The First 7 Things Every New Homeowner Should Buy Before Move In Day

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Buying a house has a funny way of making you spend money before you even get the keys.

You start looking at couches, TVs, patio furniture, paint colors, and all the other stuff that makes the house feel like yours. Meanwhile, the things that can actually protect the house or help during an emergency get pushed to the bottom of the list.

Nobody gets excited about buying a fire extinguisher.

But you will be glad you bought one if you ever need it.

Before you load up on decorations and new furniture, handle the boring stuff first. These purchases can help you deal with fires, leaks, power outages, minor injuries, clogged toilets, and all the small problems that seem to appear the minute you become responsible for a home.

And if you have not reached the closing table yet, make sure you understand what can delay a home closing and what usually does not. There is no sense scheduling the moving truck before you know the loan is actually ready to close.

Here are the first seven things every new homeowner should buy before move in day.

1. Working Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Before worrying about furniture or decorations, make sure the home has working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Do not assume they are fine because you saw them attached to the ceiling during your final walkthrough. Test every alarm. Check the batteries. Look at the manufacture date, and make sure there are enough alarms throughout the house.

This is especially important if the home has a furnace, fireplace, gas appliances, or an attached garage.

The X-Sense Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm combines both types of detection in one unit.

A combination alarm can make it easier to cover both risks without installing two separate devices in every area.

The important part is not the brand name. The important part is knowing the alarms work before you and your family spend the first night in the house.

2. A Real Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is one of those products everybody plans to buy eventually.

Eventually usually means after something happens.

Buy one before move in day, place it somewhere accessible, and make sure every adult in the home knows where it is. Do not bury it behind cleaning supplies, boxes, or everything else stored under the kitchen sink.

The Ougist ABC Fire Extinguisher is a compact dry chemical extinguisher intended for several common types of household fires.

Read the instructions before you need it. Make sure you understand how to remove the safety pin and operate it. You do not want the first time you look at the directions to be while something is burning.

Check the extinguisher periodically and replace or service it according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Also remember that an extinguisher is meant for a small, manageable fire with a clear escape route behind you. It is not a reason to stay inside a dangerous building. When in doubt, get everyone out and call emergency services.

3. Water Leak Sensors

Water is one of the quietest ways a house can turn into a very expensive problem.

A washing machine hose can drip behind the appliance. A water heater can begin leaking slowly. A pipe under the sink can develop a small leak that goes unnoticed until the cabinet or flooring is already damaged.

Water leak sensors are small devices that sit near areas where water should not be. When moisture reaches the sensor, it sounds an alarm. Some smart versions can also send an alert to your phone.

Place the GoveeLife Smart Water Leak Detector near the water heater, washing machine, sump pump, basement floor drain, dishwasher, and under sinks.

The sensor will not stop the leak, but it can warn you before a small amount of water becomes soaked flooring, damaged drywall, ruined cabinets, or mold.

You should also find the main water shutoff before move in day.

Do not wait until water is pouring through the ceiling to start searching around the basement with your phone flashlight. Find the shutoff, label it, and make sure the adults in the home know how to use it.

4. A Rechargeable Flashlight

Yes, your phone has a flashlight.

Your phone will also somehow be at 12 percent battery when the power goes out.

Every homeowner should have at least one real flashlight that stays in the same location. You should not have to search through drawers and moving boxes every time the lights go out.

The Lylting Rechargeable LED Flashlight is a high-powered rechargeable option with multiple lighting modes.

A good flashlight is useful for more than power outages. You will use it when checking the basement, looking inside a crawlspace, inspecting the attic, searching behind appliances, working outside at night, or trying to figure out why the furnace is making a strange noise.

Charge it before move in day and check the battery every few months.

It is also smart to keep a smaller backup flashlight somewhere else in the house. One in the kitchen and one near the bedrooms is much better than one flashlight that nobody can find.

5. A Proper First-Aid Kit

Moving into a house involves box cutters, nails, ladders, broken glass, furniture corners, and at least one person trying to carry something that clearly requires two people.

Somebody is probably going to need a bandage.

A proper first-aid kit saves you from searching through bathroom drawers while someone is bleeding on the new carpet.

The M2 Basics 350 Piece First-Aid Kit comes in an organized hard case and includes a wide variety of basic first-aid supplies.

Keep the kit somewhere easy to reach, but out of reach of small children. Everyone in the household should know where it is.

Check the contents occasionally. Supplies get used, packaging becomes damaged, and certain products may eventually expire.

You may also want to add any household-specific items you regularly use, such as children’s bandages, an instant cold pack, a thermometer, or emergency contact information.

A first-aid kit does not replace professional medical care. It simply gives you the basics for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and other small injuries.

6. A Basic Tool Kit

Homeownership creates small jobs almost immediately.

A cabinet handle comes loose. A door hinge starts squeaking. A towel bar needs tightening. A piece of furniture needs to be assembled. Suddenly, you are standing in the garage trying to use a butter knife as a screwdriver.

You do not need to buy every tool at the hardware store. You do need a few basics.

The DEKOPRO 228 Piece Tool Kit includes common hand tools, sockets, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, a hammer, and a storage case.

A complete starter kit gives you one place to keep everything. That alone makes a big difference because you can see what you already own and what may be missing.

Use it for simple jobs you understand. Do not let owning a large tool kit convince you that you are suddenly qualified to rewire the electrical panel or repair a gas line.

Electrical, structural, roofing, major plumbing, and gas-related work may require a licensed professional.

Once you have the basics covered, check out these five additional tools every new homeowner should have after closing. That guide covers useful items such as an outlet tester, stud finder, moisture meter, thermal camera, and laser measuring tool.

7. A Plunger and Basic Drain Supplies

This is the least glamorous purchase on the list, which is exactly why people forget it.

Buy a good toilet plunger before you need one.

Not after the toilet starts overflowing.

Not when a guest is standing outside the bathroom looking concerned.

Before.

It is also useful to have a separate sink plunger, a small drain snake, a bucket, rubber gloves, and several old towels available for cleanup.

Pay attention to toilets, sinks, and drains that move slowly during your first few days in the home. A recurring clog, sewage smell, gurgling drain, backup, or unexplained water should not be ignored.

That does not always mean there is a major plumbing problem, but repeatedly plunging the same drain is not a permanent repair.

Avoid assuming that harsh chemical drain cleaner is the answer to every clog. The product may not reach the actual blockage, and it may create additional concerns depending on the plumbing system.

When a clog keeps coming back, call a plumber and find out what is causing it.

Do Not Spend Every Dollar on Move In Day

Buying a home is expensive, and the spending does not stop once the loan closes.

There are moving expenses, utility deposits, repairs, furniture, tools, maintenance, and all the small purchases nobody remembers to include in the budget.

That is one reason the amount a lender approves is not always the amount a buyer should comfortably spend. Before buying, it helps to understand how much house you can really afford rather than simply relying on the lender’s maximum approval.

You can also use the free Loan Under Review mortgage calculators to estimate the payment, taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, and other housing costs before making an offer.

Leave yourself some breathing room after closing.

You do not need to furnish every room during the first weekend. You do not need the perfect patio set immediately. You do not need to replace everything simply because the previous owner chose a color you do not like.

Start with safety. Then deal with the things the house actually needs.

Buy the Boring Stuff First

The exciting purchases make the house feel new.

The boring purchases help you protect it.

Start with working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, a fire extinguisher, leak sensors, a rechargeable flashlight, a first-aid kit, a basic tool kit, and a plunger.

Once those are handled, go buy the throw pillows, giant TV, smart refrigerator, or whatever else has been sitting in your cart since the offer was accepted.

Being prepared will not prevent every problem that comes with owning a house.

It will make the first few problems a lot easier to handle.