Home sweet home is certainly the best place on earth. The feeling of becoming a homeowner and the process of moving into your first house can be surprisingly good. The journey of setting up a house and making it a sweet home is always memorable. Right from setting up the essentials in the kitchen to setting up the bedroom and washroom, it’s an experience of a lifetime. But the process of converting a house that can be called your sweet home requires lots of efforts. There are so many essentials that need to be purchased and installed so that you can move to your first home and stay comfortably.
Are you in the process of setting up your first home? Are you moving into your first house and wondering how to setup and accessorize it perfectly so that you can live comfortably? I have got you covered, for today in this post, I am going to help you get it right. I am sharing a tried and tested checklist for moving into your first home. This checklist will help you setup your home and live comfortably post move.
We all work hard in our office all through the day and eagerly wait to return home and relax and get that peaceful night sleep. Those who are home sick will understand that no matter how many places you travel, you will always feel the need to return back to your home after a few days. This is the kind of connection that most of us have with our home. For me, my home is probably the safest shelter that I have.
Our homes contain various types of items, but among all the household items, there are few which are essential. Every home is different from one another as it is built as per the choice of its owner but it is the essential list of household items that acts as the common link of every home. In fact, there are a certain specific set of essential items which is a must have.
There is a difference between luxury and need. While some items are meant for luxury and hence can be considered as optional, others are must have’s that we need to make the home it livable. Actually, these items form the basic part of our lives that we cannot live without and hence they must be a part of every new home.
So, if you are moving into your first house and wondering about how to accessorize it properly with all the essential items, then here’s the moving into first house checklist that will help you to get it right.
So are you ready?
Let’s create the moving into first house checklist now.
Checklist for moving into your first house
It is mainly the items we have at our home that actually increases the value of your home because whenever you need something which is a kind of basic need for us, we get it at our home. Hence, none of the essential items must be missing from your home.
Owning a house is a dream for all of us and so before decorating it with various decorative and luxurious items; you should take a call whether your home contains all of the essential items that are must for a new home.
If your answer is yes, then you can proceed to other nice to have household items as well. But if you are yet to fix the essentials, then here is the list of most essential items that you must have before moving into your new home.
Disinfectants
You can’t really setup your home without disinfectants and cleansers. Whether you are moving into a new house, or you are moving into a rented house that was earlier occupied by someone else, you have to get it properly cleaned and disinfected before unpacking.
Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene has always been important and experts have always reminded us about the same. But due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, by and large the whole world has understood the importance of disinfecting and maintaining good hygiene around us.
Whether you like to use disinfectant sprays, disinfectant liquid, disinfectant mop or disinfectants in any other form, just be sure to carry it with you and get the house properly cleaned and sanitized before moving and settling in.
Basic kitchen appliances
The first thing that we need to tick off the moving into a new home checklist is the basic kitchen appliances. In order to survive, you need to cook and eat. Hence, basic kitchen appliances are a necessity and it should be on top of your checklist of things to fix. Without setting up your kitchen, you won’t be able to cook and have to depend only on processed foods that is neither possible nor a healthy choice.
Now, the type of utensils to buy depends on your lifestyle and eating habits. Whether you want something costly or branded or whether you will go for the ordinary ones is upon you. But, if you take my suggestion, it is preferable if you mix and match things.
When you are buying an appliance that you need to use on a daily basis or if not daily but frequently, like a frying pan, or a pressure cooker, etc. it is best that you buy a branded one. This is because, the good quality products are going to last for long and you do not need to rush to buy a new one anytime soon. Moreover, the branded items have got certain guarantee period, so if they fail to work properly within that time, you can get it fixed or replaced by a new one for free.
And, as far as the other things are concerned like fork, spoons, can opener, grater, peeler, etc. it is not that important to buy branded. You may buy anything that is decent from the local stores. Of course, it is better if you buy one two branded sets of these later as that will increase the efficiency of your cooking but that is not mandatory right now.
Cooktop, gas and oven
You have got the cooking dishes and utensils, but you need to oven and gas connection to cook your food. Even if it depends on your style of cooking, but have to make arrangements for the cooktop/oven or gas connection. You can’t do without it, so it should be in the list of priority. Go tick it off from the moving into your new home checklist and you are good to move to the next item in the checklist.
A good set of knives and scissors
Well, knives and scissors are definitely must haves in any home and you literally have to need them almost every day. Whenever you think of cutting a sealed packet or something like that, the first thing that you will need is a set of scissors. I personally suggest you to keep minimum 2 scissors – 1 big and 1 small and trust me, these can be really handy.
The perfect way to chop the vegetables, fruits etc. is with a good knife and a cutting board. So, basically a knife is a need and you must not forget it. In fact, I prefer good quality ones especially that are used mainly for cooking. Those who are into daily cooking knows how hard sometimes it gets to cut certain vegetables or foods and so if you have good quality knives, it will make your work much easier.
Glassware and dinnerware
You are cooking your food using all the basic kitchen utensils but you also need proper glassware and dinnerware to eat them. Yes, glasses, dishes etc. are necessities and you should have more than one of them. What I have done is that I have kept 2 sets of glassware and dinnerware of very good quality which I generally use on occasions especially when guests come for lunch or dinner. And, for daily usage, I have kept 2-3 sets that are of decent quality but not too expensive.
Not simply dishes and glasses, it is good to have 1-2 coffee mugs for each one of your family members, so that all of you can have that perfect tea or coffee on a daily basis. You can use the mugs in other times as well like for drinking juices, milk etc. Tick these off your moving into your first home checklist and move to the next item in the checklist.
Storage containers
Cooking and eating utensils are done and now it is time to concentrate on the storage containers. Well, it not possible to always cook just the right amount of food and so you need to store them in the refrigerator for later usage and to avoid wastage. And, for that, it is necessary that you have a few storage containers. You can obviously buy good quality containers as it is better not to compromise on something which is related to food and this is a onetime investment, so go for the good ones.
Well, storage items are not limited to kitchen purposes; you need proper storage container to store grains and other ingredients like oil, rice, pulses, spices, etc. So make sure to buy these containers based on your requirements. Don’t go overboard and buy extra, as at this point of time, your priority should be to cover the essentials and extras can be purchased as you settle in your new home.
Water purifier
Most germs spread through polluted and impure water and so it is very much important that every home has its own water purifier. This will ensure that the water you are drinking is free of germs. But, remember that using the same water purifier for years is a not a very good idea. It needs proper servicing and the filter must be changed whenever needed. Also, make sure that the purifier is cleaned frequently for it to function on optimal level.
A vacuum cleaner
Well, vacuum cleaner definitely falls under the list of essential items that every home must have. This is because it is one of the easiest ways to get your rooms cleaned and dust free. Most of us lead a very hectic lifestyle and it is not possible to clean the house everyday more so if you live alone. Hence, the vacuum cleaner comes really handy. All you need to do is to vacuum your floors, curtains once weekly and remove all the dirt. In fact, the vacuum cleaner does really good job in getting rid of the dust and the dirt and also saves much of your time.
Broomstick and mop
The vacuum cleaner cleans the dust out from your home but sometimes the floors get sticky and you actually have to wash them thoroughly using water and for that you need to have a broomstick. Well, it makes your cleaning work far easier as you do not have to sit down and clean the floors using cloth. Moreover, you can clean out areas which are far from the reach of the hands for example the portions of the floors underneath your bed etc.
There are various varieties of brooms and mop in market but buy the ones which you can immerse in soapy water and clean the floors. A broom and mop stick is a necessity and you must get a good one before moving to your new home.
Laundry essentials
Laundry essentials form a part of the essential items that every home must have. This is because all of us wear clothes on a regular basis which becomes dirty more so if you go out frequently. So, those clothes need to be cleaned before you wear them again. While some items can be kept for weekly cleaning, there are few clothes that need to be washed almost daily. So, make sure you have a laundry basket with other laundry necessities like detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener etc.
Press and Ironing board
Another item that you must have is an iron. I am sure you will not want to wear a shirt that are wrinkled to your office and so you must go for weekly ironing and hence keeping an iron in your home is important. You can buy an ironing board for this purpose as well.
Door mat
A welcome mat at the entrance of your home is a must have, not only it looks good, but it checks the dirt and dust from entering your home. A good looking door mat not just adds to the whole sophistication of the entire house and welcomes your guest, but it actually helps you keep your home clean. You know when you come home after a day’s work, your body especially your feet more so on a rainy day contains so much of dirt and filth. Now, before entering your home and then going to the bathrooms, if you properly rub your feet in the door mat, it will keep your floors less dirty. Hence, a door mat is not simply a decorative item but is a necessity that every home must have.
First aid
Every house must have a first aid box. You never know when emergencies occur and so it is advisable that you are prepared for that. There may be a situation that you or any of your family member is suddenly feeling ill during the night when most of the medicine shops are closed and you got not that time to arrange for a car and go to the hospital, it is then, it is then you realize the importance of first aid. At least, it will serve some initial relief and will give you the time to consult a doctor for further cure in case the problem is serious.
So, each one of us must make basic arrangement of the first aid and keep certain medicines that are useful to treat common health problems like stomach upset, cold and cough, fever etc.
Curtains
Curtains are something that every home must have. Well, home is a private space especially one’s bedroom and so it is better to maintain that privacy with the curtains. Hence, it kinds of becomes a necessity. Moreover, when we sleep, we need a dark and cool environment to fall asleep fast and curtains exactly help in that.
And, as far as the additional benefit goes, curtains enhance the overall beauty of the home with their lovely colorful fabrics. So, please do use curtains in spaces of privacy.
Basic toiletries
Needless to say, basic toiletries are one of the essential items for your new home where you are moving into. These actually form the basic needs of life and we cannot live without these. Everyone has to maintain hygiene and so the toiletries are necessary for all of us. Hence, do not miss out buying your favorite shampoo, soap, oil, perfume, comb, toothpaste etc. Once you tick these off, you are good to move to the next item in the moving into your new home checklist.
Adequate lighting
Proper lighting in every room is essential and every home must have it. You can still manage during the day thanks to the natural sunlight outside but during night, it is really hard to live without lights. Candles may serve temporary purposes but for important activities like studying, cooking, eating etc. proper lighting is a must. So, make sure, you have made proper lighting arrangement so that you do not have to wander around in the dark.
Important furniture
Last but not the list in the moving to new home checklist is the arrangement for household furniture. You may need different types of furniture depending on the availability of space and your lifestyle needs. But you have to get the basics sorted like a bed to sleep, cupboards, dining table, sofa set and a tea table. These are some of the basic household furniture that is required while setting up a new home.
Over to you
Home is very dear to all of us. We love to beautify our home with various types of items, but some of these are essentials like a cook top, microwave, mop, toiletries, storage containers etc. These are the necessary part of life and they become the essential items that we have to have in our home.
Setting up a new flat is always challenging and today, in this post, I have shared a checklist that covers, most of the essentials. Although, there are many other things that are vital to us like fan, air conditioner, quilt, pillow etc. which I am sure most houses have, but I find these above mentioned items to be most essential.
This is because, it may be difficult but you can still manage to live without a few nice to have items, whereas you need first aid during emergency, proper kitchen appliances to cook, proper dishes and glass to eat and drink, proper container to store the leftover foods, broom and vacuum to keep your home clean, curtains for privacy, laundry items to keep the clothes clean and proper lighting for the night. Basically, all of these are a part of our daily lifestyle and you cannot miss out on these.
If you are moving into first house then don’t miss out any one of the items in case you are shifting or renovating your old home fully. Also, share with us what other essential items you think should be added to the moving to a new home checklist and I will be happy to add that in the list.
We all work hard in our office all through the day and eagerly wait to return home and relax and get that peaceful night sleep. Those who are home sick will understand that no matter how many places you travel, you will always feel the need to return back to your home after a few days. This is the kind of connection that most of us have with our home. For me, my home is probably the safest shelter that I have.
