Stuff I didn't need but will now

March 5, 2008 9:14 AM

I am scheduled to close on my first home purchase in two weeks. What am I not expecting?

The house is new construction, I will be the first owner. I know all of my closing costs, appraisal fees and the like. What household items that I would not have needed in an apartment should I anticipate needing?

For example I never needed a hose while I lived in apartments, but I guess that I will probably need one now that I have a yard...

What else?

posted by prk14 to shopping (35 comments total)

20 Essential Tools For Getting Started With A Home, Garage, and Garden
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:18 AM on March 5

recycling bins and outside garbage cans, lawn mower, maybe a snow shovel?
posted by bolognius maximus at 9:21 AM on March 5

I closed on my (non-new build house) two weeks ago and if I didn't have my plain $14 Black and Decker cheapo drill I would be in a bad pickle. I bought a drill bit/cot/accessories kit from Lowe's for $20 the day of closing and it has been a lifesaver. In painting my kitchen cabinets alone I removed 130 screws. Then I had to put them back in. So drill + phillips and flathead cots = essential in my experience.

Also, razor blades and a utility knife.
posted by hecho de la basura at 9:27 AM on March 5

Shop Vac.
posted by Medieval Maven at 9:28 AM on March 5

Barbeque. Lots of tools. Toilet plunger.
Lots of money for property tax/hydro/gas/water payments.
posted by chococat at 9:33 AM on March 5

Window blinds/drapes.

I also suggest something small but offbeat to declare yourself to the neighbors. Like a pink flamingo by the front door.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:36 AM on March 5

Step ladder. Almost never needed in an apartment, vital in a house (inside and outside).

Level and stud finder, for hanging / re-hanging pictures. Extra lightbulbs (because the builder often uses really cheap ones).

We were (unpleasantly) surprised when we realized that a mailbox wasn't part of the new house package.
posted by QuantumMeruit at 9:37 AM on March 5

The Christmas after we bought our first house, my wife gave me a Dremel Tool, and I love it. I'll admit that it usually sits quietly in it's case, but whenever I need it, it's the only thing that will work. It's absolutely indispensable for a myriad of unusual tasks that you never expect to come up. I can't even begin to list them all. It will also provide you with the joy of acquiring new bits and attachements periodically, thus transforming it into a completely new tool.

Oh, and sawhorses can be pretty damn handy, too.
posted by Shohn at 9:38 AM on March 5

Maybe a credit card for Sears or Home Depot just in case you have emergent need of a tool or an appliance?
posted by mds35 at 9:51 AM on March 5

A good ladder, high enough to reach your highest gutters. If you're not comfortable on ladders, know the name and number of a handyman who is.

A lawnmower. Get a Toro, they rule.

A rake and a snow shovel, if it snows where you live.

Trash barrels, preferably ones with wheels.

Good flashlights, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit. Put the first aid kit in a closet, not a damp bathroom.

A lawn sprinkler

Names and numbers of an HVAC guy and a plumber.
posted by bondcliff at 9:56 AM on March 5

The thing you're most not expecting is the deep feeling of peace in knowing that This Place Is Yours. Really. It weirded me out at random moments for a few years.

Plus you can put holes in the walls whenever and wherever you need a cable run and don't have to worry about it.

Your lifetime-of-use items include an 18 volt kit of battery powered tools (drill/screwdriver, reciprocating saw, and circular saw), a portable everything toolkit including ratchets, screwdrivers, pliers, etc., and a drill kit. CostCo has all of these (at various times throughout the year). By having the tool needed to do all basic tasks, you have the option of at least starting a project yourself. At least you can hand your tools to the helpful neighbor or inlaw when a problem arises.

Oh. And get a bucket of drywall compound for repairing all those holes you put in the wrong place...
posted by lothar at 9:56 AM on March 5

I don't know where you live (city, suburb, rural), or how much landscaping you will do (I do a fair amount on <1> Hand pruner ("bypass" type)
Loppers (for big branches)
Push broom
Fold-up-leaf-bag thingee

Haven't needed a wheelbarrow yet.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 10:00 AM on March 5

I would personally recommend getting Craftsman tools. I believe they still run a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty on their stuff. I've rounded out Philips screwdrivers and brought them back, no receipt. Just grab the identical one off the shelf (if they still sell it by the time your tool gets busted) and you're good to go.
posted by booticon at 10:11 AM on March 5

Lawn gnomes!

But buy a couple of backups in case someone steals one to take on a vacation. I've always wanted to do that.
posted by Ruby Doomsday at 10:12 AM on March 5

Work lighting. When we moved from our 1 bedroom apartment to a 4 bedroom house, we only had one little desk lamp and spent the first week carrying it from room to room in order to do tasks ranging from reading to repairs/installations (ever try hanging a picture frame straight in near-dark? Looks as bad as you might imagine). One of these would have been a lot more handy. Now we also have one of these and it is the coolest thing ever.
posted by jamaro at 10:17 AM on March 5

know the name and number of a handyman who is.

I'll second this, but we should also tell you that Finding A Good Handyman Is Utterly Impossible, a soul-destroying odyssey through a howling wilderness of existential despair.

Welcome to the neighborhood.
posted by futility closet at 10:26 AM on March 5

Seconding lots here:

energy efficient light bulbs
flood light light bulbs (if you have exterior lighting)
plunger
cordless tool set (drill, reciprocating saw, circular saw) w/extra battery if possible
50 foot extension cord with triple outlet
tacks
screws (a couple different lengths to provide the support you need)
Hooks (for hanging bicycles, tools)
basic tool kit (hammer, wrench(es), ratchet, screwdrivers, extra screwdriver bits (you won't regret spending a couple extra bucks), pliers, needle nose pliers, duct tape, electrical tape, zip ties, good utility knife, pocket level)
a couple 5 gallon buckets
a workbench (consider a work area for all of these tools)
pruning shears
weedeater
spade
hand trowel
push broom
rake
squeegee for exterior windows
Compost kit
BBQ
lawn sprinkler or soaker hose
Small stickers (to label your circuit breaker switches)
Ammonia and bleach (helpful in cleaning just about anything)
step ladder (extension ladder if you need to get to the roof)
comfortable lawn furniture (hammock?)
tiki lights for the yard
garbage pails/cans for inside/outside of the house


It never hurts to have a bit of scrap lumber for projects. Home Depot usually has a pile that is "scrap" that you can grab from. Never know when you will need a chunk of 2 x 4.

Congrats and good luck.
posted by zerobyproxy at 10:27 AM on March 5

Buyer's remorse. No matter how wonderful it is, no matter how happy you are with it, expect to spend at least one night (perhaps your first) in your new home beating yourself up about buying this house. It's normal.
posted by Carol Anne at 10:41 AM on March 5

Not product related, but make sure you have everything set up with the utility companies before closing (water, power, gas, etc). They can get it ready in advance so that billing moves to you on the day of closing without interruption of service. You really don't want to get into your nice new place and have the water shut off the next morning because the builder doesn't own the house anymore.
posted by shinynewnick at 10:42 AM on March 5

And this seems silly, but make sure there is a mailbox out front. I've dealt with two houses as a real estate agent that didn't have the mailbox when the house was completed. The first time I didn't notice, and neither did the buyers I was representing. The second one had the neighborhood association approved post but no actual box on it, so we got that taken care of before the closing.
posted by shinynewnick at 10:45 AM on March 5

However, if you notice that your house doesn't have a mailbox, make sure that the mail will actually be delivered to the house before you put one up! In some areas, the mail is delivered to a nearby mailbox stand. Yes, even for single-family home developments. In those locations it is perfectly normal to not have a mailbox on the house. Presumably you'd be aware of this already, but just in case...
posted by kindall at 10:59 AM on March 5

You've got a bunch of good suggestions here, (although I haven't read all of them). Let me chip in with this...
Toilet Paper! Either pack it on top, buy a fresh pack, something.

That said, if you're moving to a new area, the number for a local Pizza shop. (Once you get done moving in you won't want to cook, if you can even find the "kitchen" boxes. )

Cups, Cheap plastic ones work well for your first day.

There are a bunch of little things you won't think of.
Exhaust "hose" for the dryer (Is your current one long enough or in good enough shape to take with you?)
"Pigtail" for the dryer. They can be different, some have different prongs.
Smoke detectors.

Pack everything important together if possible. Any papers, phone numbers (insurance, builder, etc.)

Congratulations on the house!
posted by TheDukeofLancaster at 11:01 AM on March 5

Go to one of those big-box stores (Lowes, Home Depot, or a bookstore) and buy one or two versions of those "how to repair stuff in your house" books. They usually have a house-brand version plus one or two others; they are all almost the same but a bit different, so having two versions can be useful. Those books aren't perfect, but they do give a general overview of most things you might need to repair, or for when you need to figure out if a contractor's bid makes sense.

Buy some extra furnace/AC filters, if your house uses them. If you have a stack of them in your closet, you will actually replace the filter instead of just thinking about it. Ditto water filters, spare lightbulbs (and start getting efficient bulbs, too), etc -- anything that breaks or wears out routinely, keep a few around to make replacing them convenient and easy.

Get a file drawer or a plastic tub or something to keep all the product manuals for your household stuff -- the washing machine, the garage door opener, all of those come with owner's manuals that seem useless now but are great if you need to diagnose a weird noise in three years.

Keep, on one piece of paper or in your PDA or wherever makes sense for you (but also where a housesitter could find it) a list of who to call for routine problems -- the HVAC company, a plumber someone has mentioned does ok work, the utilities, etc. Similarly, locate numbers like the police non-emergency number so you can get those kids off your lawn. I'm joking about the kids, but really, you use those kinds of numbers a lot more as a home owner than you do as a renter.

Get a safety deposit box at your bank and keep all the mortgage and house deed stuff there so that if there is a fire, you can still figure out your insurance situation more easily. (There have been several questions here before about what information should be kept in a safety deposit box or firesafe, I think.)

Regarding tools and lawn equipment, my rule of thumb is that if you are going to be using it every day or every week, buy really nice stuff; if you will be using it once or twice a year, you can save money on it. So get the nicest lawnmower you can afford (nicest not meaning biggest, but meaning quiet, reliable, repairable rather than disposable, etc) since in most places that is something you will be doing all summer long, but don't worry about buying the nicest shovel in the world if all you will do is dig a couple of holes once a year. Buy a good cordless drill -- you will use this way more than you think you will; get a name-brand one that fits your hand well and comes with two batteries (so one can charge while you use the other). Craftsman-brand hand tools (not the power tools) are decent quality and have a good warranty; note that not all hand tools sold at Sears are "Craftsman" brand.

Learn where your water and gas shut-offs are, and take a look at your fusebox. Buy fire extinguishers (at least one in the kitchen, probably a good idea to have one in the garage if you work out there). Get a CO alarm if you have gas appliances or a woodstove. Check that each and every door and window lock works as it should -- they are surprisingly often installed wrong.
posted by Forktine at 11:14 AM on March 5

I have found a labelmaker to be infinitely useful.

Also, along with all of the other tools mentioned, my SO and I have gotten a lot of use out of our set of hex/allen wrenches. It's amazing how much stuff requires those these days.

Having a complete set of tools on hand can help avert Yak Shaving

Be prepared to make countless trips to the home improvement warehouse.
posted by Cordelya at 11:14 AM on March 5

All this talk about yard equipment, but are you even getting a yard with landscaping completed? Around here, its not uncommon for builders to not include anything but a front lawn with the sale - and that usually means its not put in until the spring (which is still a long time from now). If thats the case you'll might have to buy a big mat for your front door to wipe you feet with.

The builder will most likely grade the lot for you so water runs off properly but if it freezes where you are it will probably have to be done again before sod can be laid (find out if they do this or you'll have to pay for it.) You will also have to spend a lot of time picking up rocks and other crap because what most builders consider "clean fill" will fall short of your expectations.

You'll also have to budget for finishing off the backyard and building a fence and a deck (even if this is a builder option you'll be able to build it cheaper and with better materials than they'll offer).
posted by jeffmik at 11:22 AM on March 5

Sorry for not proofreading that response. Also, I'm not trying to be all negative about builders - every contract is different and I didn't know what was included in your sale.
posted by jeffmik at 11:25 AM on March 5

The Spanish Inquistion.

Don't worry. No one expects the Spanish Inquistion.


Seriously, two bits of advice: 1. Make sure ALL work by the contractor is complete to your satisfaction prior to closing. If it comes down to it, delay closing. The delay makes your life hell, but after closing you will never have leverage over the contractor, and any little things that need to be fixed won't be, for a long, long time. And 2. Work on some builds for Habitat for Humanity. It's the best way I know to gain experience on basic home repair with someone who knows what they're doing around to help. I costs you nothing but your time, and actually helps someone else while you are learning.
posted by Doohickie at 11:28 AM on March 5 [1 favorite]

My rule of thumb for buying tools: Always buy the cheapest possible alternative for a tool the first time. If it breaks or you wear it out from use, then buy a nice one, but by then you will have a better understanding of what features are important to you. Don't spend $1000 on a really nice lawnmower until you've worn out the one you bought for $100. Sometimes you find that the cheapest possible alternative will be the only one you ever need. If not, it at least defers the time when you have to spend big money on a nice one.

(I bought a socket set thirty years ago for $2.98 and except for a coule broken sockets I've replaced, it still works fine.)
posted by Doohickie at 11:34 AM on March 5 [6 favorites]

I know all of my closing costs, appraisal fees and the like.

In my city for new constructions there was a $310 sewage hook-up fee that the city charged me. I knew it before hand, but someone may not have told you of this expense since it is handled separately from the lender/seller.
posted by nickerbocker at 11:55 AM on March 5

Door stops!
posted by the duck by the oboe at 12:49 PM on March 5

as homeowners, my hubby and I have thoroughly enjoyed having the Family Handyman subscription. (we affectionately call it the village idiot.) it has covered virtually every problem we have had with our home. replacing garage door opener? covered. fixing the sprayer on the kitchen sink? gotcha. painting tips and tricks? yes. troubleshooting broken washer/dryer? yup. and so much more. it is teh awesome. if you're looking for House Beautiful, look elsewhere. but FH has been incredibly practical for us.

and congratulations! welcome to the wonderful world of homeownership. and repeat after me: damn you kids, get off my lawn!
posted by killy willy at 1:19 PM on March 5

You need a maintenance plan. For instance, each year you'll want to flush out the water heater. Every 4-5 years, you'll want to install a new anode rod in the water heater. You'll need to replace HVAC filters every two to three months. If you have a septic system, you'll need to know what kind, what the maintenance routine is, and where the cleanout is located. You'll have to replace flexible water supply lines on your washing machine every 4-5 years.

Put all that into a spreadsheet including the name of the maintenance, the frequency, and a place for dates completed. You'll save enough money doing this to pay for all the cordless tools recommended above.
posted by kc0dxh at 1:39 PM on March 5

Carbon Monoxide detector
posted by nefariousj at 2:42 PM on March 5

I know all of my closing costs, appraisal fees and the like.

No, I doubt you do. I've bought two properties, and both of them had changes the day-of in exact closing costs. <> YOU'D THINK THE BLOODY BANKERS COULD TALLY NUMBERS BETTER THAN THAT, IF THEY WANTED TO. <>

Ahem. Don't be surprised if there's some "small sums" you need to cover, that weren't in the predictions - sometimes $100s! Seriously.

If I were Dante, closing agents would be sharing the "jacuzzi" with judges and lawyers come Judgement Day.
posted by IAmBroom at 4:35 PM on March 5

Don't forget that all of your neat-o new tools and lawnmower will need a place to live in your new house. Seemingly vast amounts of storage can be eaten up pretty quickly.

Seconding the suggestions for a stepladder, a cordless drill and a drillbit set (including screwdriver bits), a hammer, some pliers. Major tools, saws, extension ladders, etc., can be rented if you won't use them regularly, saving you money and storage space.

How-to books can be borrowed at the library. In my experience, the Home Depot how-to books particularly suck, and guess what? HD's policy on how-to books is that they can't be returned. By borrowing books, you can figure out which authors explain in things in a way that makes sense to you & then buy. (/Just got rid of several boxes of how-to books). Bonus points if you buy your books at a library sale.

Also, think gardener, at least for the first year. Then you will have time to decide if you really want to spend your Saturdays inside your beautiful new home or outside sweating with small rocks flying at you and grass clippings stuck to your legs. Bonus points in that, as you probably haven't had a yard in a while, you will benefit by seeing what the gardener does, and at what time of year (think mulch, fertilizer, etc.)

As for finding a good handyman, we've been using Angie's List quite a bit lately, with good results. The fee is nominal, and it's been worth every penny.

/ In the mood to give out lots of bonus points.
posted by vignettist at 5:51 PM on March 11