New Home Essentials Checklist: 11 Must-Haves You Need After a Big Move

Moving into a new home is an equally exciting and stressful experience. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, renter or you’re simply relocating, you might be surprised at how many things you have to think about. In the middle of planning all of your larger items, such as the main furniture or household appliances, you might disregard a couple of essential things that will surely come in handy before or shortly after the big move. To help the process run smoothly, we compiled an ultimate list of basic items that covers all the essentials you need for your new home:

1. New door lock

Changing the door lock after moving is always a good idea since you’re never sure who has had access to the property before. Chances are you’re not the first person to call it home, so the safest way to make sure there are no random people out there who could have copies of your key is to opt for a new one. When you’re choosing a new lock, it’s important to make sure your home is easily accessible, but it also keeps you safe against any possible intruders, which is why investing in a quality product is essential. You can either add a new deadbolt, make a straight trade for a standard lock, or even go for an electronic keyless lock. At the end of the day, these smart locks don’t only allow for more control, but eliminate the fear of losing your keys altogether.

2. Cleaning supplies

The next must-have element is a well-stocked, organized cleaning kit. The entire moving process can get quite messy, and no matter how cautious you are, after unpacking and settling into your new home, you are usually left with a lot of dirt and dust. The good news is, you can tackle the mess without too much trouble if you equip yourself with a professional cleaning kit in advance. This kit should be easily transportable and should contain a wide range of essential products as well as the right tools to guarantee great results. The main and most effective products you should get your hands on are a good all-purpose cleaner, a disinfectant, furniture polish, bleach, microfiber cloths, paper towels, gloves and sponges. Apart from these, you should add any products or tools you consider necessary, just make sure you have it all ready by the time you move in.

3. Tool kit

While we’re on the subject of essential kits, another piece of equipment much needed in a new home is a good old tool kit. You might overlook this one since you’ll probably assume you don’t need to fix something right after you move into a new place. However, fixing stuff is not the only chance you’ll have to use your kit. Unless you expect to hang a picture on the wall by driving a nail with the heel of your shoe, you’ll need a nice practical tool set at your fingertips. If you don’t want to spend too much money and you’re rather inexperienced in the homeownership area, you can start with a small investment and make your own small tool kit with just a couple of bucks, which can then be spread out over time as necessary. A couple of must-haves for beginners are a good, quality hammer, a screwdriver set, a drill, a set of vise grips, a ply bar, a utility knife and last, but not least, the toolbox itself. You’ll probably find yourself reaching for these, again and again, so don’t hesitate to start an ambitious new phase of DIY by assembling your own toolkit and use it as a basis to build your future inventory.

4. First aid and medical supplies

We all know that every home, whether it is new or not, must have a first aid kit ready to be used at all times. Accidents occur when you least expect them, so it’s crucial that you have the basic medical supplies on hand to address any small injury. Even if it’s not a substitute for professional medical care, most of the time it’s sufficient to deal with minor scrapes, burns or bug bites without much trouble. According to American Red Cross, an effective first aid kit should always have the following items: absorbent compress dressings, adhesive bandages, cloth tape, antibiotic ointment packets, antiseptic wipe packets, aspirin, an emergency blanket, a breathing barrier, an instant cold compress, a couple of nonlatex gloves, a couple of hydrocortisone ointment packets, a gauze roll bandage, sterile gauze pads, an oral thermometer and tweezers. Just like the previously mentioned kits, you can purchase a ready-made one or make your own, based on your specific needs.

5. Kitchen necessities

The area that requires the most items that can easily be overlooked is probably the kitchen. Apart from the main appliances, supplying a new kitchen takes much more than bringing in plates, cups and eating utensils, so if you want to avoid the situation of being caught off guard when attempting to make your very first home-made dinner, refer to this list when shopping to make sure you won’t miss a thing.

First of all, you’ll need a couple of kitchen tools for cooking preparation, such as a kitchen scale, measuring utensils, a grater, a couple of mixing bowls, a cutting board and, most importantly, at least one sharp knife. Moving on, you also have to think about something to cook your food in, so make sure you invest in some frying pans, pots and, of course, a baking sheet. Next, you can’t forget about storage containers and plastic bags, as well as napkins, cloths, dishwasher soap and sponges.

Once you’re done with all the main cooking and cleaning tools, you can move along to what the kitchen is actually all about, namely food. Apart from the regulars, like dairy, fruits, vegetables, meats, grains and water, you also have to think about filling up your pantry with the correct kitchen essentials that will allow you to cook up most recipes you have in mind. The main ingredients you’ll always need are the following: baking powder, baking soda, an oil of your choice, flour, sugar, vinegar and condiments such as salt, pepper, cinnamon, chili powder, thyme, turmeric and so on.

The goal is to build a well-equipped kitchen that fits your own personal needs, so don’t hesitate to add any items that you consider essential to the list above and enjoy your brand-new cooking area.

6. Hangers

Now that the kitchen is all set, we can move on to another important area of your home, which is the closet. When you’re moving to a new place, clothes are among the first things you pack and unpack, and we all know that packing all your clothes requires quite a lot of organization skills. However, unpacking them can be an even more tedious task. If you want your brand-new closet to function properly and to look dreamy, you have to stock up on the right supplies, which are hangers, and not just any hangers, but high quality ones. Based on how heavy and how sensitive your clothes are, you can get plastic hangers in a variety of shapes and colors for light clothing items, and wooden ones for suits, sweaters and knits, as well as for your coat closet, where these thick, curved hangers are ideal.

While you’re sorting through all your clothing items, you can look at it as an opportunity to do a big decluttering session and keep only the pieces you actually wear. You can store your out-of-season clothes in a storage unit nearby and donate or sell all the items you no longer need.

7. Iron & ironing board

Still on the subject of clothes, you don’t only have to keep them organized, but also in their best condition, which requires regular ironing. Even if this is yet another item you might forget about, it’s an absolute essential if you want to always look presentable and keep your shirts look as crisp as when they were new. Don’t forget to invest in a good, sturdy ironing board as well as a high-quality iron. You can opt for a basic type, which is usually inexpensive and easily available, a steam iron, which creates a neater finish and a smoother press job with the help of steam, or even purchase the latest innovation in the field – the vertical steam iron, a version that is more expensive but also proves to be an excellent time saver.

8. Batteries

Next on our list are the must-haves you’ll need for safety reasons, such as short or long-term power outage, but also to make sure all your gadgets work well. Everything from LED lights to remote controls rely on these portable storehouses of energy, so you don’t want to be caught unprepared when one of your batteries runs out. First, you have to figure out what types of batteries you need in your home and then stock up. Based on the sizes you need, you can opt for single-use batteries, that are cheaper, widely available and have a low self-discharge rate, or rechargeable ones, that generate less waste and offer a better long-term value than single-use, but are a bit more expensive.

9. Fire extinguisher

If your home is already equipped with a smoke alarm, you might think that is the beginning and end of fire safety. However, a fire extinguisher is an absolutely essential item on our list, as every home needs at least one to make sure basic hazards, such as kitchen fires, can be quickly handled. You have to keep one within easy reach and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is and how to use it. Moreover, don’t forget to inspect it regularly and replace the extinguisher when it’s expired. It’s not only the professionals who need these lifesaving devices; you have to be prepared yourself because you never know when an emergency will occur.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are five primary types of fire extinguishers, and each of them is designed to put out different types of fire. Type A is for use with ordinary materials like cloth, wood and paper, type B, for use with combustible and flammable liquids, type C is for use with electrical equipment, type D for flammable metals and type K for use with oils and fats in cooking appliances.

10. Home Security

On top of our priority list is an adequate security system to keep your new home safe at all times. With a variety of options on the market, you can surely find the home security system that fits your needs at a price you can afford. You can either go for a self-install system, that is relatively easy to set up, or contact a security company and opt for a professional safety system.

11. A storage unit

There are plenty of reasons to rent a self-storage unit, whether you need to store your belongings during a big move temporarily or to store some of them long-term after downsizing. Putting your items in a storage unit while you’re going through a relocating process and then slowly moving them into your new space makes it much easier to decide what goes where, what to keep and what to donate or sell, all while saving you from being overwhelmed by a pile of things deposited in the middle of your living room by your movers.

Safety and security are the top priorities when you choose a storage unit, but there are a few other services you need to check out before you make your decision, such as pricing, accessibility, location, availability and reviews. Once you’re well informed, you can make a smart decision and get in touch with a storage facility that fits your preferences.

Now that you’re caught up with all the main things you need for your new home, stock up on all the necessities and enjoy this adventure to the fullest!