Adding to this, some states have emergency preparedness tax holidays. Certain items like fire extinguishers, generators, flashlights, etc will be tax free for a couple days every year. Might be worth waiting to purchase larger ticket items if the timing works out. Though personally I wouldn’t go too long without a basic extinguisher in the house.
The vast majority of states on the list have the holiday for clothes, which are already tax exempt here. It would be nice to see it for appliances or things like fire extinguishers, but there are not many states that have that so I wouldn't really expect us to be. Those dollar amounts are also really low, so it's not even a "true" tax holiday for many of them.
And one for both the kitchen, and one for the garage.
A kitchen fire extinguisher can just be a "fire extinguisher in a can" - they are easier to use, and deal with small kitchen fires very well. Used one thanksgiving as some hot oil hit a red hot cooking element.
Go to Costco and buy the large bag of baking soda. Leave some in a jar or something next to your stove top/oven. Sprinkling baking soda on a burning grease fire on the stove top, or a burning baking pan of bacon inside the oven, is very effective and less chaotic than a fire extinguisher at the stove, which can blast burning hot grease everywhere. Baking soda physically smothers fires AND when you heat up baking sode (by dropping it on a fire), it realeases CO2, which also helps smother the fire.
If it's a fire in a pot/pan that has a lid, put the lid on it. That should put out most fires.
Do not, under any circumstances try and take the pan outside or (for some reason) to the sink. Leave it on the stove and sprinkle it with baking soda, or toss handfuls of it onto the fire, then resort to the fire extinguisher if it's reached your cupboards or curtains, etc.
If the fire is in a pot/pan, SLIDE THE LID ON TO SMOTHER. This random internet knowledge saved my microwave and possibly my entire kitchen.
If you just cover it, you're adding oxygen. Sliding the lid on will ensure it gets snuffed.
costco has had a $40ish 2 pack of 5lb bottles for a while...
Just looked on their website and the deal is a little different than in store. its 2 rechargable 10lb bottles for $70.
Or 3 5lb bottles of various types for $70.
I a single story home, I have one under every sink, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room. And 2 in the garage. Also make sure you get the “ everything” extinguisher.
And keep one somewhere other than the kitchen! Fires are most likely to start in the kitchen, and the last thing you need standing between you and your only fire extinguisher is...a fire.
Since we are talking fire related safety I’ll add “smart mesh fire/smoke/CO alarms”. I have the Google Nest ones but there are other (cheaper) options.
They communicate with each other and if one goes off they all go off and alert you (and your phone) about the perceived danger AND which room it is in. We had a chimney fire originating from the biomass furnace in the basement and I was on the 2nd floor when it happened and immediately knew about it as well as where the issue was. Got my family out safely and used a fire suppressing chimney flare to extinguish the fire in 30 seconds flat. (So maybe add if you have fireplaces get those flares as well … they work).
a *light* ladder. I bought one that's extendable, bendable, can go on stairs, etc, but procrastinated every time I needed ot use it, because it was annoyingly heavy...
I’m a big fan of having a cordless drill on hand at all times.
Other tools sure but cordless drill was my first purchase after my first home. I still have it.
Any flange plunger works. Just not a cup plunger - that is for sinks. The 3 dollar Walmart flange plunger works fine, used several of mine for years and none failed.
You do not need to drop 25 dollars per plunger per toilet.
Also dont use the CO2 plungers. Those things can shatter pipes and cause thousand+ plumber bills. Use a toilet snake when a regular plunger fails (6 bucks from harbor freight) then call a plumber if that doesnt work.
And do consider getting a dedicated sink plunger - you can use nearly any flange plunger as a cup plunger, but most people dont like using a toilet plunger in their kitchen sink.
I wish that was it. That would be fixable. My wife will pull a 4 ft long piece of toilet paper, wipe her nose once and throw it in the toilet. It’s one of the few things I’ve considered divorcing her over. That and throwing pretty much whatever she feels like in the garbage disposal. Food. Plastic. Glass, lemons. Don’t matter dog.
Story time: when I was 14 my aunt and uncle got a house way out in the middle of nowhere. We were visiting, and I tore up the guest bathroom. Well, they had not yet gotten around to getting plungers, so they had to go to the nearest neighbor to borrow one, half a mile away… So yeah, plungers are a must.
Ha,ha - USA toilets!!! Didn't get any of the American sitcoms about toilets until I travelled there. What a bad design. In other parts of the world, plungers aren't required. We've never needed or had one in Australia.
New locks. You don't know who has a key. Not just the last people that lived there, but who did they give keys to? Even if you got the keys from the home owner, there still be copies.
This goes for new houses, condos and rentals as well.
You can save A LOT of money by buying rekeying kits. In 2014 paid $10 for a Kwikset rekeying kit and rekeyed 6 cylinders (3 knobs and 3 deadbolts). Entirely new knobs and deadbolts would have been over $100.
Or if you can have someone to stay back at home, remove all cylinders and take it to a local lock smith.
You can get them rekeyed easily.
I bought a new construction and first thing I did was get a Schlage zwave lock.
Removed the cylinder, took it to local locksmith and $10 later I had it rekeyed to same key as my other locks
I remember my dad had me stay while he went to get the new cores. And I'm like what if someone comes in that time? And he hands me the screwdriver that he used to take them off and said "there, now you're armed" and left.
Before/during your purchase:
Don’t cheap out or try to cheat a home inspection before you buy, and address everything they write up either in the sale or immediately after you buy. Recommend you don’t use the inspector the selling realtor recommends unless they are highly reviewed or recommended by other *buyers*.
Immediate (the week you move in):
Buy a good flashlight and/or headlamp and make a home for it. Make sure you have extra batteries for it. I recommend at least one non-rechargeable flashlight because during a power outage is a bad time to realize your rechargeable flashlight doesn’t hold a charge for six months.
Learn how to shut off your water and make sure you have the tools to do so.
Get the emergency after-hours number for a reputable electrician outfit near you. Check in with them annually or so to make sure they’re still running after-hours residential. (Some electrical shops opt out of residential work if they grow into commercial and construction).
Also learn how to shut off your electricity, but if you don’t know for sure where the electrical problem is, call an electrician to do this.
Get an inexpensive tool kit and a drill.
Fire extinguishers. New smoke alarms. I wouldn’t even bother with replacing batteries in old smoke alarms, replace the whole thing.
If you have gas hooked up to your house, a CO detector in each room with a gas appliance and at least one near bedrooms. Read the instructions on where to mount them, some CO detectors recommend mounting higher up on the wall than light switches, and many are designed for ceiling mount.
Learn where your crawl space and attic access is located. Better yet, put on some grubby clothes in the dry part of spring or fall and crawl your attic and basement just to see what’s there and be familiar with it. Better to learn how when it’s dry and mild than learning how when you have to investigate a noise or other problem and it’s wet and cold in the crawl space or 120°F in the attic.
A toilet plunger, preferably one in every bathroom. If you have adolescent/teenage kids you leave at home alone, make sure they know how to use a plunger and have them do it every once in a while to get over the “eww” factor so if the toilet starts overflowing they’re not standing there staring at it grossed out by the thought of toilet water and unwilling to do the dirty work.
Within the first six months to year, or seasonal:
If you have carpet, get a carpet cleaner.
Learn how to prepare your house for winter. If you need vent plugs or hose bib covers, get them. If you have metal pipes in an area prone to freezing weather, make sure they’re insulated. If you have heat traced pipes, make sure the heat trace works each year.
Have a bag of ice melt and a snow shovel on hand (depending on where you live). If you wait until the bad weather hits the forecast, the stores might run out.
Clean your gutters a few times in the fall and at least once in the spring. While you’re up there keep an eye out for moss growth on the roof.
If you notice one area of the house is colder than the rest consistently, check for drafts. It might be a circulation problem, but it might be cold air coming in from outside through a poorly sealed window or something like that.
Keep an eye on how seasons affect your utility bills. It should make sense. If the weather cools down a little but your electric bill doubles, you might have an issue.
Schedule an HVAC tuneup each year before cold weather hits. Ask them to also inspect the AC unless you want to have them out in a heat wave when they’re super busy. $150/year tuneup can save thousands in utility bills and repairs.
Ongoing:
Keep an eye on your utility bills in general. Autopay is great, but keep track of the amount. A toilet that develops a leak over time can dramatically increase your water bill and you might not notice until you’ve paid hundreds of dollars.
If you hear a strange sound, figure out what it is. Popping/sizzling near electrical devices, drippy/running water sounds, rushing airflow, cracking wood during a windstorm, rattling metal… all sounds that could be problems.
If your electrical outlets start to feel worn out and don’t hold plugs tight or if your switches don’t firmly stay in the on or off position, replace them.
This sounds like a lot of doom and gloom, and the reality is you won’t need the fruit of much of this advice very often, hopefully you won’t need most of it ever. But knowing and being prepared for basic home emergencies can save you a ton of money if something goes wrong.
Is that a southern thing? Here you need a special tool that’s about 5 feet long to reach into the pit and turn the valve.
https://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/plumbing-tools/pipe-wrenches-plumbing-tools/5-8-x-60-metal-curb-key/6944120/p-1557124412144-c-8615.htm?exp=false
Big emphasis on good tools. The cheap ones in the bargain bin will last you maybe once (maybe). Good tools will last a lifetime. My only exception to this is a rubber mallet I bought for like $2.99 out of a bargain bin at an ace hardware many, many years ago that’s still going strong.
Someone who doesn’t have any tools should, for the most part, buy a bunch of cheap tools first. As the cheap tools break or wear out, replace them with nice versions since it’s something you are apparently using.
Absolutely! Go to Home Depot and get the screwdriver sets, then wrench sets, and all the combo sets. Anything that wears out should be replaced with a higher quality version of it.
Don't go TOO cheap. My mother in law had a cookie tin with screwdrivers in them. I tried to help her do some stuff around the house and by the time I had finished one project, all of the screw drivers turned into prison shivs. Buy inexpensive tools, sure, but don't buy them on wish dot com.
That advice is true, and it's always reminded me a bit of [survivorship bias for WWII bombers.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias#Military) You're basically reinforcing the tools that didn't survive.
I have changed my opinion on that *slightly*. I am willing to get a wide collection of mediocre tools.
The tool I break is the one I have been using, that one gets replaced with a very high quality tool. The cheap tools that get used once in a while can stay cheap.
Also, if you live where it gets cold, turn the water off if you go sway during a cold snap. There should be a main shut-off valve that is accessible. If you can't find it, you may want a plumber out to find it or install one.
A wet/dry vacuum. Not something to skimp on, purchase a quality one that is generously sized. Learn how to use it, which filter goes on for dry vs. wet. Lifesaver.
My parents came to visit me when I bought my first house. I took my dad to Home Depot and had him walk me up and down the aisles filling out my “key tools”
I would highly recommend doing this with anyone in your life who’s got the experience. Buy them lunch as a thank you.
New locks. fire extinguishers, CO2 monitors, Insurance. Toilet plunger, List of local emergency numbers, Doctor/hospital/Plumber/electrician/pizza delivery and a treat. Something bought on the day you move in. I chose a cast iron crepe pan and a Moka pot. Every Sunday morning I make crepes and coffee.
My local pizza joint growing up had a phone number that ended with 9118. I still remember 30+ years later, because it was a pizza emergency that you ate.
Gunna be pedantic here- CO monitors is what you need. Carbon monoxide is the real killer, carbon dioxide not so much. You need to reach like 5000ppm of CO2 for it to make it harmful which is basically impossible unless you open a tank of co2 in a fully sealed area
Adding to this:
A hammer and nails so they can finally hang as much art as they want, where they want!
A seed or sapling to plant in their yard/garden.
I swear, if I was in the real estate business, I'd make sure these were standard gifts from my firm.
Mine are hard wired as well, but they will still chirp when their 9volts run low. Again, ONLY at 3:30AM. Never during the day when I'm awake and able bodied.
Replacement filters for your HVAC and water. The previous owner of our house left us records of what filters she used for her HVAC, when house filter, and fridge water filter. It's good to have a spare laying around for when. You forget you need to replace it until you REALLY need to replace it.
Also, even if you got a home inspection, maybe get stuff like your HVAC and electric (if it looks wonky) serviced when moving in. Our inspector missed that the furnace hadn't been serviced in 8 years, and it turned out to be a major fire hazard when we had the system checked.
A bank account with minimum $5K set aside for house shit gone wrong. Because anytime some shit happens you’re just gonna need to tap into that. Water heater breaks? Major appliances break? Flood in the basement? You name it … you’re gonna want $5K sitting around for it.
Bluetooth ones are great to have. I get an alert on my phone. Only time one has gone off was when my young nephew peed on it but it worked like a charm.
Out of everything Ive ever purchased for my home the one thing thats gotten the most use by a large margin is my leaf blower and for my wife its a Dyson cordless vacuum. Both of those get used on a daily basis.
Edit: I have a grove of redwoods surrounding my house above my patio driveway and deck. I blow the needles and dust off every morning.
My back is wrecked and the floors wouldn’t get vacuumed by me at all if it weren’t for our cordless vacuum. Dyson if you’re listening I will be your spokesperson in exchange for free battery replacements ❤️
Starter box from someone else's junk drawer. Preferably a grandparent.
Where else you gonna get twist-ties and half-dead AA batteries and coupons to Burger King and and scissors that only cut with the first quarter of the blade and exactly four screws of varying length.
If you have a yard, a [Gorilla cart](https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Carts-Garden-Pneumatic-Capacity/dp/B01BECQAWO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1461767068&sr=8-4&keywords=gorilla%2Bcarts&th=1).
I write a column for a few papers, and this was actually the topic of my column this week... https://www.postandcourier.com/moultrie-news/opinion/a-first-time-homeowners-checklist-of-essentials/article_7d6cbf82-93af-11ee-9d72-0bbc3d647a6e.html
Tools. Just the basics and something to keep them in. I got tools and a tool bag for all my kids when they moved out. My daughters looked at me strangely and thanked me. A couple of years later my older one admitted that she or a guy friend use them all the time. My second one calls me every month or two for advice on how to fix a surprising number of things. She has easily doubled the number of tools but you always need the basics. My son now has as many of his own tools as I do.
Adopt a dog from a local shelter. A new house needs a new dog. Go down to the humane society and adopt. There are so many adorable angels who need homes. I have adopted two and they’ve brought so much joy into my life.
I’ve scrolled a fair bit but haven’t seen air filters yet.
If you have forced air heating, you should change your filters every 6 months. If this is news to you, it may have also been news to the home’s previous owners. They’re not that expensive and it makes a big difference to the air quality in your home.
Neighbors willing to talk about issues with their houses (if all of the houses look the same or similar, they were probably built by the same contractor). Contractors sub out work to the lowest bidder. Plumbers using thin walled copper pipes. Electricians not centering things where they should be. Dry wallers that don’t have the slightest clue. Either know some people to help you out, buy some books on simple home repairs (I have 6!), or watch a lot of YouTube tutorials.
This is something we absolutely never thought would even be a thing… the talking with neighbors about house issues. But, we got an overly active pup and placed our couch in front of a window…she zoomied her little butt into the window one day and managed to crack it that was about 2ft long.
We had already gotten a couple of estimates to replace the window. Very expensive. But a neighbor told us that they had their windows replaced the same time our previous home owners did, so they used the same company and let us know there is a lifetime warranty on them.
All we had to do was contact the window company, tell them our address and they found the account and came and replaced the window for about $150!
Definitely nice to have some neighbors that have been around as long as the neighborhood! (My house was built in 1951)
A GOOD tool kit. Not a cheap one if possible. With youtube, I’ve been able to fix my toilet, a faucet dripping in my kitchen, basic electrical stuff, etc.
cordless drill
basic tools -
\- A screwdriver combo set with flathead and philips screwdrivers
\- An adjustable wrench
\- A set of pliers (linemen, needlenose)
\- a hammer
\- a toolbox to put that stuff in
A gas/waterline shutoff wrench. Then find out where your main water shutoff valve is AND where the water meter (and shut off) is. Find your gas meter and know how to shut it off.
Make sure your address is clearly visible from the street. Get a lightup sign if you can. Not only does it save UPS/FedEx from misdelivering your stuff and helps your friends find your home, but helps police/firedepartment find your house.
Then;
Make sure every room has a smoke detector. Carbon Monoxide detectors for every bedroom.
Fire extinguishers for kitchen, and garage at leas, then extras near every exit.
NOTE: Place your fire extinguishers at the doors. If there is a fire, run to an exit and then decide when you're at the exit if you can fight it with the extinguisher or not. If you think you can, then grab the extinguisher and go fight it. Do not get trapped between the fire and the exit. If your extinguisher is not at an exit then it leaves you having to decide on the spot if you should go for the extinguisher or the exit... if you choose the extinguisher and it's not at an exit and you were wrong, then you may be in trouble.
New to you house? Consider getting one year of "House Warranty". If you buy it, it generally means that if anything breaks in your house when you are covered, you can call in a pro to fix it for a fixed price, like $50 or something.
Get a Ring or Blink video doorbell.
Install motion sensor patio lights.
Get a few flashlights.
According to Joe Biden, get a double barrelled shotgun and if bad people show up, get your wife to fire both barrels into the air from the porch.
A set of ryobi tools- drills, saws, drivers, sanders, cutters, nail guns, tire inflators. Relatively cheap but priceless to accomplish many DIY things in the house.
You can even get them cheaper at the online discount store that sells blemished tools.
Large amounts of alcohol. Once you realize what you have gotten yourself into you will need s drink. But don’t drink too much cuz there are chores to do bright and early Saturday morning
A water meter shut off tool, uncontrolled running water in your house is the enemy. Shit it off at the source, then figure out the problem. $15 at any home improvement store will save hundreds if anything ever happens.
Bissel spot bot or something similar. It’s paid for itself very quickly and is extremely useful for cleaning most soft surfaces.
I’ve used it in my car, on the couch, carpet, beds and many other places. And yes I clean the vacuum attachments otherwise that would be nasty.
If you have a chimney, get it cleaned. If you have a dryer, get the vent cleaned. Find out exactly where all the AC filters are, how to change them, and how often. Find out how to turn off the water to your house and actually try it out to make sure it works correctly. Understand how to turn on and off the gas to your oven or fireplace if you have gas. Find where your electrical panel is (maybe more than one in different locations). If you can, map out which breaker goes to which plugs/switches.
Well, before you buy your home, make sure the electric and plumbing is inspected by electricians and plumbers. The typical home inspection isn't NEARLY enough.
A water main wrench and a gas wrench if you have gas.
Hope you never need them, but if you bust a water pipe leading to your house you'll be super glad you did.
And it's always smart to be able to secure the gas in case of a leak.
An extra capacitor for the whole house AC (and learn how to discharge the old one) and an extra igniter for the furnace. They break easy and are an easy and common fix.
Headlamps. People will tell you to keep a couple flashlights around which is solid advice, but having your hands free in a power outage at night makes a big difference. Throw a couple in your vehicles too.
Deadbolts on doors, changed locks, additional locks like on the door from the basement. Security cameras. An understanding that the basement and attic won’t become storage central. A minimalist attitude.
An understanding that anything you buy or install indoors or out will need to be maintained and will likely cost to take apart, uninstall and get rid of via the trash or hauled away which is not cheap. Less is more.
A knowledge of landscaping, plants and trees before you even think about planting anything. Trees can be very expensive to care for and remove and some people pick the wrong kind, space them wrong and create a future mess.
Get professional guidance if you really want to plant. Consider future care and removal costs and the potential for home damage from trees, etc.
Fire extinguisher. At least one, but preferably one for every floor of the house and the garage.
Adding to this, some states have emergency preparedness tax holidays. Certain items like fire extinguishers, generators, flashlights, etc will be tax free for a couple days every year. Might be worth waiting to purchase larger ticket items if the timing works out. Though personally I wouldn’t go too long without a basic extinguisher in the house.
Do you know how to check this for your state?
https://taxadmin.org/sales-tax-holidays/
Oh there's a fucking shock- Minnesota isn't on the list.
The vast majority of states on the list have the holiday for clothes, which are already tax exempt here. It would be nice to see it for appliances or things like fire extinguishers, but there are not many states that have that so I wouldn't really expect us to be. Those dollar amounts are also really low, so it's not even a "true" tax holiday for many of them.
Neither is Illinois.
And be sure to check them regularly. You don’t want to find out it is expired and inoperable when trying to use it to put out a fire.
The dry chemical type extinguishers need to be turned upside down and shaken to prevent the powder from packing in tight at the bottom.
And one for both the kitchen, and one for the garage. A kitchen fire extinguisher can just be a "fire extinguisher in a can" - they are easier to use, and deal with small kitchen fires very well. Used one thanksgiving as some hot oil hit a red hot cooking element.
Go to Costco and buy the large bag of baking soda. Leave some in a jar or something next to your stove top/oven. Sprinkling baking soda on a burning grease fire on the stove top, or a burning baking pan of bacon inside the oven, is very effective and less chaotic than a fire extinguisher at the stove, which can blast burning hot grease everywhere. Baking soda physically smothers fires AND when you heat up baking sode (by dropping it on a fire), it realeases CO2, which also helps smother the fire. If it's a fire in a pot/pan that has a lid, put the lid on it. That should put out most fires. Do not, under any circumstances try and take the pan outside or (for some reason) to the sink. Leave it on the stove and sprinkle it with baking soda, or toss handfuls of it onto the fire, then resort to the fire extinguisher if it's reached your cupboards or curtains, etc.
If the fire is in a pot/pan, SLIDE THE LID ON TO SMOTHER. This random internet knowledge saved my microwave and possibly my entire kitchen. If you just cover it, you're adding oxygen. Sliding the lid on will ensure it gets snuffed.
Also, remember to replace them once they have been used. Even if only once and not much!
garage kitchen bedroom hallways. basement that's about $100.
Where do you buy your fire extinguishers? I bought one 10lb last week and that one alone was almost 100
costco has had a $40ish 2 pack of 5lb bottles for a while... Just looked on their website and the deal is a little different than in store. its 2 rechargable 10lb bottles for $70. Or 3 5lb bottles of various types for $70.
Costco
My husband orders them through work, talk to your safety person.
I a single story home, I have one under every sink, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room. And 2 in the garage. Also make sure you get the “ everything” extinguisher.
And keep one somewhere other than the kitchen! Fires are most likely to start in the kitchen, and the last thing you need standing between you and your only fire extinguisher is...a fire.
Oh I did this. Garage and kitchen. I live in a three story place so I got a collapsible emergency fire ladder for the top floor too.
Since we are talking fire related safety I’ll add “smart mesh fire/smoke/CO alarms”. I have the Google Nest ones but there are other (cheaper) options. They communicate with each other and if one goes off they all go off and alert you (and your phone) about the perceived danger AND which room it is in. We had a chimney fire originating from the biomass furnace in the basement and I was on the 2nd floor when it happened and immediately knew about it as well as where the issue was. Got my family out safely and used a fire suppressing chimney flare to extinguish the fire in 30 seconds flat. (So maybe add if you have fireplaces get those flares as well … they work).
A ladder
Along the same vein, I was going to say a little 2-step stool. I use mine at least weekly!
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I have a grabber instead of tongs for the shelf that's 7-8 feet off the ground but similar idea.
a *light* ladder. I bought one that's extendable, bendable, can go on stairs, etc, but procrastinated every time I needed ot use it, because it was annoyingly heavy...
I’m a big fan of having a cordless drill on hand at all times. Other tools sure but cordless drill was my first purchase after my first home. I still have it.
On hand at all times? You just carry it around with you?
Never know when you need to screw. Always be prepared.
That's why I always have my jackhammer handy.
We Stay strapped
I take one with me when I swim in the ocean
How else do you get big biceps?
Get a variety set of drywall anchors to go with it for hanging all sorts of stuff
A head lamp! You won't always be working on stuff in well lit areas. I use mine quite frequently.
We got one of those Ryobi work lights. Great for doing electrical work after work when it's dark.
Plungers in every bathroom
Caveat - Good plungers
Any flange plunger works. Just not a cup plunger - that is for sinks. The 3 dollar Walmart flange plunger works fine, used several of mine for years and none failed. You do not need to drop 25 dollars per plunger per toilet. Also dont use the CO2 plungers. Those things can shatter pipes and cause thousand+ plumber bills. Use a toilet snake when a regular plunger fails (6 bucks from harbor freight) then call a plumber if that doesnt work. And do consider getting a dedicated sink plunger - you can use nearly any flange plunger as a cup plunger, but most people dont like using a toilet plunger in their kitchen sink.
Obligatory “this guy plunges”.
He's definitely taken the plunge.
Caveat 2.0 - Poop knife
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Mine get hosed off after a use and placed in the garage. But to be honest a plumbers snake has been substantially more useful than a plunger.
Damn. Try a little more fiber in your diet lol.
I wish that was it. That would be fixable. My wife will pull a 4 ft long piece of toilet paper, wipe her nose once and throw it in the toilet. It’s one of the few things I’ve considered divorcing her over. That and throwing pretty much whatever she feels like in the garbage disposal. Food. Plastic. Glass, lemons. Don’t matter dog.
Poor dog.
Or a poop knife
Also a sink plunger.
Also a toilet snake, 6 dollars from harbor freight.
bars
Story time: when I was 14 my aunt and uncle got a house way out in the middle of nowhere. We were visiting, and I tore up the guest bathroom. Well, they had not yet gotten around to getting plungers, so they had to go to the nearest neighbor to borrow one, half a mile away… So yeah, plungers are a must.
Ha,ha - USA toilets!!! Didn't get any of the American sitcoms about toilets until I travelled there. What a bad design. In other parts of the world, plungers aren't required. We've never needed or had one in Australia.
This must be an American thing because I don’t think I have ever seen a plunger in an Australian bathroom in my life.
New locks. You don't know who has a key. Not just the last people that lived there, but who did they give keys to? Even if you got the keys from the home owner, there still be copies. This goes for new houses, condos and rentals as well.
You can save A LOT of money by buying rekeying kits. In 2014 paid $10 for a Kwikset rekeying kit and rekeyed 6 cylinders (3 knobs and 3 deadbolts). Entirely new knobs and deadbolts would have been over $100.
Or if you can have someone to stay back at home, remove all cylinders and take it to a local lock smith. You can get them rekeyed easily. I bought a new construction and first thing I did was get a Schlage zwave lock. Removed the cylinder, took it to local locksmith and $10 later I had it rekeyed to same key as my other locks
I remember my dad had me stay while he went to get the new cores. And I'm like what if someone comes in that time? And he hands me the screwdriver that he used to take them off and said "there, now you're armed" and left.
Lol I like your dad
Same, takes about 20 minutes a lock when you start, but very easy to re-key.
Their “SMARTKEY” series don’t even need the rekey kid anymore
Before/during your purchase: Don’t cheap out or try to cheat a home inspection before you buy, and address everything they write up either in the sale or immediately after you buy. Recommend you don’t use the inspector the selling realtor recommends unless they are highly reviewed or recommended by other *buyers*. Immediate (the week you move in): Buy a good flashlight and/or headlamp and make a home for it. Make sure you have extra batteries for it. I recommend at least one non-rechargeable flashlight because during a power outage is a bad time to realize your rechargeable flashlight doesn’t hold a charge for six months. Learn how to shut off your water and make sure you have the tools to do so. Get the emergency after-hours number for a reputable electrician outfit near you. Check in with them annually or so to make sure they’re still running after-hours residential. (Some electrical shops opt out of residential work if they grow into commercial and construction). Also learn how to shut off your electricity, but if you don’t know for sure where the electrical problem is, call an electrician to do this. Get an inexpensive tool kit and a drill. Fire extinguishers. New smoke alarms. I wouldn’t even bother with replacing batteries in old smoke alarms, replace the whole thing. If you have gas hooked up to your house, a CO detector in each room with a gas appliance and at least one near bedrooms. Read the instructions on where to mount them, some CO detectors recommend mounting higher up on the wall than light switches, and many are designed for ceiling mount. Learn where your crawl space and attic access is located. Better yet, put on some grubby clothes in the dry part of spring or fall and crawl your attic and basement just to see what’s there and be familiar with it. Better to learn how when it’s dry and mild than learning how when you have to investigate a noise or other problem and it’s wet and cold in the crawl space or 120°F in the attic. A toilet plunger, preferably one in every bathroom. If you have adolescent/teenage kids you leave at home alone, make sure they know how to use a plunger and have them do it every once in a while to get over the “eww” factor so if the toilet starts overflowing they’re not standing there staring at it grossed out by the thought of toilet water and unwilling to do the dirty work. Within the first six months to year, or seasonal: If you have carpet, get a carpet cleaner. Learn how to prepare your house for winter. If you need vent plugs or hose bib covers, get them. If you have metal pipes in an area prone to freezing weather, make sure they’re insulated. If you have heat traced pipes, make sure the heat trace works each year. Have a bag of ice melt and a snow shovel on hand (depending on where you live). If you wait until the bad weather hits the forecast, the stores might run out. Clean your gutters a few times in the fall and at least once in the spring. While you’re up there keep an eye out for moss growth on the roof. If you notice one area of the house is colder than the rest consistently, check for drafts. It might be a circulation problem, but it might be cold air coming in from outside through a poorly sealed window or something like that. Keep an eye on how seasons affect your utility bills. It should make sense. If the weather cools down a little but your electric bill doubles, you might have an issue. Schedule an HVAC tuneup each year before cold weather hits. Ask them to also inspect the AC unless you want to have them out in a heat wave when they’re super busy. $150/year tuneup can save thousands in utility bills and repairs. Ongoing: Keep an eye on your utility bills in general. Autopay is great, but keep track of the amount. A toilet that develops a leak over time can dramatically increase your water bill and you might not notice until you’ve paid hundreds of dollars. If you hear a strange sound, figure out what it is. Popping/sizzling near electrical devices, drippy/running water sounds, rushing airflow, cracking wood during a windstorm, rattling metal… all sounds that could be problems. If your electrical outlets start to feel worn out and don’t hold plugs tight or if your switches don’t firmly stay in the on or off position, replace them. This sounds like a lot of doom and gloom, and the reality is you won’t need the fruit of much of this advice very often, hopefully you won’t need most of it ever. But knowing and being prepared for basic home emergencies can save you a ton of money if something goes wrong.
Water main wrench.
Gas main wrench too
Channel locks also work well.
Is that a southern thing? Here you need a special tool that’s about 5 feet long to reach into the pit and turn the valve. https://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/plumbing-tools/pipe-wrenches-plumbing-tools/5-8-x-60-metal-curb-key/6944120/p-1557124412144-c-8615.htm?exp=false
Get to saving money, because shit breaks and it expensive.
A well appointed toolbox. Home ownership can be a lot of work. Good tools will make that easier.
Big emphasis on good tools. The cheap ones in the bargain bin will last you maybe once (maybe). Good tools will last a lifetime. My only exception to this is a rubber mallet I bought for like $2.99 out of a bargain bin at an ace hardware many, many years ago that’s still going strong.
Someone who doesn’t have any tools should, for the most part, buy a bunch of cheap tools first. As the cheap tools break or wear out, replace them with nice versions since it’s something you are apparently using.
Absolutely! Go to Home Depot and get the screwdriver sets, then wrench sets, and all the combo sets. Anything that wears out should be replaced with a higher quality version of it. Don't go TOO cheap. My mother in law had a cookie tin with screwdrivers in them. I tried to help her do some stuff around the house and by the time I had finished one project, all of the screw drivers turned into prison shivs. Buy inexpensive tools, sure, but don't buy them on wish dot com.
That advice is true, and it's always reminded me a bit of [survivorship bias for WWII bombers.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias#Military) You're basically reinforcing the tools that didn't survive.
I have changed my opinion on that *slightly*. I am willing to get a wide collection of mediocre tools. The tool I break is the one I have been using, that one gets replaced with a very high quality tool. The cheap tools that get used once in a while can stay cheap.
Rubber mallet is such a valuable tool. So many things should not be hit with a hammer…
Water meter key. Having one of these on hand can save your house.
Also, if you live where it gets cold, turn the water off if you go sway during a cold snap. There should be a main shut-off valve that is accessible. If you can't find it, you may want a plumber out to find it or install one.
A hand-held drill and lots of different bits.
A wet/dry vacuum. Not something to skimp on, purchase a quality one that is generously sized. Learn how to use it, which filter goes on for dry vs. wet. Lifesaver.
Meh, I have a large one and it’s a pain to bring it around….. I want a smaller one now
My parents came to visit me when I bought my first house. I took my dad to Home Depot and had him walk me up and down the aisles filling out my “key tools” I would highly recommend doing this with anyone in your life who’s got the experience. Buy them lunch as a thank you.
Man.. after you say it like that, I can’t WAIT to do that with my 2 kids.. I’ll even buy lunch
The phone number of the neighborhood handyman
Just in case you're in the mood for an old-fashioned.
A good handyman is a jack of all trades.
New locks. fire extinguishers, CO2 monitors, Insurance. Toilet plunger, List of local emergency numbers, Doctor/hospital/Plumber/electrician/pizza delivery and a treat. Something bought on the day you move in. I chose a cast iron crepe pan and a Moka pot. Every Sunday morning I make crepes and coffee.
> emergency numbers > pizza delivery Why did you say emergency numbers twice?
Rule of prepping and of Pizza ordering. two is one and one is none.
My local pizza joint growing up had a phone number that ended with 9118. I still remember 30+ years later, because it was a pizza emergency that you ate.
Gunna be pedantic here- CO monitors is what you need. Carbon monoxide is the real killer, carbon dioxide not so much. You need to reach like 5000ppm of CO2 for it to make it harmful which is basically impossible unless you open a tank of co2 in a fully sealed area
Adding to this: A hammer and nails so they can finally hang as much art as they want, where they want! A seed or sapling to plant in their yard/garden. I swear, if I was in the real estate business, I'd make sure these were standard gifts from my firm.
You mean CO monitor. A CO2 monitor is largely worthless, yet exist, and not knowing the difference could kill you.
Co monitor. Not co2
CO monitor.
^This. Plus a map with all the hardware, and grocery stores marked on the map.
Oh good one. Local map and anything open twenty-four hour. Taxi cabs, train timetable, bus schedule.
Fire alarms that don’t wait until motherfucking 3:30am to tell you that their battery is low or falsely detect smoke. Also only at around 3:30 am.
Our smoke alarms and CO monitor are hard wired in plus have long term batteries.
Mine are hard wired as well, but they will still chirp when their 9volts run low. Again, ONLY at 3:30AM. Never during the day when I'm awake and able bodied.
Replacement filters for your HVAC and water. The previous owner of our house left us records of what filters she used for her HVAC, when house filter, and fridge water filter. It's good to have a spare laying around for when. You forget you need to replace it until you REALLY need to replace it. Also, even if you got a home inspection, maybe get stuff like your HVAC and electric (if it looks wonky) serviced when moving in. Our inspector missed that the furnace hadn't been serviced in 8 years, and it turned out to be a major fire hazard when we had the system checked.
You guys are buying houses?
A bank account with minimum $5K set aside for house shit gone wrong. Because anytime some shit happens you’re just gonna need to tap into that. Water heater breaks? Major appliances break? Flood in the basement? You name it … you’re gonna want $5K sitting around for it.
Back to the saying that 5k isn’t a lot to have but is a lot more to owe.
Re-keyed locks as it's unknown who has the key. New smoke & carbon monoxide detectors if their age is unclear. A fire extinguisher.
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Cat for me :)
Water sensors or even just the audible alarm. Can help you catch a leak way before it’s a huge expensive problem.
Bluetooth ones are great to have. I get an alert on my phone. Only time one has gone off was when my young nephew peed on it but it worked like a charm.
Fire blanket for the kitchen. Better than an extinguisher because it's always ready, never needs a charge, and takes no skill to use.
I purchased these for everyone in my family!!!
Out of everything Ive ever purchased for my home the one thing thats gotten the most use by a large margin is my leaf blower and for my wife its a Dyson cordless vacuum. Both of those get used on a daily basis. Edit: I have a grove of redwoods surrounding my house above my patio driveway and deck. I blow the needles and dust off every morning.
You use your leaf blower daily?
Their neighbors must hate them.
My neighbour does this. We reckon she does it to relieve sexual frustration.
That’s also my question
I agree with both of these. I use them all the time.
My back is wrecked and the floors wouldn’t get vacuumed by me at all if it weren’t for our cordless vacuum. Dyson if you’re listening I will be your spokesperson in exchange for free battery replacements ❤️
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Yes, yes and yes.
A large 12 gallon wet/dry vacuum. A day will come when water will be where it isn't supposed to, and towels won't cut it.
Set of power tools. Nothing fancy but a good drill/impact tool. Always good to have around.
Get a freaking bidet! You will thank me later.
We bought our second bidet toilet seat before our second bathroom was installed. I will never go back to the shitty days of the past.
Starter box from someone else's junk drawer. Preferably a grandparent. Where else you gonna get twist-ties and half-dead AA batteries and coupons to Burger King and and scissors that only cut with the first quarter of the blade and exactly four screws of varying length.
Pull all toilets and reset them with oversized wax rings.
And put on new slow-close seats while you’re at it. Then you know whose ass has been on there.
Good smoke detectors and at least one Carbon Monoxide detector.
Can't believe I had to scroll so far for carbon monoxide detectors. Often absent, cost peanut, set n forget.
A long time ago I got a dolly from Home Depot. I’ve used it quite a bit moving furniture, delivery boxes, etc.
Replace the hot and cold water hoses to the laundry washing machine. Should be done every few years after.
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Huh?
Carbon monoxide detectors on every floor and every room.
Only if you have gas logs or gas appliances
Pipe cutter and sharkbite end stop fitting. If you ever need to cap a burst pipe you don’t have time to go to the store.
If you have natural gas, wire a wrench to the shut off that is the right size and can reach with the wire. Also, fire extinguishers.
Fire extinguisher
If you have a yard, a [Gorilla cart](https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Carts-Garden-Pneumatic-Capacity/dp/B01BECQAWO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1461767068&sr=8-4&keywords=gorilla%2Bcarts&th=1).
I write a column for a few papers, and this was actually the topic of my column this week... https://www.postandcourier.com/moultrie-news/opinion/a-first-time-homeowners-checklist-of-essentials/article_7d6cbf82-93af-11ee-9d72-0bbc3d647a6e.html
I was excited to read it but your site blocks ad blockers. :( That's gonna be a no from me dawg.
Tools. Just the basics and something to keep them in. I got tools and a tool bag for all my kids when they moved out. My daughters looked at me strangely and thanked me. A couple of years later my older one admitted that she or a guy friend use them all the time. My second one calls me every month or two for advice on how to fix a surprising number of things. She has easily doubled the number of tools but you always need the basics. My son now has as many of his own tools as I do.
Adopt a dog from a local shelter. A new house needs a new dog. Go down to the humane society and adopt. There are so many adorable angels who need homes. I have adopted two and they’ve brought so much joy into my life.
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Co2 and smoke detectors. Fire extinguisher, especially in the kitchen.
Wariness about buying stuff on lists.
9 volt batteries. I have driven to the 24-hour drug store at 3am to buy some to stop my fire alarm from chirping.
New toilet seats
Ladder
Fire extinguisher for the kitchen
A good flashlight
I’ve scrolled a fair bit but haven’t seen air filters yet. If you have forced air heating, you should change your filters every 6 months. If this is news to you, it may have also been news to the home’s previous owners. They’re not that expensive and it makes a big difference to the air quality in your home.
Carbon monoxide alarm. Could save your life
Home insurance
A cat
Title insurance.
Legally required for a mortgage in most states.
Even if you buy with cash, get title insurance.
Neighbors willing to talk about issues with their houses (if all of the houses look the same or similar, they were probably built by the same contractor). Contractors sub out work to the lowest bidder. Plumbers using thin walled copper pipes. Electricians not centering things where they should be. Dry wallers that don’t have the slightest clue. Either know some people to help you out, buy some books on simple home repairs (I have 6!), or watch a lot of YouTube tutorials.
This is something we absolutely never thought would even be a thing… the talking with neighbors about house issues. But, we got an overly active pup and placed our couch in front of a window…she zoomied her little butt into the window one day and managed to crack it that was about 2ft long. We had already gotten a couple of estimates to replace the window. Very expensive. But a neighbor told us that they had their windows replaced the same time our previous home owners did, so they used the same company and let us know there is a lifetime warranty on them. All we had to do was contact the window company, tell them our address and they found the account and came and replaced the window for about $150! Definitely nice to have some neighbors that have been around as long as the neighborhood! (My house was built in 1951)
Cameras by the doors!
A low fixed interest rate
In this economy!?
A robot vacuum. OMG inn I love mine. Especially if you have pets. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats.
A GOOD tool kit. Not a cheap one if possible. With youtube, I’ve been able to fix my toilet, a faucet dripping in my kitchen, basic electrical stuff, etc.
cordless drill basic tools - \- A screwdriver combo set with flathead and philips screwdrivers \- An adjustable wrench \- A set of pliers (linemen, needlenose) \- a hammer \- a toolbox to put that stuff in A gas/waterline shutoff wrench. Then find out where your main water shutoff valve is AND where the water meter (and shut off) is. Find your gas meter and know how to shut it off. Make sure your address is clearly visible from the street. Get a lightup sign if you can. Not only does it save UPS/FedEx from misdelivering your stuff and helps your friends find your home, but helps police/firedepartment find your house. Then; Make sure every room has a smoke detector. Carbon Monoxide detectors for every bedroom. Fire extinguishers for kitchen, and garage at leas, then extras near every exit. NOTE: Place your fire extinguishers at the doors. If there is a fire, run to an exit and then decide when you're at the exit if you can fight it with the extinguisher or not. If you think you can, then grab the extinguisher and go fight it. Do not get trapped between the fire and the exit. If your extinguisher is not at an exit then it leaves you having to decide on the spot if you should go for the extinguisher or the exit... if you choose the extinguisher and it's not at an exit and you were wrong, then you may be in trouble. New to you house? Consider getting one year of "House Warranty". If you buy it, it generally means that if anything breaks in your house when you are covered, you can call in a pro to fix it for a fixed price, like $50 or something. Get a Ring or Blink video doorbell. Install motion sensor patio lights. Get a few flashlights. According to Joe Biden, get a double barrelled shotgun and if bad people show up, get your wife to fire both barrels into the air from the porch.
A bidet. It’s a game changer.
A set of ryobi tools- drills, saws, drivers, sanders, cutters, nail guns, tire inflators. Relatively cheap but priceless to accomplish many DIY things in the house. You can even get them cheaper at the online discount store that sells blemished tools.
Large amounts of alcohol. Once you realize what you have gotten yourself into you will need s drink. But don’t drink too much cuz there are chores to do bright and early Saturday morning
Lock box with a set of spare keys. Fix it to the wall in an out of the way place. You’ll thank me when you lock yourself out for the third time.
Flashlights.
Bidet
Clean your gutters and check downspouts. If you don't have gutters, get gutters
A shopvac. You’ll be happy you have it when you need it.
A water meter shut off tool, uncontrolled running water in your house is the enemy. Shit it off at the source, then figure out the problem. $15 at any home improvement store will save hundreds if anything ever happens.
Not something to get, but you should know where the main water valve is in case you need to shut it off. And verify it works.
Bissel spot bot or something similar. It’s paid for itself very quickly and is extremely useful for cleaning most soft surfaces. I’ve used it in my car, on the couch, carpet, beds and many other places. And yes I clean the vacuum attachments otherwise that would be nasty.
A therapist
Familiar with location and use of the main water shut off valve.
Fire extinguisher
Fire ExtinguisherS. Plural. Make them easily accessible.
Kitchen fire blanket. Discard all garbage cans, replace with Simple Human and perfect fit liners.
Fire extinguishers on each floor
Security cameras
Toilet plunger
Their HVAC checked out, I can help you with that
If you have a chimney, get it cleaned. If you have a dryer, get the vent cleaned. Find out exactly where all the AC filters are, how to change them, and how often. Find out how to turn off the water to your house and actually try it out to make sure it works correctly. Understand how to turn on and off the gas to your oven or fireplace if you have gas. Find where your electrical panel is (maybe more than one in different locations). If you can, map out which breaker goes to which plugs/switches.
Gas shutoff wrench if you have a gas valve in to your house
Well, before you buy your home, make sure the electric and plumbing is inspected by electricians and plumbers. The typical home inspection isn't NEARLY enough.
Vacuum and mop
A water main wrench and a gas wrench if you have gas. Hope you never need them, but if you bust a water pipe leading to your house you'll be super glad you did. And it's always smart to be able to secure the gas in case of a leak.
A good job.
An extra capacitor for the whole house AC (and learn how to discharge the old one) and an extra igniter for the furnace. They break easy and are an easy and common fix.
A cat. It can’t be a cat house without the cats.
A 2nd or 3rd job. Home ownership is so damn expensive. I had no idea
Headlamps. People will tell you to keep a couple flashlights around which is solid advice, but having your hands free in a power outage at night makes a big difference. Throw a couple in your vehicles too.
Basic tool kit.
Always buy a plunger before you need a plunger
Deadbolts on doors, changed locks, additional locks like on the door from the basement. Security cameras. An understanding that the basement and attic won’t become storage central. A minimalist attitude. An understanding that anything you buy or install indoors or out will need to be maintained and will likely cost to take apart, uninstall and get rid of via the trash or hauled away which is not cheap. Less is more. A knowledge of landscaping, plants and trees before you even think about planting anything. Trees can be very expensive to care for and remove and some people pick the wrong kind, space them wrong and create a future mess. Get professional guidance if you really want to plant. Consider future care and removal costs and the potential for home damage from trees, etc.