Purchasing a home for the first time can be an exciting but unnerving experience. To help you with this new and somewhat intimidating new chapter of your life, here is a guide for the ten must haves that can help you go above and beyond as a new homeowner.
- Home security systems
A home security system is extremely important for ensuring that you and other residents of the home are protected from criminals. There are many options for home-security systems on the market today, from high-tech systems that will notify your cellphone if someone is approaching your home, to more low-tech, but inexpensive, DIY solutions, such as secure locks for every entrance to the home. - Door Locks
Home security systems are terrific, but door locks are one of the most fundamental tools in keeping yourself and everyone in your home safe. When you purchase a new home, it’s best to replace the door locks right away to prevent anyone who has previously had a key with having unwanted access to your home. New locks will ensure you know exactly who has access to get into your home. - Lockbox or safe
When you move into a new home, you may find that there are certain things that you need to keep especially safe. Birth certificates, banking records, and other sensitive materials can get lost in your new house, so consider buying a lockbox or safe to keep them protected, secure, and organized. - Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Owning a home comes with a duty to keep everyone inside that home safe. You need to have smoke detectors installed to alert everyone inside the house in the event of an active fire, so everyone can evacuate quickly and safely. Carbon monoxide detectors are also essential for keeping you and everyone else in your home safe, as carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal, and leaks can be extremely difficult to detect. You can find and purchase dedicated or combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. - Fire extinguishers
Smoke alarms are fantastic for alerting the residents of a home of a fire. However, a fire extinguisher is the best way to ensure that you can prevent a potentially dangerous fire by being able to put it out before it can cause further damage to anything in the home or to the home itself. Sometimes, having a fire extinguisher can be lifesaving. - Drapes and blinds
It’s important that everyone in your new home feels safe and trusts they have privacy. Having drapes or blinds over every window provides residents of the home with privacy while also enabling control over how much light you want in the house during the day. - Cleaning supplies
In your new home, you are responsible for keeping it clean and tidy. Mops, brooms, cleaning sprays, sponges, and vacuums are important for keeping your home from getting dusty or disgusting. Many stores offer cleaning kits that come with a bundle of new products to help you keep your new home nice and clean. - Tool kits
Being able to fix things in your own home is a fantastic way to save time and money. Though hiring a professional is required for more extensive projects and repairs, maintain your home provides a sense of pride and responsibility for homeowners. Consider buying a tool kit to ensure you can be ready to fix things as they come up. - Flashlights
Power outages can happen at any time in your home. In the event of a night-time power outage, it is essential to have multiple flashlights for personal or communal use readily available. Not only is this essential for being able to inspect a power outage and potentially get those lights back on but having light available can prevent injury when walking around the house while it’s dark. - Batteries
Lastly, you need batteries – and lots of them. We rarely think about them until they are needed, but they are an essential need in the home and can be stored for several years. You will want to install fresh batteries all around, particularly while you are already moving all your belongings into your new home, as some items can go unused and begin to leak calcium and other deposits.
There are many new responsibilities that come with becoming a homeowner for the first time. In order to do the job right and make sure that you and others are safe in your new home, you need to have the right tools at your disposal. From smoke detectors to flashlights, there are many tools that can help you not only succeed as a homeowner but thrive as one.
