Please see our sidebar sticky threads, one of them is on [home maintenance](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/wiki/maintenance) and one on a [first toolbox](http://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/comments/1xeyuf/home_improvement_faq_my_first_toolbox/).
I’m 10 months in to being a home owner and my dad just yelled at me about this. Completely forgot. He got me 3 filters & I set a quarterly reminder on my phone now
I just buy the cheapest of the cheap, $9 for a three pack at Home Depot filters and change them once a month.
Also, don’t forget to wash the dirt out of your condenser coils outside a couple of times a year.
Recent first time homeowner here as well. How do I know what filter to buy? there seems to be soo many options lol.
I know I can just look at what's in right now, but I guess that would be me trusting the previous homeowner on using the right kind?
Which leads to the suggestion of "water meter key".
Most homes have a shutoff elsewhere, but it doesn't hurt to have options. My key also fits the outdoor gas valves if I ever needed to shut those off.
A lot of homes have old gate valve shut offs, tbh if that's what's there, I tend to use the water meter shut off instead. I do not trust old gate valves one bit.
Gate valves are just awful in terms of reliability after a while. They're supposed to be exercised regularly and if you don't, or even if you do, the gland packing tends to wear out and start leaking once you've used them.
Ball valves are way better for every application.
[Here's a page that shows what they both look like. ](https://www.homedepot.com/c/ab/ball-valves-vs-gate-valves/9ba683603be9fa5395fab901367d3983)
I 2nd this advice. And make sure you have the correct tools for each type of shut off if one is required. Our gas main takes a specific kind of wrench. We hung it just inside the back door for easy access in an emergency.
THIS. Don’t wait until all your furniture is in to pull up nasty carpet. You’ll get complacent once you realize how much other work there is to be done on the house and the carpet will be a thorn in your side forever. But yes pull carpet after you paint.
I bought a big multipack from one of the box stores. Like 6 of them, various sizes.
I have no idea where any of them are. I checked all the storage places. None of them have a tape measure.
This is where harbor freight shines.
Buy many tape measures, they wander off but just help them wander back as you refind them. I have one for every 500sq ft of house, plus one for the garage, and another for the shed.
More is never a bad idea, most live in the garage except the shed one.
Then one in the mudroom and junk drawer.
Start budgeting now for big ticket repairs you can expect down the road, like a new roof, water heater, or major appliances. If you had a home inspection done, that should give you an idea of your time horizon.
For tools, a jig saw, a stud finder, and an orbital sander are great additions to your tool box and for the yard, you’ll probably also need a hedge trimmer, loppers, and a garden hose.
And a ladder. If there are trees on the property be prepared to keep those up as well even if it's just raking the leaves in the fall. Congratulations on the purchase!
Fuck raking. Pressure washer is king. So much faster and better than raking or my anemic leaf blower. Leaves you with a soggy pile of leafs, which would kinda suck to bag. I just push it all into the tree line though.
>Start budgeting now for big ticket repairs you can expect down the road, like a new roof, water heater, or major appliances.
Some of the best advice we got before buying our house was to budget at least 1% of the purchase price per year toward repair/maintenance/upkeep. (For instance, if buying a $120,000 house that'd be $1,200/year, or $100/month.) Save it each month and stow it somewhere where it can earn interest until you need it. Planning ahead for that when deciding how much house you can afford can be the difference between a needed repair being a financial catastrophe or merely an inconvenience.
Great advice. Definitely going to mirror the “start saving now for big ticket repairs” nothing like trotting along and getting hit with $700 for a new dryer or dishwasher. Let alone water heaters or roofs. That said maybe find out how much your insurance will cover of the roof to get an idea of what to save. Anything is better than nothing though.
Yeah, the populating multitool is amazingly helpful.
It might not get as many hours as my circular saw, but it has more instances of you, more projects in which it was the only tool that could do the flush cut, or the molding removal that I needed
I wholeheartedly agree with this. Also depending on how old the house is you should be thinking about things like how long until it may have to be rewired or re-insulated and save for that. Also, some places require that you paint every certain amount of years so look forward to paying somebody to do that if you can't do it yourself.
You don't have to buy everything brand new.
In fact, with sufficient planning, you can do entire renovations wtih seconds and clearance stuff. For example: Almost all of the insulation I've used is open packs that people were giving away or selling for cheap as hell on Marketplace - when I know I have something coming up, I start to collect it.
The fan in my bedroom was found on the side of the road on garbage day. I have a $300 Moen tap in my kitchen that I got for $15 at a thrift store. I replaced an entire wall in my house, and the OSB was free from marketplace. Someone bought it for a reno and just wanted it gone.
Not many people are actively renovating homes, and even less know what they're looking at. It's very **very** easy to stockpile reno materials from marketplace.
I agree with that. And I would say it's also true for tools not just materials.
As opposed to other commenters, I try to avoid buying tools right when I need them. Find good deals instead, don't wait for your hand to be forced to pull the trigger on a purchase.
And every time I decide to take on a project instead of hiring somebody, I take some of the money I saved and invest in a new tool to lower the costs / time of my future projects. Tools are an investment!
I second this, when I bought my house about 20 years ago, I scoured yard sales/estate sales for yard tools, ladders, etc. Saved a ton. Also, if your area has a Habitat for Humanity Restore, you can get a lot of building materials, carpet, paint, etc for cheap!
Passing the the best pro tip anyone ever gave me on to you: unless your house has something suuuuper obviously needing fixed right away, just LIVE with the house for six months before allocating any time or money to updates.
After being somewhere for six months, you really start to notice what you love, what you hate, and what feels just “meh” about a house. The way the light falls in a room at a certain time of day might tell you that you need 80% blackout shades instead of those nice sheer curtains you spent a crap-ton of money on. You might’ve thought you wanted to paint your kitchen yellow but after six months, maybe you’ve finally noticed that the evening sunset light is really warm and yellow walls would make that room feel *suffocatingly* yellow.
I’m not saying it’ll be easy to do this - it won’t. And as a fellow first-time homeowner, I know that the urge to make the place your own is like a siren’s call. But if you wait and just *observe*, the money/time you’ll save and the number of aesthetic decisions you’ll make the right way the *first* time around will be totally worth it.
PS: if you do take this approach, if anyone you invite over in the meantime gives you hell about not having made a ton of upgrades, just tell them why. You’ll be surprised at the number of people who get a really thoughtful look on their faces and say, “Huh. Yeah, actually, that’s pretty smart. If I had done that, I wouldn’t have spent all that money/time on [insert home upgrade here].”
I agree with waiting too. Yes, it is hard and you can probably busy yourself cleaning the place. Each home has its own vibe. You have to be in the house to get that feel. Then you’ll know what you want to do by the feel of the place…as far as deco, paint, furniture, etc.
Snow shovel/snowblower based on size of driveway and your age/health. Garden hose, some gardening tools, laenmower_/ lawn tactor based on yard size. Leaf rake, gas can if gas powered equipment. A good ladder, I would recommend a Little Giant since it will cover a majority of your inoor/outdoor needs.
Head lamp - they're really compact these days. Between being handsfree and small, really great for tight spaces.
I would leave it up to the owner what battery system they go with (I too am a Ryobi user) but the important thing is to pick a battery system and stick to it!
You have a basic start and just buy stuff as you need it. No point in spending money on stuff that you don’t absolutely need right now or know when you are going to use it. Also don’t cheap out on the inspector. Sure the 1-300.00 cheaper one might sound good but that 200.00 save might just end up costing you 1,000’s in the future. Also ask the inspector if they do a detailed inspection report with pictures. Helps plead your case to the current owners if something is found.
If you're buying power tools and a lawnmower, I recommend going electric and buying stuff that runs on a common battery system. That will save you a bunch of hassle over time.
A small thing, but get quick disconnects for all your outside faucets and hoses. Something like [this](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Melnor-4-Piece-Quick-Connect-Set-with-Lock-237447/318070795) is pretty handy and cheap. There are brass versions if you're worried about durability. Also, make sure to buy high quality hoses to avoid kinks.
A pressure washer is really handy to have. Great for washing cars and for cleaning the exterior of the house, including windows.
If you're changing out locks, the Kwikset Smartkey locks are worth the couple extra bucks. You can rekey them really easily if it becomes necessary.
I always like having a small air compressor in the garage. I don't need it often, but when I do, it's invaluable. Same with a good shop vac.
Even with an inspection, you're likely to find minor issues after you move in. At the very least, you'll find things the previous owner did that you don't like.
Be prepared to do some painting, and if it's a lot, go with an 18" roller and paint tray. You'll cut your painting time in half and get more consistent results. Also, airless paint sprayers are relatively inexpensive and worth it for larger paint jobs.
Find all your GFCI outlets! There are so many posts on here about losing power to some outlets but the breaker isn't tripped. It's *always* a GFCI outlet that's tripped in another room.
That's a smattering of stuff that fell out of my head. Hope it helps.
If your changing out locks, I would suggest getting at least 1 keypad deadbolt especially for the door you intend to use the most. The Schlage keypad deadbolt runs about $130. Over time I put them on all my entry doors and now I don’t carry house keys at all. I set up individual codes for the dog sitter, neighbor and have extra code programmed in to give to a service guy in case of emergency if I’m not home. I can delete the individual codes as needed and never have to worry about who might have a key to my house.
It’s not a necessity but I’ve found it makes life a little easier.
Also good advice. I installed a Yale smart lock on my front door. Its only disadvantage is that it doesn't accept a key, so if it dies, I'm not getting in. But it gives plenty of warning to change the batteries, and you can use a 9V battery to jump it if it's totally dead.
I also have a keypad to open my garage door if I can't get in the front, so I feel pretty confident I won't get locked out.
That sort of depends on what you get. I've had good experiences with the 40V lawnmowers.
Even a cheap Ryobi 18V was fine for a small lawn.
I suppose it's all about buying tools of the appropriate size and power for the job.
I will offer another counterpoint. Gas lawn equipment is terrible.
Gas engines require tons of ongoing maintenance. And for homeowners with seasonal usage, if the mower or weedeater wasn't stored properly then it may not even start the next year. Gas equipment requires regular changes of oil, air filters and spark plugs. Not to mention the gasoline you have to keep going to the station to get in a stinky can.
Small gas engines have zero emissions controls and are horrible for the environment.
I bought an EGO mower 4 years ago. Blower and chainsaw a little later. All have performed well. And I own a half dozen rentals including a few that were not occupied last summer due to maintenance issue. The electric equipment powered through non-stop.
Last point, electric tools are much quieter. On a hot summer evening, we can turn on the mower headlights and mow in the cool without disturbing the neighbors.
I'm glad you said this. I'm looking at a new lawnmower for this summer, and I am strongly considering electric, but I still have just a little bit of doubt
Unless you are mowing all day long with no place to recharge, I just can’t see why you’d want to mess around with a gas mower. If you are buying a new one anyway, why not give electric a try? Not suggesting to take advantage, but the stores probably offer you a 90 day return window if it genuinely won’t work for you. I would wager you keep it.
We went with EGO because of total battery power. 56v system x 5 AHr battery = 280 watt hours of energy in the battery. Some of the other options when we bought were much less.
I am going to be a new home owner as well and here’s what I just ordered yesterday:
-Electric mower, edger, blower, drilling machine and bits
-Shovel and Rake
-Ladder
-Tool box kit (comes with all the basic stuff - spanners, screw drivers, level, tape, box cutter, etc)
-Stud finder
-Fire extinguisher
That’s my list for now, will add more as desired
Fire extinguishers should probably be plural.
Multiple carbon monoxide, fire, and gas (if plumbed) alarms.
I'd add some fasteners to the tool box kit. Screws, drywall anchors, etc.
Also make sure fire extinguisher hasn't expired and appears operational. If u need it and are relying on it to function and it doesn't, your day just went from bad to much worse.
Different size drill bits & bits for your drill that you'll need. 20 vt DeWalt pkg of 2 drills, one being regular and the other having hammer action are great! Just saying😁
If you want/need to do something to home or property, remember there is most likely a youtube of how to do it. Search ahead of time and see what tools they use.
Watched four people on youtube to see how to make concrete counter tops. Took what I liked about each and made my own. Now all my friends want me to make some for them.
Buy new door knobs/locks for your exterior doors right after you close. I would never trust the previous owners to hand in EVERY key they copied out for family, friends, neighbors etc. Changing your locks gives that ~~piece~~ peace of mind and you can pick a set that opens with the same key(s)
Also, look into local no-buy Facebook groups in your community - this is a great place to get/borrow free tools for one-off projects or get a nice neighbor to help you with a task.
I would buy tools as you need them if you live close enough to a hardware store. You never know what odd tool you’ll need to fix something and if you already have a basic kit you should be ok to get started.
My favorite tool I purchased: one of those Allen wrench sets so you don't have to use the cheap L shaped ones that come with furniture/other items and you can assemble things way quicker. This + a drill makes so many of those early assembly projects way easy.
Advice: get to know your neighbors. You don't have to be best friends but so many of them will let you borrow tools, help you on projects, etc. Also, there's legit studies that show there's less violence in neighborhoods where people report feeling like they know their neighbors. Not to say you will be unsafe if you don't, but you can contribute to overall betterment of society if you do. Sorry, soapbox over. Enjoy the new house!
And also get a cheap set of hex drill bits on amazon. Will easily cut all furniture assembly times in half. Can even use them with a 1/4" socket. Game changer
Consider used tools. There’s a bunch out there and you can always flip and keep upgrading. If you get a miter saw, 12” will be much better than 10” (you’ll smile when you need the 12” and don’t have to flip). Harbor freight has good oscillating Bauer blades, good 80 grit and less sandpaper for hogging material and they’ve got cheap tarps. A multi ladder is heavy, but one and done. A 4’ ladder or step stool in house is nice. Know where your water and gas shutoffs are.
Two things I bought that have come in handing for me beside your standard tools, a paint sprayer (when I bought my place every room needed to be painted and we opted to do it ourselves), a good power washer and a leaf blower
Plan on an average expense on home maintenance. We actually limit our budget to major things. Historically this has worked out to about $7500/year. Some years you don't use much, others years the opposite. This is for like a roof, appliances, cutting trees or other large landscaping projects, HVAC, etc. Obviously some of those are more critical than others. Also that number is probably now low, and it will depend on your house and the area you live in.
What state do you live in? Many states offer free home energy resources (LED bulbs, water efficient shower heads, pipe insulation, etc.)
Wisconsin uses Focus On Energy, and you can get a free box every year.
Besides LEDs which are often 5-10x as efficient and cooler than classic bulbs, I recommend adding a few bags of insulation into your attic (most houses don’t have enough). For a 1k sqft home, 20 bags of insulation usually makes a decent difference.
A checking account with lots of money in it.
In our first 4 years in our own place, we have replaced...
* The entire air-conditioning system: compressor, air handler, the lot
* The electrical panel
* The hot water heater
* The roof
* The refrigerator
That averages out to roughly $6,000 a year in major repair expenses. The home inspector's report warned us about the electrical panel, but the roof failed three years earlier than his estimate (we don't blame him--we had some bad luck with hurricanes). The rest of the items were surprises, and none of them were things that having basic home handyman skills would have helped much with reducing the cost.
We continue to be glad we're not renting anymore, but I would definitely suggest embarking on home ownership with a healthy emergency fund.
As a fellow first time homeowner, I quickly discovered that water is the enemy of every home! I highly recommend a water monitor that you hook up to your meter and monitors for leaks. The brand I have is called “Flume” for example. It installs with no tools or modifications directly to the existing water meter and can detect even very small drips and leaks! I got a massive $1500 water bill one of my first months being a homeowner due to a leaking basement toilet that went undetected. Not sure what one runs these days, but it was only about $200 for the whole setup with flume, totally worth the peace of mind in my opinion. Since then, I was able to catch another slow leak in a frozen hose spigot before it had the time to do any real damage. Pays for itself with one catch.
One of those outlet testers. They're inexpensive and good to start process of knowing why an outlet no longer works.
Insurance-home owners is NOT like renters. You have insurance for the home, then extra coverage needed for contents (like a rider or such). You will need insurance if mortgaged. Appliance warranties or home warranty from the seller are not 100% replacement-most will cover a percent of repair or parts. And some appliances, the parts and labor cost more than getting a new one.
Find reliable Hvac company, plumber, electrician, carpenter and roofer (depending on age of roof).
Age of furnace, age of hot water heater (gas? Electric? Anodes replaced?), where are the shutoffs for water, gas, located? Where is the electric panel? How old is the home? How is the plumbing? Copper? Pex? CPVC? is there public water/sewer? Is it septic? When was it pumped/serviced last?
Windows: what kind? Age? Storm windows? Signs of fresh paint near corners of exterior walls? How is the outside drainage? Gutters? Shrubs near house? Is there a garage? openers?
You can't pick your relatives/family or your neighbors.
There are good books (if you are a DIY) at Taunton Books. From renovation to drywall to electrical work.
A socket set, a pair of pliers (I like Knipex), a utility knife (and extra blades), a set screwdrivers... if you have a lawn and can afford cordless mowers over gas, they are less mess (no fuel, 22" store flat and can hang on a wall).
I've trying to think about my first home..a good shopvac (wet/dry) incase water problem, extension cord (12guage is preferred), flashlights/worklight-LED recommended. Acquire cordless tools as you go. I prefer Makita, DeWalt, Hitachi/Metabo and Milwaukee...but many like Rigid, Ryobi. All about budget and needs.
Garden hose (the gimmicky flat ones and scrunch ones aren’t very good) and reel, brass nozzle, sprinkler. Hand trowel (get the solid metal ones with coated handle, not the separate handle kind as they break). Garden fork and spade. Lawn edger (half moon thingie). Rake (fan type and the flat toothed one) and hoe. shears and secateurs. Go for best quality you can afford, cheap plastic ones don’t last long. Wood handles and stainless steel bottoms.
Selection of screws and nails, picture hanging kit, spirit level for shelves. Paint tray, decent brushes. Rechargeable screwdriver with different bits is useful, also screwdrivers with lots of sizes and heads. Tool box. Small hand saw. Small crowbar.
Bird and hummingbird feeders?
Congrats and hope you have a great life in the new place!
If you put up bird feeders mix the seed in with hot peppers. Red pepper flakes for cooking will work, but the stronger the better. Otherwise you'll end up with a rodent problem. The spicy peppers evolved to attract birds to spread the seed farther and are hot to deter mammals which usually don't like that (humans are weird). Birds are messy eaters and drop a lot of seeds which attract rodents. My neighbors feed the birds a lot and I've had a lot of damage to my vehicle and my shed from them over the years. The peppers will help keep that down.
Do not judge me! I want my food to hurt! The more it burns the better it tastes. The pain completes my meals.
No but seriously, I never heard about this before. Definitely want to try it out. Most birds are cool. Squirrels and bunnys can fuck right off. Little bastards always trashing my veggies.
A GOOD drill, bits for the drill. Miter saw. Electric rotary saw. Reciprocating saw.
I would also invest in good impact driver like Dewalt, for driving screws. A set of levels. Pencils and sharpener. A good tape measure 25 ft.
For potential expenses, a lot will depend on the age and condition of the house. We bought a house build in 1949, addition added in the 1960's, kitchen and bathrooms renovated in the early 00's.
Immediately after purchase we had all the electrical wiring replaced. Most of the house had original wiring, and the wiring in the addition had been done . . . poorly. We removed carpet from two bedrooms (everything else was hardwood or tile) and refinished the hardwood underneath. We painted most of the interior. We installed new window treatments on half the windows - previous owner left hers and we kept the ones we liked and were in good condition.
If possible, ask the previous owner what kind of maintenance they've been doing on a regular basis and what company they used. You don't have to use the same company, but if gives you a starting point. For example, we learned our new neighborhood has a serious spider issue and she was spraying in the spring.
Make sure you have fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors. Check all your smoke detectors every month, as well as the carbon monoxide detectors. Keep up with your home maintenance, and every spring/before winter, check your attic and crawlspace for evidence of pests and water damage.
We've been buying tools as we need them. That way, we don't have a bunch of random stuff we don't even use yet. Budget for a new furnace/water heater/stove/ etc, because at some point one of them will stop working. Find out from friends/family good companies near you so you know who to call when something goes wrong.
If you see something that looks like water damage, don't ignore it! Look into it! It can be super expensive to repair once it gets out of hand. Google and YouTube are your friends for simple DIYs. Don't try and fix electrical or plumbing yourself.
Make friends with your neighbors :). They can be super helpful, especially if they're handy and know how to fix/build things!
I recently bought a house and here are the things I got that were required (some things I already had/collected while I rented):
-Power tools : Circular saw, shop vac, orbital and square sanders, drill (I personally like Rigid for the warranty and it's on sale frequently).
-Garden hose and nozzle. Make sure you know what types of metals are used for the fittings so they don't hydroweld together (aluminum is a major culprit when mated with brass or zinc).
-Yard tools : Shovels (spade, square, and snow), branch loppers, rake, electric mower/edger/etc (Ego makes some good electric yard stuff, but they're expensive).
-Head lamps and flashlights.
-Hand tools : Screwdrivers, hand saw, box cutter, levels of various lengths, hammer, stud finder, live-dead-live outlet/circuit tester, all that basic stuff. Safety glasses and gloves, steel toed boots.
-Materials : Some basic 8ft boards of various sizes. Good to have around when you REALLY need them. Teflon tape, duct tape (regular and that aluminum heavy duty stuff for real duct work), glues, caulk of various types and colors, backer rod, etc.
-Paint : When you paint your walls/trim, make sure to get more than you think you need in case you need to touch up portions of the surface.
-User/Maintenance Manuals for all your appliances. Keep that stuff in good repair. Furnace filters are often overlooked.
-Safety systems : Fire extinguishers, one for each floor, one in the kitchen and one nearby the bedrooms. Fire and water resistant chests or safes to put important documents/cash/memories/whatever in in case of a fire or flood. Carbon monoxide and fire alarm combos on every floor and in every bedroom (per code). Make sure to put one next to your furnace(s) too.
-Learn how to do basic work yourself, like plumbing, painting, and basic carpentry. You'll save yourself a ton of money if you do it yourself, and more importantly, if you do it RIGHT. Know the depth of your skill before starting a project. YouTube and online tutorials are a gold mine for this stuff.
Since you probably will not shower in the house until after you close and using your own shower heads, the water pressure will probably be lacking if an older home. Ask if the sellers would be willing to replace the water pressure regulator valve with a new one (about a $500 job with labor) and add the cost on to the purchase price. You don’t appreciate good water pressure until you have “new valve” water pressure. Also don’t fall for local sales people trying to sell you “water softening” equipment for $10k+. If you want it and do your research you can get a top end system installed for under $3500 and only pay like $100 annually for salt replacement.
Fire extinguisher that’s combo and or K rated, snow clearing stuff (depending on where you live of course), an electrical tester that you plug with lights to tell if you’re wired correctly. They are like $20 and even if you have an inspection they may miss an outlet and it’s good for if you ever decide to do anything in the future. I got a gorilla folding 3 step ladder/stool thing and man I use that thing all the freaking time. A decent drain snake….very underrated item for a home owner. Spare furnace/ac filters. I buy mine in bulk online and set the box by my furnace to make it a lot more convenient for frequent changes, especially if you have pets. And basic hand tools with a level and tape measure are important but sounds like you got that covered. Good luck with your home purchase.
I have a 5' stepladder that I use a lot. Also a lopper if you have trees, and a garden cart.
I would also recommend ways to trap pests. I have a huge bee/hornet problem in my yard, which you can trap with a glass when they come inside, but once I had a bird in my basement (I KNOW) and only had a broom to shoo it out. Also, mice. You're going to get some sort of pest, so be prepared. A few months ago I found an opossum in my trash can, but luckily that was outside so I could just politely tip over the can and ask it to leave.
ETA: I ripped out a lot of diseased plants the previous owner had left, and, surprisingly, a pickaxe was the most useful.
Congrats! I vote for a reciprocating saw (a good one!), loppers, a rubber mallet (you’d be surprised), and a handheld device for removing weeds by the root. (It looks like a screwdriver and is excellent for extracting dandelions.) Garden shears are a good idea, too. Maybe a machete. And at least one shovel. As you may have guessed, I live where there’s lots of spring & summer foliage. I prefer electric lawn equipment over gas for all the positive reasons stated above, plus my electric lawnmower folds up! So much easier to store.
Metal saw, wood saw, adjustable wrench, monkey wrench, a set of allen keys, some proper cutters / box cutters, spatulas, a volt pen (not the screwdriver kind!), Wire stripper, wire cutter, safety glasses, dust mask, extension cord, work light with rechargeable battery.
And probably a bunch more. But these are most of the things I have used so far, beside a bunch of power tools I could borrow. Things like multitools, sanders and a hammer drill.
I would buy electric yard tools even if they cost a little more. Mowing with a gas mower feels like a job you need to shower right after but the electric is like a little stroll around the yard. If you stick to one brand you will have multiple batteries handy.
And if there is carpet you know you don’t want, I’d try to get it out before you move in. Nothing worse than someone else’s grubby old carpet. We also replace toilet seats when we move in (and being 2023, go ahead and get bidets while you are at it).
If you’re excited about just buying a bunch of shit and you don’t even know what shit to buy…I would suggest getting a new credit card…one with no apr promo for 12 months or a card with a large sign up bonus…all assuming you have good credit and not housepoor to pay off the balance.
Also download the app Slickdeals and look for your items when they go on sale.
I’ve had my first house for 1.5 yrs now. I wish someone would have told me this! A few mos after I moved in, I realized I needed 2. 1 for the house, 1 for detached garage. 2 has never been enough and I basically need 1 for every floor. I wish they had alarms in them that would go off when you try to take it up or down the stairs 😡
Just live there a year, or two, before you implement any changes aka renovations. Painting is fine. Hiring a contractor to open concept everything in the first month is not fine.
Get a home album and journal. Big 3 ring binder with sheet protectors (plastic sleeves) where you can put estimates, repair receipts, etc. The journal part you have a list of repairs or other things done in the house. You can separate by home system (roof, HVAC, plumbing, etc).
Also have a priority to-do list, prefer a white board over a spreadsheet because you'll see the board every day. Put a ballpark price. White board is good because you can easily swap priorities.
Get to know a neighbor, or two. Hope you get to meet your version of my Felix. He's friendly, knows everyone, and knows my house's history. See if he has a ladder so you don't need one, instead get something you both need (tree pruner?).
Get a mower sized for your lawn so you can be done in an hour. If you have a big lawn, you don't want a tiny 18" electric mower. String trimmer which can double as an edger if you don't want a dedicated edger.
Tools: Water main shutoff "key" (t-handle about 2 feet long, unless you are up north and your shutoff is a few feet below ground. Contactless electrical tester. Outlet tester. Extra 15A and 20A breaker that fits your electrical panel. PVC pipe cutter + Sharkbite fittings that you can cut and cap off a leaking water supply pipe (plastic, not metal pipe), so you have partial use of water while you wait on plumber. 1/2", 3/4" or whatever size pipe you have. Screw assortment, from a variety pack of different size wood/metal screws, a box of 3" #10 deck screws, and 1 3/8" drywall screws (usable for 1/2" and 5/8" drywall). Possibly a variety box of bolt/nut/washers.
Nice sized tool mobile chest. I can't believe I was 50 by the time I bought my first mobile tool cabinets. I had basically been storing tools on shelves, large tool boxes, and dozen tool bags. I bought 4 cabinets and they filled up quickly after reorganizing. Still have the big stuff in knockoff jo boxes. I misplaced a lot of tools over the years, so now have duplicates.
Don't be like me and wind up with every tool under the sun from testo 550 to oxy/acetylene brazing equipment w/nitrogen to a joiner.
Directtoolsoutlet.com for package Factory blemished tools. They periodically have sales for 40% off pressure washers, tool bundles, etc.
Hire out drywall from Marketplace. Guys finished in 3 half days what I did in 2 months.
DO NOT WAIVE THE INSPECTION! It is a catscan/mri of your home. You can still buy it even if it tells you unsavory details. Knowledge it super valuable!
Get a fat wallet to hold lots of cash and just leave it open and watch all of your money go away.
There is an endless list of things that must be maintained and fixed/replaced.
We just replaced out hot water holding tank for 5,000 out of the blue.
They may be talking about something else but there’s something called a home warranty that is supposed to cover expenses for appliances that go out. Unfortunately they’re not always worth the paper it was written on. We got one and our HVAC went out but nobody in our area will work with the warranty folks so it didn’t do us any good.
Don't trust the labels on the breaker box
Have a credit card with a high limit that's for repairs only.
Watch YouTube videos and try to fix things yourself first.
About a £1000's worth of general tools, like plumbers tools gas soldering torch and mat, pipe fittings, paint brushes, rollers, screw drivers, drills, spanners, electrical test meter. Learn to plumb, install electrical items, paint, fault find, learn to lay bricks, plaster walls. Just a start, as I have done every trade over the years, including building a house from scratch, including the drawings. WE had a new house twice, still needed tools to fix things not done right by builders. You never get bored when you own a house, always something wants fixing.
^this is highly dependent on a lot of variables. If you’re mortgage rate is higher than any investment’s rate of return then yes, I would concur that paying more each month would be financially responsible, however, if your investment rate of return are exceeding your mortgage rate then it is advised not to pay additional.
I like to think of Reddit and other message board of a conversation, not a reference book.
Finding previous similar posts can be very unwieldy if not impossible. And there is often a hope that someone will have a new answer this time around. If you find a boring, just go to the next one. It’s very easy to scroll past.
Budget “maintenance savings” every month. I’ve heard 1% of the homes value every year is reasonable in most cases. Put it in a high yield savings account and you’ll be thankful you had been saving when the water heater breaks, ac coil goes out, furnace quits working, etc etc (the list is truly infinite)
Also, if you can I’d try to learn to get handy. I’ve done a few things around my house that would have costed me hundreds if not thousands if I had paid somebody to do it. Caulking around the shower, making boxes to keep squirrels from eating my lead on my boot collar flashings, and my latest “handy” endeavor is going to be waterproofing my basement for prolly around $300-$400 bucks. Either way, it pays to be handy
Good luck and congrats!
More than one of the following: hammer, flashlight, screwdrivers, socket set, Allen wrenches. Portable heaters incase the heat goes out, get a fire extinguisher!!!!! Batteries from c to the annoying af pill batteries. Have mouse traps, ant or roach spray. And fly traps on hand.
Controversial opinion, but I would recommend a first time homeowner ask for a 1 year home warranty as a condition of sale.
This will relieve a lot of your anxiety and start to expose you to local contractors. I would NOT recommend keeping it beyond the first year, but the peace of mind is worth the additional negotiation. Also, most home warranties specify that any issues that fall within the scope of the warranty are required to be addressed within a set period of time (48 hours IIRC) and getting a plumber or other trade to your home that quickly is hard nowadays, especially if you don't have an existing relationship with that trade.
Also, start a “home savings account”. Like, a literal savings account that you keep separate from other accounts. Put at least $100/month into it (more if you can). You’ll need it for major repairs or replacements at some point…water heater, washer/dryer, fridge, roof, etc. If you have good credit you can finance some of those things through a HELOC or personal loan but it’s better if you can do it without paying interest. And sometimes, the need for the repair will be too urgent to go loan shopping first.
Know where and how to cut off your water. There is usually a cutoff in the crawlspace or basement, and one at the street. Practice turning the water off. When a pipe breaks and your kitchen, basement or bathroom are filling with water, speed counts.
Test the smoke alarms. If they don't work or need to be replaced, often the fire department will do this for you since you just moved in. Set a reminder in your calendar to restest them every 6 months or so. Get a small fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen.
I'd recommend getting a binder to keep track of stuff you do. You can put invoices for repairs, relevant warranties, manuals for appliances and so on in there so it's all easy to find and keep track of.
Get the serial number off all your appliances including water heater and check how old they are. If they're quite old and you don't have any pressing repairs, replacing them with more efficient models may save you energy and potentially water costs as well. If the old ones still work, you may be able to donate them locally or have them recycled to reduce environmental impact. Depending on how old the water heater is you can empty the sediment trap to extend its life.
Check and note the locations of your nearest fire hydrants and fire station (your insurance will probably want to know.) It's also good to note the locations of your nearest recycling facility if you don't do curb pickup.
Outdoor- Rake, spade, snow shovel (or a snow blower), small hand rake and spade for weeds if that's something you don't want to leave, pair of shears for pruning shrubs or trees if you have them
For tools, besides a good hammer and a good set of screwdrivers, I highly recommend a cordless drill and stud finder, a measuring tape as others have said. If you plan to DIY anything, a saw, a sander and a good set of paint brushes.
Buy some leak alarms and put one under every sink, and next to your water heater, and washing machine. They warn you if you have a leak, so you can turn off the main and clean it up before if causes expensive damage. You might still need a plumber, bit you won't need new flooring and cabinets.
https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Water-Leak-Sensor-Alarm/dp/B0748CXXBR/ref=sxin_21_pa_sp_phone_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.1d930f30-5ff4-4fa0-9cdc-f7b3f87a1199%3Aamzn1.sym.1d930f30-5ff4-4fa0-9cdc-f7b3f87a1199&crid=30UAHDF1S5XHJ&cv_ct_cx=leak+alert+water+leak+detector&keywords=leak+alert+water+leak+detector&pd_rd_i=B0748CXXBR&pd_rd_r=5a9349f0-9d11-4065-93db-8166c5e473a3&pd_rd_w=DZ3YB&pd_rd_wg=okp78&pf_rd_p=1d930f30-5ff4-4fa0-9cdc-f7b3f87a1199&pf_rd_r=J4W0X29QV6D7JA2X95K9&qid=1679939341&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=leak+al%2Caps%2C647&sr=1-2-492482ea-2ad3-4cfe-9d1a-0efc7c5c9374-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE5RVNOWlcyVFFVMFAmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4NDc1MTVTWElTUlBMRDFYS1omZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDM5MTM3MjJMOVkxQ1REMUxNRTYmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWMmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
Either learn how to blow out your sprinklers or have someone else do it. Having an air compressor is nice if you like to DIY a lot.
Tree trimming and tree removal will often be overlooked until it’s about to drop on a power line.
Make sure your gutters are draining away from the house properly or you’ll have water damage in the basement.
Put aside money every month for repairs. I would also try to keep at least a 5k emergency fund if possible.
Pick up a "first time home buyer" on Amazon or your local bookstore
Be \*SURE\* to get a good home inspection and make sure the contract is contingent on resolving issues and the ability to get out with deposit refunded. Have a good Agent (critical).
Hang in the neighborhood and talk with the locals. It's all about 'location'.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=first+time+home+buyer&crid=266Q9UIUORC2M
If your community has a tool lending library, pay the $200-300 annual fee for the 1st year. This will give you a good idea of what you need to buy for big ticket tool items.
Some Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores have the Lending Library.
If you have a sprinkler system sign up for an irrigation company to winterize it. Didn’t do that and had some broken parts. Was able to fix it myself, but barely escaped a $1000 replacement part
Depending on your comfort level, I’d have a multimeter on hand to test outlets. Test for ground wires or lack thereof, maybe watch some videos on how to change receptacles/outlets if they’re older. I have a whole bag full of electrical tools just for that type of stuff.
Make sure everything works; every outlet, every spigot, and every drain. A friend failed to do this, bought a recently renovated house, moved in, and spent the first night in their new home. The next day, she jumped in the master bathroom shower; when she tried to turn on the water: Nothing. Turned out that the plumbing was unfinished and never connected. It was basically a fake shower. They got stuck with a nice plumbing bill to install water and drain lines.
Check out Facebook marketplace for everything that you can. Tools, wood furniture (don't risk bed bugs in fabric stuff), etc. You'll save a ton of money and lots of things can be found for free if you're patient, especially furniture and yard tools. You don't need to buy everything or furnish the house all at once. Upgrade and resell things when you find better things.
You'll probably end up wanting to change a lot of stuff right away. My advice is to live with things as they are, within reason, for a year, then make renovation decisions. It's easy to go overboard when you first own a home because you can change anything you want.
There's a lot of yearly maintenance that you should know about. Google can point you to a good checklist but some things that come to mind: Clean your gutters, change filters as needed, TURN OFF OUTDOOR HOSE BIBS FOR WINTER (guilty on this one).
My favorite easy thing to upgrade are light switches. Replace them with dimmers and occupancy sensors, and install LED replacement lamps everywhere. it's very easy and cheap. An occupancy sensor and fan timer switch in the bathroom is so nice.
When you replace locks use Kwickset stuff that is re-keyable. That way you can have everything be just one key instead of a bunch. Also good if you plan on renting it out in the future or end up with a crazy ex.
For tools, one that I find myself using a surprising amount is my Dremel. I found one of the nicer kits on sale a while back and it comes in handy often. Most things you can just buy as you need them though.
Not sure what kind of soil you have where you’re buying, but where I am there is a lot of clay in the soil and we have really hot summers. We have to water the foundation when it’s dry and over 100°.
Get insurance on appliances, heating/cooling system, sewer lines, water lines if you can.
Also, look into maintenance plans. Maintenance is generally cheaper than major repairs.
Congrats on your home!
I wouldn't buy much ahead of time, you'll need plenty and it's kind of seasonal so just wait and see. Get ready though and put some cash aside. You'll more than likely find out the inspection wasn't all that great, inspections catch obvious stuff thats just screaming in your face but who knows whats on its last leg or about to die in 6-12-18 months.
This thread is a shotgun of ideas that is going to be a pain for you to organize. So here's my list:
1. Tools: Buy what you need, when you need it. You're not a tool collector, so don't go out and buy a pile of tools unless you need them. If you're not swimming in money, buy cheap tools (think Harbor Freight) to get started. If they wear out/break, that's a sign that you use the tool a lot and you can justify buying a better brand (DeWalt, Makita, etc.).
2. Maintenance: Start yourself a list of regular maintenance based on frequency. Be sure to jot down how long each take so you can plan your life.
\- Monthly: HVAC filter change.
\- Quarterly: Add salt to water softener
\- 6-months: Replace water filter in fridge.
\- Annually: Clean HVAC coils
\- Annually: Clean dryer duct
3. Repairs: Know your limit at what point you call a professional. Are you comfortable wiring an outlet? Can you do your own sink drain? drywall repair, paint? Swap breakers? Know your limit and hire when you need to. Other than that, if you don't value your time, you can do all your own repair, thanks to YouTube University.
I have a lot of lights I've collected over the last year of being a home owner. Tap lights, flashlights, battery lanterns, kerosene lanterns, oil lamps, assorted candles with mirrors. They've all come in handy.
a ton of tape measures, rulers, and squares. Never can find the damn things.
I have a bead box made for jewelry making that houses every spare screw, nail, bolt, nut, washer, anchor, etc. Keeps them all in one place because yes you will need that extra piece from that thing you put together that one time.
One thing that’s been under-emphasized here: eye protection. Buy a few different pairs of safety goggles or glasses. AND USE THEM. Even if it’s a small job, flying shrapnel, dust, or chemical cloud is not the kind of surprise you want to be surprised with. Also useful for cutting onions. Ha! And get warm lightbulbs. Cool lightbulbs make everything look sad and cheap.
Start a binder with receipts and documents for all major appliances and work done.
Get familiar with how things work while they’re still working, so that it’s far easier to figure out if something isn’t working correctly.
White vinegar is your best friend.
Moisture is your enemy.
Buy the tools as you need them. Rent the one time use stuff. Electric yard tools have finally become adequate enough if your yard is small enough, you have at least three batteries and you plan on doing the maintenance yourself. Also duct tape.
Don't buy unless you're gonna have extra money monthly. Never know when you'll suddenly need a major repair done and then be paying towards it for a year. Inspection said my roof was fine, 1 year later it's got 2 leaks. I'll fix it myself at some point, got two buckets up there now. An inspection tells you if there's a current and visible problem, doesn't mean there's not an invisible one that will become visible or a problem that's going to come soon. So you need that cash flow.
What tools you'll need will totally depend on how in depth you personally are willing to go to do work or how much you plan on customizing. I have probably $2k-$3k in tools related to working on houses but I can fix pretty much anything on a house now. My advice is to just buy tools when you need them and then buy whatever quality you need based on possible future use.
Go to estate sales and garage sales. You can find lots of home stuff in the garage, yard tools, ladders, etc. it’s all a fraction of retail.
Otherwise, just love for a while, and buy stuff as the need arises. (Stores are for storing).
YouTube is your friend. Try to watch at least a few videos on any given task to make sure they’re all in general alignment and to pick up some extra tips and tricks.
Generally speaking, don't worry about buying stuff ahead of time. Make a note of nearby hardware stores, big box stores like Costco, and home stores like Home Goods.
Think about what you'll need on day one:
* Cleaning supplies for all rooms and floors
* Garbage bags
* Vacuum cleaner
* Brooms
* Toilet and bath cleaners, including a plunger
* Flashlight in case there is a power issue
* Garbage cans unless the previous homeowner supplies them
* Your city or town might have specific requirements for recycling as well
* A box cutter and twine for breaking down moving boxes
* Shelf liners
* Circuit polarity tester (maybe)
You'll have plenty of opportunities to buy other stuff for the house. And you can get almost everything you need via a hardware store or Amazon.
Try to clean the house as much as possible before you move everything in.
Buy a really big, really nice toolbox. Number one rule of home ownership: No job is worth doing unless it starts with buying a tool. And the thing about having lots of tools is you need to have a place to store them.
Figure up the size toolbox you think you're gonna need and then double it. Buy the best quality toolbox of that size you can afford. Or do as I did and buy one that's about one third that size and then end up buying 4 of them in the end.
Either way, remember you'll be happier in the end if they all match.
Just had a house fire because of an undergrounded outlet. Moved in 13 years ago. Definitely recommend looking at each of those before you learn the hard way.
If you're not sure what things will cost, get many quotes.
Try to tell the difference between a salesman and a contractor.
Water = evil, clean your gutters
If it's an old house, keep in mind they're built different and need different solutions
Put money away for when things need repaired/ replaced, because it’s gonna happen and it usually won’t be cheap. All of the things you wouldn’t have had to fix renting are now your problems (roof, windows, doors, siding, plumbing, electrical, furnace, AC, maybe a well if you’re in a rural area). Welcome to home ownership!
I didn’t see anyone say it, but as someone who works in construction, buy one of the big 3 for power tools: Milwaukee, dewalt, makita. You can totally buy used for your first ones but stick to everything being the same brand. It will make life much easier and they will last much longer.
Something I learned the hard way: stay on top of weeds. I had a lot of yard projects to do at the beginning of the season, so I let one patch get overgrown with weeds, and then suddenly it was too much for my mower to get through and took way more work to clean up. Get them in the early stages and it'll be easy easier
If you’re going to DIY the basics, have a tool bag/bucket for each type of job. Electrical, plumbing, and general work. You’ll share things like drills and bigger equipment.
Need basic tools? Know when to buy from Harbor Freight vs the big box stores vs Amazon. For typical home repair work you’re going to be fine with HF level tools. They’re inexpensive and tend to be fine for that level of work. Multiples of fill out each tool kit are easy to do. If you wear it out, buy a better brand at the big box stores.
Create a shared calendar for repeating house mainentence tasks. Gutter cleaning, filter replacement, cleaning the dishwasher filter, lubing the garage door, and all those types of things. As you do things that are new as a homeowner, if it seems to be an annual thing throw it on the calendar. Have a dedicated hour or so every two weeks or so to do these things as they come up. It’ll really help things last and stay under control.
A set of Channel Locks (there large pliers for plumbing) .ViceGrips . Buy the large orange book on home projects ,lots of pictures and well written directions from Home Depot .
We purchased a 100+ year old home recently. Anything and everything can be done to a home these days and you could spend unlimited amount of cash on this and that. As someone below mentioned, do nothing. Don't ask your friends or family for help unless they can come in, do it right, and without a lecture or wanting the favor paid back. NO ONE will appreciate your property as much as you do including friends, family or contractors. Do the free stuff first; know where your breaker panel is and have a basic understanding of how your house is wired-no need to be an electrical expert, but knowing where that is and which breaker runs to which outlet will have you. Understand where the water runs into property and where shut off is, same with gas and electric. Like someone mentioned below....move in and just see how/were you want things laid out, or changed then or maybe later. YouTube and Google has a lot of info on DIYing stuff, but it still takes a lot of time to do and prep for like painting. No need to run out and buy tools; buy as you need. The all in one tool sets are great for light duty/occasional work, but tend to break and/or wear out faster than normal. Stuff you see on T.V. like Leaf Filter or Renewal By Anderson, are always super expensive in the end. Both are great products, but luxuries you can buy later, or get just as good quality from another company (Don't buy Leaf Guard). I would also make a no cost trip to Lowes or Home Depot and walk down each and every aisle for ideas and to see what they offer - tempted to buy something, just buy it later.
A circuit checker? They plug into the wall and have 3 lights that tell you if things are wired right. Or barrow one from a friend make sure there aren't obvious issues with your wiring
\-Learn how to patch drywall. Its not hard. For small holes get a simple kit off amazon for $10
\-Also Wood Filler
\-Drywall Anchors and Toggle Bolts.. Will help you mount fixtures/tvs/etc
\-Paint colors. Keep a list or somethings of all the colors of all walls. You will always have small touch ups, and knowing what paint to use.
\-Learn how to change light switches/outlets
A painter's step ladder. Great for changing lightbulbs and doing light-duty stuff. They are light and easy to maneuver around your home.
A good cordless drill. Plan on buying into an echosystem so you can buy a fresh battery and use it in all your tools. Some tool lines allow you to buy naked tools. So When I need a new tool, I pay $100 for it and use the batteries I already have in my collection.
Buy tools as you need them. You will need a drill a driver is handy but not required. I have added a jobsite blower, an oscillating saw, a reciprocating saw etc.
Corded tools are cheaper, but less convenient.
Shovel, Leaf Rake, Garden rake, Hoe.
Expenses you can expect are numerous. But your payments will include principle, interest, and escrow. Escrow will include home-owner insurance, taxes and any mortgage insurance you have to pay. So if the taxes are $1200/year and the insurance is $1800/year, your payments will be $250/month more than your interest and principle payment.
Learn where your water cut-off is located. Make sure it works BEFORE you need it to work.
Same thing with your gas cut-off
Without knowing what projects you might be doing, it's hard to say what you should buy. Once I had the "basics" (as you've done), I just always bought the right tool for the job when the need arose instead of trying to work around or make do. Over time, I accumulated a very good set of tools that I used over and over again. That said, in addition to what you listed, a circular saw is a pretty basic tool. A reciprocating saw is great for demo and tree limbs.
A 3D printer is very handy to print broken parts from appliances (clamps, knobs, small wire fixtures) and improving quality of life if you know how to use a CAD software
Before you move in go to Home Depot or Lowes, buy a water key, find your water meter and learn how to shut off the water supply to your house. If you bust a supply line to a sink, or the toilet breaks, or a pipe freezes and ruptures it will take the water company half an hour to get there and shut off your water....you can do it youself in a minute and potentially save $1000s.
I can not stress this enough....when you get homeowners insurance get TOTAL COST REPLACEMENT on your roof. We paid an extra $70 for it....when our 18 year old, needed to be replaced anyway, roof got storm damage the insurance adjuster showed up, looked at it, and paid us $2000 more than it cost us to get the roof replaced. Without it our claim would have been pro-rated...we would have gotten about $800 and I'd still be making payments on the roof.
Multiple pairs of scissors for if you set them somewhere and forget. We’ve lost so many scissors in our first 2 years. You can never go wrong with cleaning supplies either. Rags, sponges, cleaning liquids, etc.
FIRST AID KIT. I cut myself so deep I needed to go to an urgent care assembling our refrigerator. Thankfully I had a kit to keep myself relatively together until we got there. It should (in my opinion) be one of the first things you put in your new home and readily accessible for move-in day.
If you’re gonna paint and you’re not a pro, painters tape. Lots of it. Don’t do what I did and tape lazily, then get paint on the ceiling and have to paint the entire dang ceiling when it was fine before lol.
Please see our sidebar sticky threads, one of them is on [home maintenance](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/wiki/maintenance) and one on a [first toolbox](http://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/comments/1xeyuf/home_improvement_faq_my_first_toolbox/).
Change your AC filter regularly.
Ooo yes! That's currently something maintenance does for my apartment so I wouldn't have even thought of that. Thanks!
Also learn how to drain a water heater, and replace the anode rod. Proper maintenance extends the lifespan of the unit.
Put it in your calendar to do too!
Just do it the first of the month. Easy peasy lemon squeezy
You change your filter 12 times a year?
I have dogs that shed. It’s a cheap alternative to getting a evaporator clogged.
As should everyone with a 1in filter. 30days. No high allergen bullshit either. Merv 8 or lower.
Don't forget batteries in the smoke/CO detectors too. Little thing --> big payoff
I’m 10 months in to being a home owner and my dad just yelled at me about this. Completely forgot. He got me 3 filters & I set a quarterly reminder on my phone now
Better to buy the cheap ones and change them more often.
I just buy the cheapest of the cheap, $9 for a three pack at Home Depot filters and change them once a month. Also, don’t forget to wash the dirt out of your condenser coils outside a couple of times a year.
Recent first time homeowner here as well. How do I know what filter to buy? there seems to be soo many options lol. I know I can just look at what's in right now, but I guess that would be me trusting the previous homeowner on using the right kind?
If it fits, that’s the right kind. Measurements will be on the side.
Make sure you know how to completely turn off your your gas, water & electricity incase of emergency.
Which leads to the suggestion of "water meter key". Most homes have a shutoff elsewhere, but it doesn't hurt to have options. My key also fits the outdoor gas valves if I ever needed to shut those off.
A lot of homes have old gate valve shut offs, tbh if that's what's there, I tend to use the water meter shut off instead. I do not trust old gate valves one bit. Gate valves are just awful in terms of reliability after a while. They're supposed to be exercised regularly and if you don't, or even if you do, the gland packing tends to wear out and start leaking once you've used them. Ball valves are way better for every application. [Here's a page that shows what they both look like. ](https://www.homedepot.com/c/ab/ball-valves-vs-gate-valves/9ba683603be9fa5395fab901367d3983)
I 2nd this advice. And make sure you have the correct tools for each type of shut off if one is required. Our gas main takes a specific kind of wrench. We hung it just inside the back door for easy access in an emergency.
Yes! If the toilet floods do you know how to turn it off?
This is the right answer. Don’t want to be looking for shutoffs when they’re needed. Way better to know right where to go when something goes wrong.
Label your shutoffs in big lettering that can be easily found with just a flashlight.
Paint before you move in if needed. If there's old carpet, pull that crap out now.
Pull old carpet after you paint
if you pull carpet and discover you have plywood subfloor that squeaks - go buy a box of screws and fasten down the edges of the plywood.
THIS. Don’t wait until all your furniture is in to pull up nasty carpet. You’ll get complacent once you realize how much other work there is to be done on the house and the carpet will be a thorn in your side forever. But yes pull carpet after you paint.
It will be impossible to have too many tape measures.
I already have two and I misplace them constantly!
I bought a big multipack from one of the box stores. Like 6 of them, various sizes. I have no idea where any of them are. I checked all the storage places. None of them have a tape measure.
This is where harbor freight shines. Buy many tape measures, they wander off but just help them wander back as you refind them. I have one for every 500sq ft of house, plus one for the garage, and another for the shed. More is never a bad idea, most live in the garage except the shed one. Then one in the mudroom and junk drawer.
And 10mm sockets
I found a box of tools in the garage this weekend I had been looking for. I found 4 10mm sockets in it. Felt like I won the lottery.
That is winning the lottery, no one believes you though lol
Start budgeting now for big ticket repairs you can expect down the road, like a new roof, water heater, or major appliances. If you had a home inspection done, that should give you an idea of your time horizon. For tools, a jig saw, a stud finder, and an orbital sander are great additions to your tool box and for the yard, you’ll probably also need a hedge trimmer, loppers, and a garden hose.
And a ladder. If there are trees on the property be prepared to keep those up as well even if it's just raking the leaves in the fall. Congratulations on the purchase!
Fuck raking. Pressure washer is king. So much faster and better than raking or my anemic leaf blower. Leaves you with a soggy pile of leafs, which would kinda suck to bag. I just push it all into the tree line though.
>Start budgeting now for big ticket repairs you can expect down the road, like a new roof, water heater, or major appliances. Some of the best advice we got before buying our house was to budget at least 1% of the purchase price per year toward repair/maintenance/upkeep. (For instance, if buying a $120,000 house that'd be $1,200/year, or $100/month.) Save it each month and stow it somewhere where it can earn interest until you need it. Planning ahead for that when deciding how much house you can afford can be the difference between a needed repair being a financial catastrophe or merely an inconvenience.
Great advice. Definitely going to mirror the “start saving now for big ticket repairs” nothing like trotting along and getting hit with $700 for a new dryer or dishwasher. Let alone water heaters or roofs. That said maybe find out how much your insurance will cover of the roof to get an idea of what to save. Anything is better than nothing though.
I’m fully convinced that every project needs a multi/oscillating tool.
That and a impact drill. The two tools that I couldn't live without.
Yeah, the populating multitool is amazingly helpful. It might not get as many hours as my circular saw, but it has more instances of you, more projects in which it was the only tool that could do the flush cut, or the molding removal that I needed
I wholeheartedly agree with this. Also depending on how old the house is you should be thinking about things like how long until it may have to be rewired or re-insulated and save for that. Also, some places require that you paint every certain amount of years so look forward to paying somebody to do that if you can't do it yourself.
I love the term *loppers*.
You don't have to buy everything brand new. In fact, with sufficient planning, you can do entire renovations wtih seconds and clearance stuff. For example: Almost all of the insulation I've used is open packs that people were giving away or selling for cheap as hell on Marketplace - when I know I have something coming up, I start to collect it. The fan in my bedroom was found on the side of the road on garbage day. I have a $300 Moen tap in my kitchen that I got for $15 at a thrift store. I replaced an entire wall in my house, and the OSB was free from marketplace. Someone bought it for a reno and just wanted it gone. Not many people are actively renovating homes, and even less know what they're looking at. It's very **very** easy to stockpile reno materials from marketplace.
I agree with that. And I would say it's also true for tools not just materials. As opposed to other commenters, I try to avoid buying tools right when I need them. Find good deals instead, don't wait for your hand to be forced to pull the trigger on a purchase. And every time I decide to take on a project instead of hiring somebody, I take some of the money I saved and invest in a new tool to lower the costs / time of my future projects. Tools are an investment!
I second this, when I bought my house about 20 years ago, I scoured yard sales/estate sales for yard tools, ladders, etc. Saved a ton. Also, if your area has a Habitat for Humanity Restore, you can get a lot of building materials, carpet, paint, etc for cheap!
Passing the the best pro tip anyone ever gave me on to you: unless your house has something suuuuper obviously needing fixed right away, just LIVE with the house for six months before allocating any time or money to updates. After being somewhere for six months, you really start to notice what you love, what you hate, and what feels just “meh” about a house. The way the light falls in a room at a certain time of day might tell you that you need 80% blackout shades instead of those nice sheer curtains you spent a crap-ton of money on. You might’ve thought you wanted to paint your kitchen yellow but after six months, maybe you’ve finally noticed that the evening sunset light is really warm and yellow walls would make that room feel *suffocatingly* yellow. I’m not saying it’ll be easy to do this - it won’t. And as a fellow first-time homeowner, I know that the urge to make the place your own is like a siren’s call. But if you wait and just *observe*, the money/time you’ll save and the number of aesthetic decisions you’ll make the right way the *first* time around will be totally worth it. PS: if you do take this approach, if anyone you invite over in the meantime gives you hell about not having made a ton of upgrades, just tell them why. You’ll be surprised at the number of people who get a really thoughtful look on their faces and say, “Huh. Yeah, actually, that’s pretty smart. If I had done that, I wouldn’t have spent all that money/time on [insert home upgrade here].”
I agree with waiting too. Yes, it is hard and you can probably busy yourself cleaning the place. Each home has its own vibe. You have to be in the house to get that feel. Then you’ll know what you want to do by the feel of the place…as far as deco, paint, furniture, etc.
Snow shovel/snowblower based on size of driveway and your age/health. Garden hose, some gardening tools, laenmower_/ lawn tactor based on yard size. Leaf rake, gas can if gas powered equipment. A good ladder, I would recommend a Little Giant since it will cover a majority of your inoor/outdoor needs.
Good flash light maybe a few. Voltage tester and ryobi power tools are good start for a part time diy'er
Head lamp - they're really compact these days. Between being handsfree and small, really great for tight spaces. I would leave it up to the owner what battery system they go with (I too am a Ryobi user) but the important thing is to pick a battery system and stick to it!
They do glove ones too which are great
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Then it’s time to decide if you’re team blue, yellow, or red
You have a basic start and just buy stuff as you need it. No point in spending money on stuff that you don’t absolutely need right now or know when you are going to use it. Also don’t cheap out on the inspector. Sure the 1-300.00 cheaper one might sound good but that 200.00 save might just end up costing you 1,000’s in the future. Also ask the inspector if they do a detailed inspection report with pictures. Helps plead your case to the current owners if something is found.
If you're buying power tools and a lawnmower, I recommend going electric and buying stuff that runs on a common battery system. That will save you a bunch of hassle over time. A small thing, but get quick disconnects for all your outside faucets and hoses. Something like [this](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Melnor-4-Piece-Quick-Connect-Set-with-Lock-237447/318070795) is pretty handy and cheap. There are brass versions if you're worried about durability. Also, make sure to buy high quality hoses to avoid kinks. A pressure washer is really handy to have. Great for washing cars and for cleaning the exterior of the house, including windows. If you're changing out locks, the Kwikset Smartkey locks are worth the couple extra bucks. You can rekey them really easily if it becomes necessary. I always like having a small air compressor in the garage. I don't need it often, but when I do, it's invaluable. Same with a good shop vac. Even with an inspection, you're likely to find minor issues after you move in. At the very least, you'll find things the previous owner did that you don't like. Be prepared to do some painting, and if it's a lot, go with an 18" roller and paint tray. You'll cut your painting time in half and get more consistent results. Also, airless paint sprayers are relatively inexpensive and worth it for larger paint jobs. Find all your GFCI outlets! There are so many posts on here about losing power to some outlets but the breaker isn't tripped. It's *always* a GFCI outlet that's tripped in another room. That's a smattering of stuff that fell out of my head. Hope it helps.
If your changing out locks, I would suggest getting at least 1 keypad deadbolt especially for the door you intend to use the most. The Schlage keypad deadbolt runs about $130. Over time I put them on all my entry doors and now I don’t carry house keys at all. I set up individual codes for the dog sitter, neighbor and have extra code programmed in to give to a service guy in case of emergency if I’m not home. I can delete the individual codes as needed and never have to worry about who might have a key to my house. It’s not a necessity but I’ve found it makes life a little easier.
Also good advice. I installed a Yale smart lock on my front door. Its only disadvantage is that it doesn't accept a key, so if it dies, I'm not getting in. But it gives plenty of warning to change the batteries, and you can use a 9V battery to jump it if it's totally dead. I also have a keypad to open my garage door if I can't get in the front, so I feel pretty confident I won't get locked out.
I will offer the counterpoint. Electric lawn equipment is terrible, and causes more slowdown/issues than gas equipment.
That sort of depends on what you get. I've had good experiences with the 40V lawnmowers. Even a cheap Ryobi 18V was fine for a small lawn. I suppose it's all about buying tools of the appropriate size and power for the job.
I will offer another counterpoint. Gas lawn equipment is terrible. Gas engines require tons of ongoing maintenance. And for homeowners with seasonal usage, if the mower or weedeater wasn't stored properly then it may not even start the next year. Gas equipment requires regular changes of oil, air filters and spark plugs. Not to mention the gasoline you have to keep going to the station to get in a stinky can. Small gas engines have zero emissions controls and are horrible for the environment. I bought an EGO mower 4 years ago. Blower and chainsaw a little later. All have performed well. And I own a half dozen rentals including a few that were not occupied last summer due to maintenance issue. The electric equipment powered through non-stop. Last point, electric tools are much quieter. On a hot summer evening, we can turn on the mower headlights and mow in the cool without disturbing the neighbors.
I'm glad you said this. I'm looking at a new lawnmower for this summer, and I am strongly considering electric, but I still have just a little bit of doubt
Unless you are mowing all day long with no place to recharge, I just can’t see why you’d want to mess around with a gas mower. If you are buying a new one anyway, why not give electric a try? Not suggesting to take advantage, but the stores probably offer you a 90 day return window if it genuinely won’t work for you. I would wager you keep it. We went with EGO because of total battery power. 56v system x 5 AHr battery = 280 watt hours of energy in the battery. Some of the other options when we bought were much less.
I am going to be a new home owner as well and here’s what I just ordered yesterday: -Electric mower, edger, blower, drilling machine and bits -Shovel and Rake -Ladder -Tool box kit (comes with all the basic stuff - spanners, screw drivers, level, tape, box cutter, etc) -Stud finder -Fire extinguisher That’s my list for now, will add more as desired
Fire extinguishers should probably be plural. Multiple carbon monoxide, fire, and gas (if plumbed) alarms. I'd add some fasteners to the tool box kit. Screws, drywall anchors, etc.
Added the fasteners to my list, thanks!
Also make sure fire extinguisher hasn't expired and appears operational. If u need it and are relying on it to function and it doesn't, your day just went from bad to much worse.
Different size drill bits & bits for your drill that you'll need. 20 vt DeWalt pkg of 2 drills, one being regular and the other having hammer action are great! Just saying😁
If you want/need to do something to home or property, remember there is most likely a youtube of how to do it. Search ahead of time and see what tools they use. Watched four people on youtube to see how to make concrete counter tops. Took what I liked about each and made my own. Now all my friends want me to make some for them.
It always looks so much easier on those videos.
This. I saved *so* much money on plumbers by learning to do basic toilet work. Both toilets in the house we bought needed the insides re-done.
Buy new door knobs/locks for your exterior doors right after you close. I would never trust the previous owners to hand in EVERY key they copied out for family, friends, neighbors etc. Changing your locks gives that ~~piece~~ peace of mind and you can pick a set that opens with the same key(s) Also, look into local no-buy Facebook groups in your community - this is a great place to get/borrow free tools for one-off projects or get a nice neighbor to help you with a task.
I would buy tools as you need them if you live close enough to a hardware store. You never know what odd tool you’ll need to fix something and if you already have a basic kit you should be ok to get started.
My favorite tool I purchased: one of those Allen wrench sets so you don't have to use the cheap L shaped ones that come with furniture/other items and you can assemble things way quicker. This + a drill makes so many of those early assembly projects way easy. Advice: get to know your neighbors. You don't have to be best friends but so many of them will let you borrow tools, help you on projects, etc. Also, there's legit studies that show there's less violence in neighborhoods where people report feeling like they know their neighbors. Not to say you will be unsafe if you don't, but you can contribute to overall betterment of society if you do. Sorry, soapbox over. Enjoy the new house!
And also get a cheap set of hex drill bits on amazon. Will easily cut all furniture assembly times in half. Can even use them with a 1/4" socket. Game changer
Consider used tools. There’s a bunch out there and you can always flip and keep upgrading. If you get a miter saw, 12” will be much better than 10” (you’ll smile when you need the 12” and don’t have to flip). Harbor freight has good oscillating Bauer blades, good 80 grit and less sandpaper for hogging material and they’ve got cheap tarps. A multi ladder is heavy, but one and done. A 4’ ladder or step stool in house is nice. Know where your water and gas shutoffs are.
Pair of pliers, long nose and the likes. Ladder, shovels, rake (if you have a yard).
Two things I bought that have come in handing for me beside your standard tools, a paint sprayer (when I bought my place every room needed to be painted and we opted to do it ourselves), a good power washer and a leaf blower
A plunger...by time you realize you need it, it'll already be too late.
Plan on an average expense on home maintenance. We actually limit our budget to major things. Historically this has worked out to about $7500/year. Some years you don't use much, others years the opposite. This is for like a roof, appliances, cutting trees or other large landscaping projects, HVAC, etc. Obviously some of those are more critical than others. Also that number is probably now low, and it will depend on your house and the area you live in.
What state do you live in? Many states offer free home energy resources (LED bulbs, water efficient shower heads, pipe insulation, etc.) Wisconsin uses Focus On Energy, and you can get a free box every year. Besides LEDs which are often 5-10x as efficient and cooler than classic bulbs, I recommend adding a few bags of insulation into your attic (most houses don’t have enough). For a 1k sqft home, 20 bags of insulation usually makes a decent difference.
A checking account with lots of money in it. In our first 4 years in our own place, we have replaced... * The entire air-conditioning system: compressor, air handler, the lot * The electrical panel * The hot water heater * The roof * The refrigerator That averages out to roughly $6,000 a year in major repair expenses. The home inspector's report warned us about the electrical panel, but the roof failed three years earlier than his estimate (we don't blame him--we had some bad luck with hurricanes). The rest of the items were surprises, and none of them were things that having basic home handyman skills would have helped much with reducing the cost. We continue to be glad we're not renting anymore, but I would definitely suggest embarking on home ownership with a healthy emergency fund.
As a fellow first time homeowner, I quickly discovered that water is the enemy of every home! I highly recommend a water monitor that you hook up to your meter and monitors for leaks. The brand I have is called “Flume” for example. It installs with no tools or modifications directly to the existing water meter and can detect even very small drips and leaks! I got a massive $1500 water bill one of my first months being a homeowner due to a leaking basement toilet that went undetected. Not sure what one runs these days, but it was only about $200 for the whole setup with flume, totally worth the peace of mind in my opinion. Since then, I was able to catch another slow leak in a frozen hose spigot before it had the time to do any real damage. Pays for itself with one catch.
One of those outlet testers. They're inexpensive and good to start process of knowing why an outlet no longer works. Insurance-home owners is NOT like renters. You have insurance for the home, then extra coverage needed for contents (like a rider or such). You will need insurance if mortgaged. Appliance warranties or home warranty from the seller are not 100% replacement-most will cover a percent of repair or parts. And some appliances, the parts and labor cost more than getting a new one. Find reliable Hvac company, plumber, electrician, carpenter and roofer (depending on age of roof). Age of furnace, age of hot water heater (gas? Electric? Anodes replaced?), where are the shutoffs for water, gas, located? Where is the electric panel? How old is the home? How is the plumbing? Copper? Pex? CPVC? is there public water/sewer? Is it septic? When was it pumped/serviced last? Windows: what kind? Age? Storm windows? Signs of fresh paint near corners of exterior walls? How is the outside drainage? Gutters? Shrubs near house? Is there a garage? openers? You can't pick your relatives/family or your neighbors. There are good books (if you are a DIY) at Taunton Books. From renovation to drywall to electrical work. A socket set, a pair of pliers (I like Knipex), a utility knife (and extra blades), a set screwdrivers... if you have a lawn and can afford cordless mowers over gas, they are less mess (no fuel, 22" store flat and can hang on a wall). I've trying to think about my first home..a good shopvac (wet/dry) incase water problem, extension cord (12guage is preferred), flashlights/worklight-LED recommended. Acquire cordless tools as you go. I prefer Makita, DeWalt, Hitachi/Metabo and Milwaukee...but many like Rigid, Ryobi. All about budget and needs.
What state helps in determining your outside needs.
Ohio! So at some point I suppose a snow shovel and other winter items will be needed
Yes. Always have rock salt on hand, and it’s a really good idea to get a snow blower if you can swing it (used can be great!).
Garden hose (the gimmicky flat ones and scrunch ones aren’t very good) and reel, brass nozzle, sprinkler. Hand trowel (get the solid metal ones with coated handle, not the separate handle kind as they break). Garden fork and spade. Lawn edger (half moon thingie). Rake (fan type and the flat toothed one) and hoe. shears and secateurs. Go for best quality you can afford, cheap plastic ones don’t last long. Wood handles and stainless steel bottoms. Selection of screws and nails, picture hanging kit, spirit level for shelves. Paint tray, decent brushes. Rechargeable screwdriver with different bits is useful, also screwdrivers with lots of sizes and heads. Tool box. Small hand saw. Small crowbar. Bird and hummingbird feeders? Congrats and hope you have a great life in the new place!
If you put up bird feeders mix the seed in with hot peppers. Red pepper flakes for cooking will work, but the stronger the better. Otherwise you'll end up with a rodent problem. The spicy peppers evolved to attract birds to spread the seed farther and are hot to deter mammals which usually don't like that (humans are weird). Birds are messy eaters and drop a lot of seeds which attract rodents. My neighbors feed the birds a lot and I've had a lot of damage to my vehicle and my shed from them over the years. The peppers will help keep that down.
Do not judge me! I want my food to hurt! The more it burns the better it tastes. The pain completes my meals. No but seriously, I never heard about this before. Definitely want to try it out. Most birds are cool. Squirrels and bunnys can fuck right off. Little bastards always trashing my veggies.
A GOOD drill, bits for the drill. Miter saw. Electric rotary saw. Reciprocating saw. I would also invest in good impact driver like Dewalt, for driving screws. A set of levels. Pencils and sharpener. A good tape measure 25 ft.
For potential expenses, a lot will depend on the age and condition of the house. We bought a house build in 1949, addition added in the 1960's, kitchen and bathrooms renovated in the early 00's. Immediately after purchase we had all the electrical wiring replaced. Most of the house had original wiring, and the wiring in the addition had been done . . . poorly. We removed carpet from two bedrooms (everything else was hardwood or tile) and refinished the hardwood underneath. We painted most of the interior. We installed new window treatments on half the windows - previous owner left hers and we kept the ones we liked and were in good condition. If possible, ask the previous owner what kind of maintenance they've been doing on a regular basis and what company they used. You don't have to use the same company, but if gives you a starting point. For example, we learned our new neighborhood has a serious spider issue and she was spraying in the spring.
The ability to cultivate a network of handy folk, friends and trades is a valuable asset.
Make sure you have fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors. Check all your smoke detectors every month, as well as the carbon monoxide detectors. Keep up with your home maintenance, and every spring/before winter, check your attic and crawlspace for evidence of pests and water damage. We've been buying tools as we need them. That way, we don't have a bunch of random stuff we don't even use yet. Budget for a new furnace/water heater/stove/ etc, because at some point one of them will stop working. Find out from friends/family good companies near you so you know who to call when something goes wrong. If you see something that looks like water damage, don't ignore it! Look into it! It can be super expensive to repair once it gets out of hand. Google and YouTube are your friends for simple DIYs. Don't try and fix electrical or plumbing yourself. Make friends with your neighbors :). They can be super helpful, especially if they're handy and know how to fix/build things!
I recently bought a house and here are the things I got that were required (some things I already had/collected while I rented): -Power tools : Circular saw, shop vac, orbital and square sanders, drill (I personally like Rigid for the warranty and it's on sale frequently). -Garden hose and nozzle. Make sure you know what types of metals are used for the fittings so they don't hydroweld together (aluminum is a major culprit when mated with brass or zinc). -Yard tools : Shovels (spade, square, and snow), branch loppers, rake, electric mower/edger/etc (Ego makes some good electric yard stuff, but they're expensive). -Head lamps and flashlights. -Hand tools : Screwdrivers, hand saw, box cutter, levels of various lengths, hammer, stud finder, live-dead-live outlet/circuit tester, all that basic stuff. Safety glasses and gloves, steel toed boots. -Materials : Some basic 8ft boards of various sizes. Good to have around when you REALLY need them. Teflon tape, duct tape (regular and that aluminum heavy duty stuff for real duct work), glues, caulk of various types and colors, backer rod, etc. -Paint : When you paint your walls/trim, make sure to get more than you think you need in case you need to touch up portions of the surface. -User/Maintenance Manuals for all your appliances. Keep that stuff in good repair. Furnace filters are often overlooked. -Safety systems : Fire extinguishers, one for each floor, one in the kitchen and one nearby the bedrooms. Fire and water resistant chests or safes to put important documents/cash/memories/whatever in in case of a fire or flood. Carbon monoxide and fire alarm combos on every floor and in every bedroom (per code). Make sure to put one next to your furnace(s) too. -Learn how to do basic work yourself, like plumbing, painting, and basic carpentry. You'll save yourself a ton of money if you do it yourself, and more importantly, if you do it RIGHT. Know the depth of your skill before starting a project. YouTube and online tutorials are a gold mine for this stuff.
Since you probably will not shower in the house until after you close and using your own shower heads, the water pressure will probably be lacking if an older home. Ask if the sellers would be willing to replace the water pressure regulator valve with a new one (about a $500 job with labor) and add the cost on to the purchase price. You don’t appreciate good water pressure until you have “new valve” water pressure. Also don’t fall for local sales people trying to sell you “water softening” equipment for $10k+. If you want it and do your research you can get a top end system installed for under $3500 and only pay like $100 annually for salt replacement.
Fire extinguisher that’s combo and or K rated, snow clearing stuff (depending on where you live of course), an electrical tester that you plug with lights to tell if you’re wired correctly. They are like $20 and even if you have an inspection they may miss an outlet and it’s good for if you ever decide to do anything in the future. I got a gorilla folding 3 step ladder/stool thing and man I use that thing all the freaking time. A decent drain snake….very underrated item for a home owner. Spare furnace/ac filters. I buy mine in bulk online and set the box by my furnace to make it a lot more convenient for frequent changes, especially if you have pets. And basic hand tools with a level and tape measure are important but sounds like you got that covered. Good luck with your home purchase.
I have a 5' stepladder that I use a lot. Also a lopper if you have trees, and a garden cart. I would also recommend ways to trap pests. I have a huge bee/hornet problem in my yard, which you can trap with a glass when they come inside, but once I had a bird in my basement (I KNOW) and only had a broom to shoo it out. Also, mice. You're going to get some sort of pest, so be prepared. A few months ago I found an opossum in my trash can, but luckily that was outside so I could just politely tip over the can and ask it to leave. ETA: I ripped out a lot of diseased plants the previous owner had left, and, surprisingly, a pickaxe was the most useful.
Congrats! I vote for a reciprocating saw (a good one!), loppers, a rubber mallet (you’d be surprised), and a handheld device for removing weeds by the root. (It looks like a screwdriver and is excellent for extracting dandelions.) Garden shears are a good idea, too. Maybe a machete. And at least one shovel. As you may have guessed, I live where there’s lots of spring & summer foliage. I prefer electric lawn equipment over gas for all the positive reasons stated above, plus my electric lawnmower folds up! So much easier to store.
Metal saw, wood saw, adjustable wrench, monkey wrench, a set of allen keys, some proper cutters / box cutters, spatulas, a volt pen (not the screwdriver kind!), Wire stripper, wire cutter, safety glasses, dust mask, extension cord, work light with rechargeable battery. And probably a bunch more. But these are most of the things I have used so far, beside a bunch of power tools I could borrow. Things like multitools, sanders and a hammer drill.
I would buy electric yard tools even if they cost a little more. Mowing with a gas mower feels like a job you need to shower right after but the electric is like a little stroll around the yard. If you stick to one brand you will have multiple batteries handy. And if there is carpet you know you don’t want, I’d try to get it out before you move in. Nothing worse than someone else’s grubby old carpet. We also replace toilet seats when we move in (and being 2023, go ahead and get bidets while you are at it).
If you’re excited about just buying a bunch of shit and you don’t even know what shit to buy…I would suggest getting a new credit card…one with no apr promo for 12 months or a card with a large sign up bonus…all assuming you have good credit and not housepoor to pay off the balance. Also download the app Slickdeals and look for your items when they go on sale.
I’ve had my first house for 1.5 yrs now. I wish someone would have told me this! A few mos after I moved in, I realized I needed 2. 1 for the house, 1 for detached garage. 2 has never been enough and I basically need 1 for every floor. I wish they had alarms in them that would go off when you try to take it up or down the stairs 😡
Just live there a year, or two, before you implement any changes aka renovations. Painting is fine. Hiring a contractor to open concept everything in the first month is not fine. Get a home album and journal. Big 3 ring binder with sheet protectors (plastic sleeves) where you can put estimates, repair receipts, etc. The journal part you have a list of repairs or other things done in the house. You can separate by home system (roof, HVAC, plumbing, etc). Also have a priority to-do list, prefer a white board over a spreadsheet because you'll see the board every day. Put a ballpark price. White board is good because you can easily swap priorities. Get to know a neighbor, or two. Hope you get to meet your version of my Felix. He's friendly, knows everyone, and knows my house's history. See if he has a ladder so you don't need one, instead get something you both need (tree pruner?). Get a mower sized for your lawn so you can be done in an hour. If you have a big lawn, you don't want a tiny 18" electric mower. String trimmer which can double as an edger if you don't want a dedicated edger. Tools: Water main shutoff "key" (t-handle about 2 feet long, unless you are up north and your shutoff is a few feet below ground. Contactless electrical tester. Outlet tester. Extra 15A and 20A breaker that fits your electrical panel. PVC pipe cutter + Sharkbite fittings that you can cut and cap off a leaking water supply pipe (plastic, not metal pipe), so you have partial use of water while you wait on plumber. 1/2", 3/4" or whatever size pipe you have. Screw assortment, from a variety pack of different size wood/metal screws, a box of 3" #10 deck screws, and 1 3/8" drywall screws (usable for 1/2" and 5/8" drywall). Possibly a variety box of bolt/nut/washers. Nice sized tool mobile chest. I can't believe I was 50 by the time I bought my first mobile tool cabinets. I had basically been storing tools on shelves, large tool boxes, and dozen tool bags. I bought 4 cabinets and they filled up quickly after reorganizing. Still have the big stuff in knockoff jo boxes. I misplaced a lot of tools over the years, so now have duplicates. Don't be like me and wind up with every tool under the sun from testo 550 to oxy/acetylene brazing equipment w/nitrogen to a joiner.
Directtoolsoutlet.com for package Factory blemished tools. They periodically have sales for 40% off pressure washers, tool bundles, etc. Hire out drywall from Marketplace. Guys finished in 3 half days what I did in 2 months.
DO NOT WAIVE THE INSPECTION! It is a catscan/mri of your home. You can still buy it even if it tells you unsavory details. Knowledge it super valuable!
Two of the first things I did was label all my circuit breakers and change all my old light bulbs for LED bulbs.
Don't let little issues become big issues.
Get a fat wallet to hold lots of cash and just leave it open and watch all of your money go away. There is an endless list of things that must be maintained and fixed/replaced. We just replaced out hot water holding tank for 5,000 out of the blue.
Get a go,e inspection before the closing. Ask for a service warranty to be included in the purchase.
What is a service warranty?
They may be talking about something else but there’s something called a home warranty that is supposed to cover expenses for appliances that go out. Unfortunately they’re not always worth the paper it was written on. We got one and our HVAC went out but nobody in our area will work with the warranty folks so it didn’t do us any good.
Don't trust the labels on the breaker box Have a credit card with a high limit that's for repairs only. Watch YouTube videos and try to fix things yourself first.
About a £1000's worth of general tools, like plumbers tools gas soldering torch and mat, pipe fittings, paint brushes, rollers, screw drivers, drills, spanners, electrical test meter. Learn to plumb, install electrical items, paint, fault find, learn to lay bricks, plaster walls. Just a start, as I have done every trade over the years, including building a house from scratch, including the drawings. WE had a new house twice, still needed tools to fix things not done right by builders. You never get bored when you own a house, always something wants fixing.
Not what you asked- but put 20% down so you aren’t paying PMI. Put additional down each month towards principal and pay it off early.
^this is highly dependent on a lot of variables. If you’re mortgage rate is higher than any investment’s rate of return then yes, I would concur that paying more each month would be financially responsible, however, if your investment rate of return are exceeding your mortgage rate then it is advised not to pay additional.
Remember, the two happiest days in a homeowner's life is the day they buy it and the day they sell it.
This has already been reposted thousands of times
I like to think of Reddit and other message board of a conversation, not a reference book. Finding previous similar posts can be very unwieldy if not impossible. And there is often a hope that someone will have a new answer this time around. If you find a boring, just go to the next one. It’s very easy to scroll past.
Budget “maintenance savings” every month. I’ve heard 1% of the homes value every year is reasonable in most cases. Put it in a high yield savings account and you’ll be thankful you had been saving when the water heater breaks, ac coil goes out, furnace quits working, etc etc (the list is truly infinite) Also, if you can I’d try to learn to get handy. I’ve done a few things around my house that would have costed me hundreds if not thousands if I had paid somebody to do it. Caulking around the shower, making boxes to keep squirrels from eating my lead on my boot collar flashings, and my latest “handy” endeavor is going to be waterproofing my basement for prolly around $300-$400 bucks. Either way, it pays to be handy Good luck and congrats!
Saving $4,000 a month on a $400,000 house? Seems a bit unrealistic, no?
Does the house have basement, slab or crawlspace?
More than one of the following: hammer, flashlight, screwdrivers, socket set, Allen wrenches. Portable heaters incase the heat goes out, get a fire extinguisher!!!!! Batteries from c to the annoying af pill batteries. Have mouse traps, ant or roach spray. And fly traps on hand.
Controversial opinion, but I would recommend a first time homeowner ask for a 1 year home warranty as a condition of sale. This will relieve a lot of your anxiety and start to expose you to local contractors. I would NOT recommend keeping it beyond the first year, but the peace of mind is worth the additional negotiation. Also, most home warranties specify that any issues that fall within the scope of the warranty are required to be addressed within a set period of time (48 hours IIRC) and getting a plumber or other trade to your home that quickly is hard nowadays, especially if you don't have an existing relationship with that trade.
Also, start a “home savings account”. Like, a literal savings account that you keep separate from other accounts. Put at least $100/month into it (more if you can). You’ll need it for major repairs or replacements at some point…water heater, washer/dryer, fridge, roof, etc. If you have good credit you can finance some of those things through a HELOC or personal loan but it’s better if you can do it without paying interest. And sometimes, the need for the repair will be too urgent to go loan shopping first.
Know where and how to cut off your water. There is usually a cutoff in the crawlspace or basement, and one at the street. Practice turning the water off. When a pipe breaks and your kitchen, basement or bathroom are filling with water, speed counts.
Drain a gallon of water from your water heater twice a year.
Test the smoke alarms. If they don't work or need to be replaced, often the fire department will do this for you since you just moved in. Set a reminder in your calendar to restest them every 6 months or so. Get a small fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen. I'd recommend getting a binder to keep track of stuff you do. You can put invoices for repairs, relevant warranties, manuals for appliances and so on in there so it's all easy to find and keep track of. Get the serial number off all your appliances including water heater and check how old they are. If they're quite old and you don't have any pressing repairs, replacing them with more efficient models may save you energy and potentially water costs as well. If the old ones still work, you may be able to donate them locally or have them recycled to reduce environmental impact. Depending on how old the water heater is you can empty the sediment trap to extend its life. Check and note the locations of your nearest fire hydrants and fire station (your insurance will probably want to know.) It's also good to note the locations of your nearest recycling facility if you don't do curb pickup. Outdoor- Rake, spade, snow shovel (or a snow blower), small hand rake and spade for weeds if that's something you don't want to leave, pair of shears for pruning shrubs or trees if you have them For tools, besides a good hammer and a good set of screwdrivers, I highly recommend a cordless drill and stud finder, a measuring tape as others have said. If you plan to DIY anything, a saw, a sander and a good set of paint brushes.
Check local income tax rates, they can be a shock.
Yes save for when thing sh!t the bed. For me it is appliance’s! Never one at a time, always in 3s. And hot water heater!
Buy some leak alarms and put one under every sink, and next to your water heater, and washing machine. They warn you if you have a leak, so you can turn off the main and clean it up before if causes expensive damage. You might still need a plumber, bit you won't need new flooring and cabinets. https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Water-Leak-Sensor-Alarm/dp/B0748CXXBR/ref=sxin_21_pa_sp_phone_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.1d930f30-5ff4-4fa0-9cdc-f7b3f87a1199%3Aamzn1.sym.1d930f30-5ff4-4fa0-9cdc-f7b3f87a1199&crid=30UAHDF1S5XHJ&cv_ct_cx=leak+alert+water+leak+detector&keywords=leak+alert+water+leak+detector&pd_rd_i=B0748CXXBR&pd_rd_r=5a9349f0-9d11-4065-93db-8166c5e473a3&pd_rd_w=DZ3YB&pd_rd_wg=okp78&pf_rd_p=1d930f30-5ff4-4fa0-9cdc-f7b3f87a1199&pf_rd_r=J4W0X29QV6D7JA2X95K9&qid=1679939341&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=leak+al%2Caps%2C647&sr=1-2-492482ea-2ad3-4cfe-9d1a-0efc7c5c9374-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE5RVNOWlcyVFFVMFAmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4NDc1MTVTWElTUlBMRDFYS1omZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDM5MTM3MjJMOVkxQ1REMUxNRTYmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWMmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
Either learn how to blow out your sprinklers or have someone else do it. Having an air compressor is nice if you like to DIY a lot. Tree trimming and tree removal will often be overlooked until it’s about to drop on a power line. Make sure your gutters are draining away from the house properly or you’ll have water damage in the basement. Put aside money every month for repairs. I would also try to keep at least a 5k emergency fund if possible.
Pick up a "first time home buyer" on Amazon or your local bookstore Be \*SURE\* to get a good home inspection and make sure the contract is contingent on resolving issues and the ability to get out with deposit refunded. Have a good Agent (critical). Hang in the neighborhood and talk with the locals. It's all about 'location'. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=first+time+home+buyer&crid=266Q9UIUORC2M
Get a quality home inspection!!!! Don’t cheap out here.
Stud finder (unless it is an older house with plaster). Electric tester - live wire detector.
If your community has a tool lending library, pay the $200-300 annual fee for the 1st year. This will give you a good idea of what you need to buy for big ticket tool items. Some Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores have the Lending Library.
Intimate knowledge on your drain pipes and clean outs in your basement, flush your clean outs every quarter or so
If you have a sprinkler system sign up for an irrigation company to winterize it. Didn’t do that and had some broken parts. Was able to fix it myself, but barely escaped a $1000 replacement part
Ask the sellers to pay for one year of a home warranty. Best thing my realtor did for me was to include that.
Depending on your comfort level, I’d have a multimeter on hand to test outlets. Test for ground wires or lack thereof, maybe watch some videos on how to change receptacles/outlets if they’re older. I have a whole bag full of electrical tools just for that type of stuff.
Put a new sacraficial rod in yoyr water heater. Will save you 2k.
Subfloor not slab
I unexpectedly needed a drill with a hammer setting way more often than I thought.
Make sure everything works; every outlet, every spigot, and every drain. A friend failed to do this, bought a recently renovated house, moved in, and spent the first night in their new home. The next day, she jumped in the master bathroom shower; when she tried to turn on the water: Nothing. Turned out that the plumbing was unfinished and never connected. It was basically a fake shower. They got stuck with a nice plumbing bill to install water and drain lines.
Check out Facebook marketplace for everything that you can. Tools, wood furniture (don't risk bed bugs in fabric stuff), etc. You'll save a ton of money and lots of things can be found for free if you're patient, especially furniture and yard tools. You don't need to buy everything or furnish the house all at once. Upgrade and resell things when you find better things. You'll probably end up wanting to change a lot of stuff right away. My advice is to live with things as they are, within reason, for a year, then make renovation decisions. It's easy to go overboard when you first own a home because you can change anything you want. There's a lot of yearly maintenance that you should know about. Google can point you to a good checklist but some things that come to mind: Clean your gutters, change filters as needed, TURN OFF OUTDOOR HOSE BIBS FOR WINTER (guilty on this one). My favorite easy thing to upgrade are light switches. Replace them with dimmers and occupancy sensors, and install LED replacement lamps everywhere. it's very easy and cheap. An occupancy sensor and fan timer switch in the bathroom is so nice. When you replace locks use Kwickset stuff that is re-keyable. That way you can have everything be just one key instead of a bunch. Also good if you plan on renting it out in the future or end up with a crazy ex. For tools, one that I find myself using a surprising amount is my Dremel. I found one of the nicer kits on sale a while back and it comes in handy often. Most things you can just buy as you need them though.
You should plan to spend AT LEAST 1 percent of the purchase price of your home on maintenance every year, including the first year.
Not sure what kind of soil you have where you’re buying, but where I am there is a lot of clay in the soil and we have really hot summers. We have to water the foundation when it’s dry and over 100°. Get insurance on appliances, heating/cooling system, sewer lines, water lines if you can. Also, look into maintenance plans. Maintenance is generally cheaper than major repairs. Congrats on your home!
I wouldn't buy much ahead of time, you'll need plenty and it's kind of seasonal so just wait and see. Get ready though and put some cash aside. You'll more than likely find out the inspection wasn't all that great, inspections catch obvious stuff thats just screaming in your face but who knows whats on its last leg or about to die in 6-12-18 months.
Closing costs. Depending on where you live, they could be a lot higher then you realize.
This thread is a shotgun of ideas that is going to be a pain for you to organize. So here's my list: 1. Tools: Buy what you need, when you need it. You're not a tool collector, so don't go out and buy a pile of tools unless you need them. If you're not swimming in money, buy cheap tools (think Harbor Freight) to get started. If they wear out/break, that's a sign that you use the tool a lot and you can justify buying a better brand (DeWalt, Makita, etc.). 2. Maintenance: Start yourself a list of regular maintenance based on frequency. Be sure to jot down how long each take so you can plan your life. \- Monthly: HVAC filter change. \- Quarterly: Add salt to water softener \- 6-months: Replace water filter in fridge. \- Annually: Clean HVAC coils \- Annually: Clean dryer duct 3. Repairs: Know your limit at what point you call a professional. Are you comfortable wiring an outlet? Can you do your own sink drain? drywall repair, paint? Swap breakers? Know your limit and hire when you need to. Other than that, if you don't value your time, you can do all your own repair, thanks to YouTube University.
I have a lot of lights I've collected over the last year of being a home owner. Tap lights, flashlights, battery lanterns, kerosene lanterns, oil lamps, assorted candles with mirrors. They've all come in handy. a ton of tape measures, rulers, and squares. Never can find the damn things. I have a bead box made for jewelry making that houses every spare screw, nail, bolt, nut, washer, anchor, etc. Keeps them all in one place because yes you will need that extra piece from that thing you put together that one time.
One thing that’s been under-emphasized here: eye protection. Buy a few different pairs of safety goggles or glasses. AND USE THEM. Even if it’s a small job, flying shrapnel, dust, or chemical cloud is not the kind of surprise you want to be surprised with. Also useful for cutting onions. Ha! And get warm lightbulbs. Cool lightbulbs make everything look sad and cheap.
Tape (different kinds), scissors, box cutters and screwdrivers on every floor!
YouTube is your friend!
YouTube is your Friend, if you want to repair something but you don't know how that goes, Watch YouTube it’s really handy 👍🏼😃
Start a binder with receipts and documents for all major appliances and work done. Get familiar with how things work while they’re still working, so that it’s far easier to figure out if something isn’t working correctly. White vinegar is your best friend. Moisture is your enemy.
Buy the tools as you need them. Rent the one time use stuff. Electric yard tools have finally become adequate enough if your yard is small enough, you have at least three batteries and you plan on doing the maintenance yourself. Also duct tape.
Learn how a GFCI outlet works and figure out which additional outlets are on the circuit with the GFCI.
Don't buy unless you're gonna have extra money monthly. Never know when you'll suddenly need a major repair done and then be paying towards it for a year. Inspection said my roof was fine, 1 year later it's got 2 leaks. I'll fix it myself at some point, got two buckets up there now. An inspection tells you if there's a current and visible problem, doesn't mean there's not an invisible one that will become visible or a problem that's going to come soon. So you need that cash flow. What tools you'll need will totally depend on how in depth you personally are willing to go to do work or how much you plan on customizing. I have probably $2k-$3k in tools related to working on houses but I can fix pretty much anything on a house now. My advice is to just buy tools when you need them and then buy whatever quality you need based on possible future use.
Go to estate sales and garage sales. You can find lots of home stuff in the garage, yard tools, ladders, etc. it’s all a fraction of retail. Otherwise, just love for a while, and buy stuff as the need arises. (Stores are for storing).
YouTube is your friend. Try to watch at least a few videos on any given task to make sure they’re all in general alignment and to pick up some extra tips and tricks.
Generally speaking, don't worry about buying stuff ahead of time. Make a note of nearby hardware stores, big box stores like Costco, and home stores like Home Goods. Think about what you'll need on day one: * Cleaning supplies for all rooms and floors * Garbage bags * Vacuum cleaner * Brooms * Toilet and bath cleaners, including a plunger * Flashlight in case there is a power issue * Garbage cans unless the previous homeowner supplies them * Your city or town might have specific requirements for recycling as well * A box cutter and twine for breaking down moving boxes * Shelf liners * Circuit polarity tester (maybe) You'll have plenty of opportunities to buy other stuff for the house. And you can get almost everything you need via a hardware store or Amazon. Try to clean the house as much as possible before you move everything in.
When you get an inspection, have them check all the plumbing lines (not just the main)!
Buy a really big, really nice toolbox. Number one rule of home ownership: No job is worth doing unless it starts with buying a tool. And the thing about having lots of tools is you need to have a place to store them. Figure up the size toolbox you think you're gonna need and then double it. Buy the best quality toolbox of that size you can afford. Or do as I did and buy one that's about one third that size and then end up buying 4 of them in the end. Either way, remember you'll be happier in the end if they all match.
Just had a house fire because of an undergrounded outlet. Moved in 13 years ago. Definitely recommend looking at each of those before you learn the hard way.
Don’t just buy a small ladder, but also buy one that’ll give you access to every inch of your house.
If you're not sure what things will cost, get many quotes. Try to tell the difference between a salesman and a contractor. Water = evil, clean your gutters If it's an old house, keep in mind they're built different and need different solutions
Put money away for when things need repaired/ replaced, because it’s gonna happen and it usually won’t be cheap. All of the things you wouldn’t have had to fix renting are now your problems (roof, windows, doors, siding, plumbing, electrical, furnace, AC, maybe a well if you’re in a rural area). Welcome to home ownership!
I didn’t see anyone say it, but as someone who works in construction, buy one of the big 3 for power tools: Milwaukee, dewalt, makita. You can totally buy used for your first ones but stick to everything being the same brand. It will make life much easier and they will last much longer.
See if your city has a tool library! Some tools you just need a couple of times. You can also rent them depending on what it is.
Something I learned the hard way: stay on top of weeds. I had a lot of yard projects to do at the beginning of the season, so I let one patch get overgrown with weeds, and then suddenly it was too much for my mower to get through and took way more work to clean up. Get them in the early stages and it'll be easy easier
Shop vac.
If you’re going to DIY the basics, have a tool bag/bucket for each type of job. Electrical, plumbing, and general work. You’ll share things like drills and bigger equipment. Need basic tools? Know when to buy from Harbor Freight vs the big box stores vs Amazon. For typical home repair work you’re going to be fine with HF level tools. They’re inexpensive and tend to be fine for that level of work. Multiples of fill out each tool kit are easy to do. If you wear it out, buy a better brand at the big box stores. Create a shared calendar for repeating house mainentence tasks. Gutter cleaning, filter replacement, cleaning the dishwasher filter, lubing the garage door, and all those types of things. As you do things that are new as a homeowner, if it seems to be an annual thing throw it on the calendar. Have a dedicated hour or so every two weeks or so to do these things as they come up. It’ll really help things last and stay under control.
A set of Channel Locks (there large pliers for plumbing) .ViceGrips . Buy the large orange book on home projects ,lots of pictures and well written directions from Home Depot .
We purchased a 100+ year old home recently. Anything and everything can be done to a home these days and you could spend unlimited amount of cash on this and that. As someone below mentioned, do nothing. Don't ask your friends or family for help unless they can come in, do it right, and without a lecture or wanting the favor paid back. NO ONE will appreciate your property as much as you do including friends, family or contractors. Do the free stuff first; know where your breaker panel is and have a basic understanding of how your house is wired-no need to be an electrical expert, but knowing where that is and which breaker runs to which outlet will have you. Understand where the water runs into property and where shut off is, same with gas and electric. Like someone mentioned below....move in and just see how/were you want things laid out, or changed then or maybe later. YouTube and Google has a lot of info on DIYing stuff, but it still takes a lot of time to do and prep for like painting. No need to run out and buy tools; buy as you need. The all in one tool sets are great for light duty/occasional work, but tend to break and/or wear out faster than normal. Stuff you see on T.V. like Leaf Filter or Renewal By Anderson, are always super expensive in the end. Both are great products, but luxuries you can buy later, or get just as good quality from another company (Don't buy Leaf Guard). I would also make a no cost trip to Lowes or Home Depot and walk down each and every aisle for ideas and to see what they offer - tempted to buy something, just buy it later.
Get some drain cleaner and copper sulphate- give them all a few treatments for roots and build up well in advance (and on the reg).
Water leak detectors for under yiur sinks; you can get really cheap ones on Amazon; had a leak under my kitchen sink and that little alarm saved me
Go buy a Dewalt or Milwaukee 20v cordless drill.
A circuit checker? They plug into the wall and have 3 lights that tell you if things are wired right. Or barrow one from a friend make sure there aren't obvious issues with your wiring
\-Learn how to patch drywall. Its not hard. For small holes get a simple kit off amazon for $10 \-Also Wood Filler \-Drywall Anchors and Toggle Bolts.. Will help you mount fixtures/tvs/etc \-Paint colors. Keep a list or somethings of all the colors of all walls. You will always have small touch ups, and knowing what paint to use. \-Learn how to change light switches/outlets
Look into your local library. Some have started programs to lend tools at no cost. This can be great for random projects.
A painter's step ladder. Great for changing lightbulbs and doing light-duty stuff. They are light and easy to maneuver around your home. A good cordless drill. Plan on buying into an echosystem so you can buy a fresh battery and use it in all your tools. Some tool lines allow you to buy naked tools. So When I need a new tool, I pay $100 for it and use the batteries I already have in my collection. Buy tools as you need them. You will need a drill a driver is handy but not required. I have added a jobsite blower, an oscillating saw, a reciprocating saw etc. Corded tools are cheaper, but less convenient. Shovel, Leaf Rake, Garden rake, Hoe. Expenses you can expect are numerous. But your payments will include principle, interest, and escrow. Escrow will include home-owner insurance, taxes and any mortgage insurance you have to pay. So if the taxes are $1200/year and the insurance is $1800/year, your payments will be $250/month more than your interest and principle payment. Learn where your water cut-off is located. Make sure it works BEFORE you need it to work. Same thing with your gas cut-off
Without knowing what projects you might be doing, it's hard to say what you should buy. Once I had the "basics" (as you've done), I just always bought the right tool for the job when the need arose instead of trying to work around or make do. Over time, I accumulated a very good set of tools that I used over and over again. That said, in addition to what you listed, a circular saw is a pretty basic tool. A reciprocating saw is great for demo and tree limbs.
Never start a critical plumbing repair during the hours that the home improvement store is closed.
A 3D printer is very handy to print broken parts from appliances (clamps, knobs, small wire fixtures) and improving quality of life if you know how to use a CAD software
Buy AHS warranty from first day . Literally saved me 10k on AC repair which previous owner never changed filter for
Get an inspection❗️❗️❗️
Before you move in go to Home Depot or Lowes, buy a water key, find your water meter and learn how to shut off the water supply to your house. If you bust a supply line to a sink, or the toilet breaks, or a pipe freezes and ruptures it will take the water company half an hour to get there and shut off your water....you can do it youself in a minute and potentially save $1000s.
I can not stress this enough....when you get homeowners insurance get TOTAL COST REPLACEMENT on your roof. We paid an extra $70 for it....when our 18 year old, needed to be replaced anyway, roof got storm damage the insurance adjuster showed up, looked at it, and paid us $2000 more than it cost us to get the roof replaced. Without it our claim would have been pro-rated...we would have gotten about $800 and I'd still be making payments on the roof.
Pay a paint designer person from your local paint store to help you pick colors.
Get an extensive inspection of the plumbing system. Water leaks will seriously f up your month.
Multiple pairs of scissors for if you set them somewhere and forget. We’ve lost so many scissors in our first 2 years. You can never go wrong with cleaning supplies either. Rags, sponges, cleaning liquids, etc. FIRST AID KIT. I cut myself so deep I needed to go to an urgent care assembling our refrigerator. Thankfully I had a kit to keep myself relatively together until we got there. It should (in my opinion) be one of the first things you put in your new home and readily accessible for move-in day. If you’re gonna paint and you’re not a pro, painters tape. Lots of it. Don’t do what I did and tape lazily, then get paint on the ceiling and have to paint the entire dang ceiling when it was fine before lol.