Use our checklist to figure out what items you already have and what you need to acquire. It’s smart to price items online or at a hardware or home-supplies store and budget so you have enough cash to cover essential purchases when you move in.
- curtains, blinds or shutters for bathroom, bedroom and basement windows, to meet basic privacy needs. You may be able to persuade your seller to leave window coverings -- even if they aren’t to your taste, you can defer the cost of replacing them.
- mats, towels, shower curtains and waste baskets for extra bathrooms
- enough floor and table lamps to ensure adequate lighting in key areas such as kitchen, living room and study or home office
- energy-efficient lightbulbs to fit all lamps and built-in light fixtures (check the wattage on bulbs left in light fixtures by the previous owners, so you can buy the correct replacements)
- door mats for the outside of doors
- low-pile mats or carpet remnants for the inside of doors
- heavy-duty garbage cans or bins and bungee cords to secure lids so scavenging animals can’t break into them
- basic garden tools, including: leaf rake; shovel; trowel; dandelion digger; heavy-duty garden shears for trimming grass and shrubbery; rubber hose and nozzle
- power or push lawn mower, depending on the size of your yard
- heavy-duty push broom for basement, garage, porch and sidewalk clean-up
- snow shovel, ice-breaker and salt (if you are in an area that gets snow)
- basic tools, including: screwdrivers with plain and Phillips tips; hammer; pliers; adjustable wrench
- power drill
- heavy-duty extension cord
- stepladder
- heavy-duty flashlight and batteries and/or electric work light
- smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector for basement, kitchen and second-floor hall
- fire extinguisher(s) for kitchen and any rooms with working fireplaces
- dehumidifier, if basement is damp
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