Bedroom Items

Other items you may not have brought with you but that you will need fairly quickly include:

• Dresser
• Night stand
• Reading lamp
• Hangers
• Sheets
• Blankets
• Pillows

Bathroom

The bathroom tends to be the primary target of the throw-away tactic while moving. Old towels, mats, and curtains don’t seem worth bringing along until you realize you cannot take a shower because you threw away the old curtain hooks. Use this list to make sure your new bathrooms are well stocked:

• Toilet paper
• Bath mats
• Towels
• Wash cloths
• Shower curtain
• Shower curtain liner
• Shower curtain hooks
• Hand soap
• Hand towels
• Antiseptic cleanser or wipes
• Plunger
• Toilet brush
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Soap or body wash
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Waste baskets

Laundry Room

Your new home may or may not have come with a washer and dryer. This is another essential purchase, especially if you have children. Again, you can find great deals on brand new appliances that have small cosmetic defects. 

Other items needed for the laundry room include:

• Laundry baskets/hampers
• Laundry detergent
• Hangers
• Dryer sheets
• Waste basket
• Bleach
• Stain remover

Safety

Make sure your home is equipped with basic safety items. Moving heavy objects and installing new appliances carries a certain amount of risk, and you’ll want to be prepared in the rare event of injury. Be sure to include the following on your list:

• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Fire box for important documents
• Locks and keys for the home and safes
• Surge protectors
• Flashlights

Garden

If your new home comes with a back yard, add these items to your list if you haven’t brought them with:

• Garden hose
• Garden shears
• Lawnmower
• Edger
• Ladder
• Gloves
• Snow shovel
• All purpose shovel
• Rake

Odds and Ends

Certain items always seem to be missing when you need them, so having a stash will save you a lot of frustration:

• Batteries
• Light bulbs
• Phone chargers
• Vacuum filters
• Tissues
• Hammer
• Screwdrivers
• Nails
• Screws
• Scotch tape
• Packing tape/duct tape
• Super glue
• Sewing kit

Download Our Free Move-In Checklist

Get Ready to Sell Your Colorado Home

Moving is a big undertaking, especially when trying to sell your home at the same time. Make sure you hire an experienced Realtor to help the transition go as smoothly as possible. If you are looking to sell your home in Colorado, contact Brenda Kellogg Meyer. Brenda has years of experience buying and selling homes and an entire team of professionals at the ready, from staging to photography to cleaning. Call or go online to get started today.