The Only New House Checklist You Need (All 229 Essential Household Items You Need for Your New Place) - February 2023

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Moving into a new house comes with a lot of things to think about. The biggest part is making sure you have every one of the household items that you need (aka household essentials). This new house checklist covers everything from the home essentials to a list of house items that you may forget or not think about in the middle of planning all of your larger items.

This checklist for your new house is the perfect free printable for you to grab and start getting things ready for your money. Without delay, here is our free new house checklist essentials and everything else.

Best of all, you can take this checklist of things to buy for your new house, and we will link to the Amazon Prime top-rated item in that category so you can save time in getting what you need.

Let’s dive into these house essentials, shall we!

Moving Day Essentials

So you might be panicked about moving day, and that’s normal. Make sure you have your boxes, and to help you with the day, we’ve included a moving day essentials checklist.

If you want to download the new house checklist, we offer it as a free printable. You can get it by clicking here and entering your email.

What to do first in a new house: Moving Day First Must Do’s

The day you move in, you’ll be getting the keys to the new home, and a bunch of little things will need to happen. None of them are overwhelming on their own, but when you stack them and add on moving, it can feel like a lot.

Here are your action items for when you walk in. Of course, some of these won’t be needed if you are moving into an apartment for the first time, but it’s still good to know.

Go to the real estate attorney and get the keys
Make sure everything that was supposed to be left as per the purchase agreement is still there (sometimes the previous owner can “forget” or swap out things)
Document anything that is not there and notify your real estate agent
Change the locks (here’s how to choose a smart lock)
Paint (if needed, this is easier to do before your stuff is in there)
Clean kitchen, including cupboards and fridge (or you can hire a cleaning service before your move-in date)
Make any repairs that need to happen
Note where the circuit breakers are in the house
Find the shut-off valves to the house
Check the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
Take meter readings and document them for later
Make sure your homeowner’s insurance policies and others are kept somewhere safe (like in a fireproof safe, we have one for all of our files and personal information)
Change over alarm code and billing on your security system
Transfer utilities and other services over to your name
Change address for all billing and credit card companies (this is where online bills can make it easier, personally I still like to get the paper bill for my budgeting system)
Change of address at your financial institutions like your current bank and insurance company

New House Kitchen Essentials

Your kitchen is going to need a lot of stuff. Honestly, it’s the biggest thing you will get set up in your new house. Here is a list of kitchen essentials for a new home, some of these kitchen items we have broken down to give you a better idea of what you need now and what you may be able to go without for a while. If you want everything you need for your kitchen, make sure to get our kitchen essentials checklist, which has over 250 things to buy for your kitchen.

Cookware Essentials

Whether you are new to cooking, or a seasoned chef, there are essential pots and pans that you should have in your kitchen. Here is a list of pots and pans you need to have, and some others too. For the details on this, you can see our full list of essential cookware. If you want to deep dive into pots and pans you can see the best ones in our cookware reviews.

Sauté Pan
Frying Pan
Non-Stick Skillet
Saucepan
Large Stockpot
Roasting Pan
Wok
Baking Dish
Baking Sheets
Dutch Oven

The type of cookware you need can vary depending on what type of stove you have. If you are on a budget make sure to check out the best cookware sets it has something for every budget.

Kitchen Tools

If cooking isn’t your thing yet (because it wasn’t mine when we first moved in), it’s likely you don’t have the right tools for the job. So here are the must-have kitchen tools for any new kitchen (the rest you can get as you go along).

( Buying option: if this is your first set and you are ok with a starter set of utensils, this package is what we bought, and still use a good portion of these)

This 10 piece non stick bakeware set ,checks a lot of boxes for anyone just moving into their first home. You can get it here on Amazon and it has higher than 4 stars! See the details here.

things to buy for a new house checklist

Kitchen Appliances

There are some of these you will want right away, and some of them you will need. So take a look at the list and get what you need and go from there.

Cooking Essentials

Now that you have a place to eat, you will need some cooking essentials for your new place. These ones are the items we use every. Single. Day. Make sure you have these on your moving-in list, or you will be making several extra trips to the store.

Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Rolling pin
Wisk
Tongs
Spatula (this one is a game-changer spatula, yes there is such a thing)
Bottle opener (you’ll want to know where this is on moving day… trust me)
Colander
Corning Ware
Ice cube trays
Bowls for mixing salad and other things

Overwhelmed? Don’t be. 🙂 This cooking essentials set has many of the kitchen household items you need and is an Amazon Choice, plus if you have Amazon Prime you get two day free shipping. Check it out here.

OXO Good Grips 15-Piece Everyday Kitchen Utensil Set

Eating Essentials

You will need something to eat pretty soon when you move in (of course, some plastic plates for your friends on moving day will do just fine). But the rest of your days will need something more standard and durable. So, to make it easier, we have done a search on Amazon for each of these items and linked to the highest star rating (based on the time we did this). Having your house needs aligned before you start shopping is a great way to save money while getting everything you need for your new house.

Rather than buy separate dinnerware this set of 4 is super affordable and comes in several colors.

Spices and Pantry Staples

I’ve been watching Masterclass, and the top chefs use the same basic ingredients. So I’ve included them here for you. The first 3 are the basis for many great-tasting foods. You can get a fully stocked pantry with our pantry staples list, it has everything you need to stock your pantry from scratch.

Salt
Pepper
Garlic
Basil
Thyme
Oregano

You can get all of these and more in a spice rack set, like this one here. It’s the one we got and had a bunch of different spices to try out. Plus we really liked the look of it on our kitchen counter.

new house checklist

Other Kitchen Supply Items for New Home

These are the things you are going to find yourself needing on a daily or weekly basis. Therefore, it’s best to have them when you move in.

Kitchen Cleaning Necessities

Your moving day will involve cleaning the kitchen. It’s empty, and it’s great for you to give it a blast to get a nice clean and fresh start. It’s a good idea to start with your basic cleaning supplies and add on as you go.

Bedroom Essentials List

Depending on how many bedrooms you want, you may need to do these items several times. Here is the bedroom section of our furnishing a new home checklist. Make sure to note the size of bed you have in your master bedroom, so you have the right fitting sheets! See our bedroom essentials list for more details.

Bedroom Closets

Depending on what your house looks like, you may need several things for your closet or just hangers. It all depends. When we moved in, there was just one bar in the closet, so we got some closet organizers to give us some space. Here are some household storage items you may need in your new house.

Storage bins
Hangers
Full-length mirror (or if you want, you can swap out the solid doors with mirrored sliding doors)
Closet organizer
Shoe rack
Cute storage bins
Jewelry organizer

Technology & Smart Home Essentials

When we moved into our first home, we upgraded the lightbulbs from the thing ones to the thicker ones and swapped out the lightbulbs for LEDs. Now we have the option of making things more smart home based.

See if any of these smart changes are needed before you move in. For instance, if you are moving and it’s cold, you want to make sure the new smart thermostat is working. These aren’t likely necessities when moving into a new apartment. But an Alexa Dot is good for no matter where you live 😉

Smart thermostat (this one has Alexa and the ability to sense temperatures in multiple rooms)
Smart light bulbs (I love the Philips Hue)
Smart plugs and outlets
Smart light switches
Smart lock (check out the best smart locks here and the features your lock must have)
Router
Ethernet cables
Surge protectors
Smart assistant (Google or Alexa)
Phone charges

Home Office Essentials

That spare bedroom is likely to become your home office for now. How far you take it is entirely up to you. As someone who has worked from home, these are all must-haves. Of course, it depends on what you need in your office. Office furniture is becoming more and more important in our furnishing a new home checklist. See our full home office essentials list for all the details.

Desk
Computer
Office Chair
Surge protector
Monitor
Mouse
Rechargeable batteries
Paper organizer
Filing cabinet
Shredder
Pens
Pencils
Highlighters
Post-it’s (this all-in-one set is all you need ever)
Printer
Paper
Whiteboard(s) and markers
Dry eraser
Inspirational quote art
Air mattress (for when someone decides to stay over)

Dining Room

When you are looking at your eating space, takes some time on this aspect of our furnishing a new home checklist. You will spend more time here than you realize so it’s worth thinking about how many people will be eating at the table and what type of space you will need. Knowing which of these home essentials products you need now can save you a lot of money.

Dining room table (here are some nice dining room sets under $200)
Dining room chairs
Table Cloth
Tablemats
Table runner
Candleholders and candles
Chair felts (prevents the hardwoods from scratching)

Living Room Essentials

Living Room Entertainment

This should have been at the start of your new house checklist; I mean, your entertainment setup is huge. Here are the basics (FYI, I had to hold back on this), for more details check out our living room essentials checklist.

Television (this one has over 3000 ratings and gets over 4 stars and here is the best 4k TV under $600)
Sound system (we use this Sonos with built-in Alexa, we like Sonos because you can gradually add on and stream music through the house or each one individually which is great)
Streaming box (we use Apple Tv for most things, but depending on your eco-system there is also Fire, Sling TV, and a bunch of other options)
TV Mount or cabinet
Video game system
Battery for the remote control

Living Room Furniture

Our living room is a big part of our lives. Making sure you are furnishing it the right way can change the look and feel of your whole home. Here are the items you will need to think about when furnishing a new home, if you are looking to save here are some cheap living room sets under $500).

Lamps (fun fact, older houses don’t have lights in the ceiling so if that’s your new house, having some lamps in the living room might be your only option)
Coffee table
Chairs
Sofa or sectional
Sofa table
End tables
Stools
Bean bag chairs
Area rug (get this underlay to stop if from moving around)
Decorative items
Pillows
Throws or blankets
Chair felts (prevents the hardwoods from scratching

There are also a lot of cool things every house should have; funky art, tabletop decorations, knick-knacks, and trinkets all add to your personal style, so make sure you set aside some funds to decorate it the way you want. The accent pieces make all the difference.

Bathroom Essentials

Depending on how many bathrooms you have, you may need to get these items in multiples. Or you can just get them for the one and leave the other bathroom to be upgraded whenever. This bathroom essentials list will get you everything you need to furnish your bathroom.

Shower rod
Shower hooks
Shower curtain
Shower mat
Bath mats
New shower head(now is the time to swap it out for a low flow one, or something a little newer)
Shower caddy with soap and shampoo
Bathtub plug
Sink plug
Garbage can
Plunger (check out the best toilet plungers here)
Drain snake (these little ones have been amazing, and they are easy to store)
Toilet seat (check to make sure it’s an elongated vs. round toilet, I would put this at the top of the new house checklist, ’nuff said)
Toilet paper
Toilet brush (if you move in and there is black toilet mold, read this)
Tissues
Towels (it’s always good to have an extra set, whether it’s because you are doing laundry or you have unexpected guests stay the night)
Hand towels
Facecloths
Smart scale (this one was a must for me, but you may not need to include in on your new home checklist)
Bonus item waterproof shower speaker (changed my mornings around)

Cleaning Supplies List (Must-haves on My Household items checklist)

You’re going to be cleaning right away when you walk in the door of your first home. Make sure you have these home essentials for cleaning your new place. You will be happy to have them. Get our full cleaning supplies list if you really want to level up your cleaning game!

Mr. Clean
Scrubbing bubbles
Swiffer duster
Swiffer sweeper
Lysol disinfectant wipes
Vacuum (here are some vacuums under $200)
Handheld vacuum (for when your regular vacuum just won’t reach or if you need one for cleaning your car)
Iron and ironing board
Mop
Roomba (or another automated vacuum (ok I just really dig smart tech))
Broom
Cupboard liners
Swiffer or duster
Rags
Microfiber cloths
Windex
Paper towels
First aid kit
Laundry detergent
Fabric softener

Essential Homeowner Tools (A key part of the new house checklist)

A homeowners tool kit usually grows the longer you are a homeowner. I know when I moved in I thought “I’m not going to need anything.“ within the first minute my father-in-law asked me “Where is your screwdriver set?”

*Oops*

Of course, I gave him a blank stare, raced to Home Depot, and bought a set. Any good list of household items needed for a new home should have tools included because you need them right away.

Don’t get caught without essential homeowner tools on moving day. You will use all of these things, possibly the second you walk through the door.

Cordless drill (by your second piece of building furniture this will be your favorite thing ever!)
Screwdriver set (my big miss, don’t let it be yours on your new house checklist)
Stud finder (must…resist…corny…. jokes…)
Hammer
Hanging Nails
Wall screws (you will need these to hang items that aren’t on a stud, they are worth it!)
Flashlight (we get these that just stay plugged into the wall, when the power goes off they light up)
Batteries (you can get these from Amazon Essentials, IMO get the rechargeable ones)
Matches and Candles
Duct tape (for fixing everything 😉
Step ladder
Lazer level
Wd-40
Set of small screwdrivers (I use these for a lot of things I never thought possible)
Level (unless you want to spend hours debating if every picture is straight)
Tape measure

Entrance Way Essentials (the last check on your household essentials)

Your entryway may get forgotten quickly which is why we include it in our household essentials list. Many of us come in through the back door or side door. But new people will come to the front so it’s nice to have a few household essentials to help give that warm and welcoming first impression.

Welcome mat
Shoe tray
Shoehorn
Place to sit
Hangers
Coat rack

Outdoor Essentials

We’ve all been doing more outdoor living these past years. Backyards have become an oasis for many new and established homeowners. Rather than opting for a vacation, we are all staying at home more and making the most of our outdoor living space. Here are some of the backyard essentials you will need for your next place.

Patio Set
BBQ or Smoker
Grilling set
Grilling Mat
BBQ Cover
Patio Umbrella
Firepit
End tables
Outdoor carpet
Garden hose
Shed (for all of your yard essentials)

While these new homeowners’ shopping list items may not be an immediate need, it’s likely that you will need them in your first summer and are worth shopping for when you can find them for a discount.

Final Thoughts on the Complete List of New Home Essentials

There you have it! The complete first house checklist (or next house) of things you need when moving into a new house. Our printable first-time home buyer checklist has a lot of different items on it, some you can get right away while others you can wait until you need them when you move in. We covered all of the things to buy for a new house checklist.

Most of all, your move-in date is full of excitement. Take photos of the day. Enjoy the process. Your new place will be where you make so many new memories and it’s a day that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Once you have settled in, go and introduce yourself to the neighbors and ask them any questions you may have about the neighborhood and the homes in the area, you likely asked the real estate agent a lot of questions when you bought but it’s a great way to meet people in the area. The next step will be to plan your housewarming party!

Click here to get your free printable new house essentials checklist.

new house checklist