20 Things You’ll Need for Your First Home

Congratulations on buying your first home! I'm right there with you — I made the leap into homeownership at the tail end of last year.   

You probably accumulated plenty of "stuff" before buying your very first home, so I'm not going to tell you to buy plates and a frying pan. Instead, I’ve listed things you need for protecting your first home, plus some practical items you'll need sooner than later. 

Your home should always feel like a safe haven, and a home security system helps keep it that way. Think beyond burglaries: the best home security systems can also protect your home from fire and water damage. Some also offer up a ton of convenient home automations. Check out our top burglar alarm system recommendations.

Now that you're a homeowner, you've unlocked a whole new level of home security. The biggest names in the biz — namely Vivint and ADT — install hardwired equipment and therefore require homeownership. But you can still go the DIY security route.

Read more:

• How to Reactivate a Home Security System
• Do I Really Need a Home Security System?
• How to Choose a Security System

Your new home should already have smoke detectors installed, but it's up to you to make sure they work and are installed in all the right places.

Even if you don't need to install extras, consider replacing a few of the existing alarms with smart smoke detectors. These connect to Wi-Fi and can let you know there's a problem even when you're not home to hear the beeps.  

Don't stop with smoke alarms, though. Grab carbon monoxide detectors and radon detectors while you're at it. And if your home uses natural gas, it doesn't hurt to have a gas leak detector on hand too.

Read more:

• A Guide to Smoke Detector Installation and Maintenance
• Where Should I Install Smoke Detectors and Fire Alarms?
• How to Detect a Gas Leak in Your Home

Now that you’re in charge of your castle, you can benefit from knowing who’s at the door — even when you’re not home. A Wi-Fi enabled smart doorbell lets you see when that important package is delivered, when the kids get home from school, and who dares knock during the dinner hour.

Read more:

• How Do Doorbell Cameras Work?
• What Is the Ring Doorbell and How Does It Work?
• How to Install a Ring Video Doorbell in 10 Easy Steps

Smoke alarms aren’t the beginning and end of fire safety — you also need to be sure your new home is equipped with a fire extinguisher and that you know how to use it.

My stove caught fire within my first year as a homeowner. Luckily, I was right there when the flames erupted and I had an extinguisher within easy reach. Dinner was ruined, but it could've been so much worse if I hadn't been prepared. 

Read more:

• How to Properly Use a Fire Extinguisher
• How Can I Prevent a House Fire?
• What Should I Do in the Event of a House Fire?

This one's a bit of a splurge, especially if your bank account feels a little flimsy after the downpayment. But you'll be happy you thought ahead and got a home generator if your new town is prone to bad weather events like ice storms.

Powering a space heater and the fridge can be just enough to keep you and your family comfortable while you wait for the electrical crews to finish up.

It’s smart to purchase a home safe or lockbox to hold important documents — like the title to your new home — and other valuables. Make sure you choose one that is both waterproof and fireproof.

Depending on what you need to keep safe, you can find a box or safe starting at around $30 to safeguard crucial documents like birth certificates, banking records, and other sensitive information.

Chances are you’re not the first person to call your house home. The safest way to ensure random keys to your front door aren’t floating around in the world is to swap out your current door lock for a new one.

You can make a straight trade for a standard lock, add a new deadbolt, or upgrade to an electronic keyless lock. Smart locks get rid of lost keys all together so you'll never be locked out of your home.

Read more:

• Best Sliding Glass Door Locks
• Best Aftermarket Window Locks

From one new homeowner to another, let me just say ... don't skip this one.

I had no idea water was such a pain in the you-know-what until I was responsible for my very own house. It's very hard to detect a water leak until it is right in front of your face — and at that point you might be dealing with rot, mold, and general yuck. 

For example, when my sewer line backed up, there was a waterfall in my crawlspace. I didn't notice right away because I'm not in the habit of going under there. And it was a surprisingly quiet waterfall. 

Water leak sensors tell you there's a problem before it gets out of hand. Put them in areas where you hardly ever look: under the tub, sink, garbage disposal, washing machine, and dishwasher; in the crawl space under major plumbing and sewer lines; near the drains in your basement; and literally anywhere else you could possibly imagine water dripping or collecting.

Read more:

• Common Pipe Problems and How to Avoid Them
• How Can I Prevent My Home from Flooding?
• What Do I Do If My House Floods?

If you've got a toddler, take stock of your babyproofing gear and buy extras if needed. For example, you might need a baby gate for the top of the stairs in your new home or an extra pack of cabinet locks to secure all the doors in your new kitchen. 

Read more:

• Child Safety Tips
• Baby and Toddler FAQs
• Safety Hazards to Watch for Around the House

Keeping an eye on your home — and your loved ones or pets — feels even more important once you’re a homeowner. Security cameras can provide extra comfort, especially when you’re getting used to a new neighborhood and routine.

Read more:

• Beginner's Guide to Security Cameras
• What Should I Look for When Buying a Security Camera?
• How Many Security Cameras Do I Need?

To make sure your first impression on the neighbors isn’t an awkward sighting of you in your skivvies, invest in window coverings for your new home. Plus, curtains are a quick way to add coziness, cut down on drafts, and prevent potential burglars from checking out your stuff.

If you have pets or kids (or plan to), we recommend cordless shades and blinds. Traditional pull cords represent a strangulation hazard.

In order to fix things around the house, you need the necessary tools at your fingertips. It’s just not practical to borrow a tool from your neighbor every time something needs fixing. (Plus, you don’t want to become the Homer Simpson of the neighborhood.)

Now that you’re a homeowner, you’re also a handyman, plumber, and the person who has to investigate weird noises in the attic or crawl space — like when a cat gets locked in your crawl space and mysterious meows follow you all day and night. (True story.)

It’s smart to get a couple heavy-duty flashlights and keep them somewhere handy so you can find them when you need them. In addition, I highly recommend a headlamp and a standing work light. We've used both countless times in our home repairs.

Your new neighbors (and perhaps your new Home Owner's Association) might not be pleased if you let the grass grow wild because you forgot to budget for a lawn mower.

And while it seems like a weird thing to buy online, you can definitely get one shipped to your door. Even riding lawnmowers can be delivered.

Or, sign up for a lawn mowing service while you get settled. It'll take some of the pressure off you while you figure out what to do. Another option is to approach your new neighbors and offer to pay them to borrow their mower.

Read more:

• The 15 Must-Dos of Fall Yard Cleanup
• The Complete Backyard Safety Checklist

You might already have these things on hand from your days as a renter. But if you borrowed them from your roommates or parents, it's time to get your own.

My home was pretty clean when I finally turned the key and walked in as A Homeowner. But I was grateful to have cleaning supplies at the ready when I saw that the kitchen drawers had some greasy goo inside. 

If you don't have a stockpile of sprays and scrubby brushes yet, check out our recommended all-natural cleaning products to avoid sending volatile organic compounds into the air of your lovely new home. 

We’re back to getting caught in a state of undress — don’t do it. In order to take a shower with privacy, and without flooding the bathroom, you need to remember to pick up a shower curtain, liner, and hooks.

And the bonus is that this can be a fun purchase; there are so many decorative shower curtains to choose from. My fave is the snorkeling beagle shower curtain. But if you prefer a spa vibe, these waffle weave hotel quality shower curtains from LiBa will turn your shower into a relaxing oasis.

While you’re thinking about the bathroom, you may as well add a toilet plunger to your shopping list. You don’t want to discover you’re missing one when the need arises. Save yourself future stress and make sure you have one handy in a restroom emergency.

We like this True Fresh toilet brush and plunger duo. Its hard to make a plunger look attractive, but this set has a sleek design (the stainless steel is a nice touch!) meant to take up limited space in your powder room. Best of all, you have a cleaner and a plunger all in one, so no need to manage two stands.

Speaking of bathroom must-haves, don't forget to put toilet paper and soap in the bathroom right away. 

It might seem obvious, but batteries are a must-have for every home. Get the big ones for your flashlights and stock up on AA and AAA batteries for all the remotes and other gadgets that make modern life so convenient. Everything from remote controls to LED lights rely on fresh batteries, and no one wants to be caught unprepared when the batteries run out.

Even if there are already bulbs in your home’s fixtures, you need backups for when those lights start burning out—and they always seem to do it at the same time. Stock up on energy-efficient bulbs.

Or take it one step further with smart lightbulbs that you can set to turn on and off at designated times and control remotely through your computer or smartphone. We like these dimmable bulbs from Linkind. My favorite feature is that you have control over the brightness from 10% all the way up—these are also going to help you save on that energy bill!

Smart lighting increases convenience and security, uses less energy, and saves money on monthly power bills and replacement bulbs.

Make sure you don't bury your first-aid kit when packing up and moving. Keep it handy just in case someone pulls a muscle or gets a cut. 

This is also a great time to beef up your first-aid kit if you've historically relied on your roommate's supply of bandaids or your mom's collection of remedies. 

For those of you who are the mom now, these cute travel first aid kits from KeepGoing will make sure you're always prepared to patch up scrapes and scratches. We love that these come in so many designs—so much better than a sterile plastic case that can make an "owie" feel even more scary.