First Time Homeowner Essentials: What Do You Need?
With the Ottawa property market performing strongly in 2017, more and more people were choosing to take the leap into home ownership and buy their first property – whether it was a condo, a townhome, or a house. However, owning a home comes with new requirements, needs, and responsibilities, which may include purchasing new items, tools or furniture. We’ve spoken to our team of experienced RealtorsⓇ, who are well-versed in dealing with first time homeowners, and have asked which essential items no first time homeowner should be without.
A tool set
Now that you own your own home, you may have to do a little bit of DIY around the house! A good general tool set will include a hammer, nails, pliers, hacksaw, screwdrivers, a tape measure, hooks and other hardware. If you really want to feel like a true homeowner, add a small power drill to the list!
Painting supplies
Planning on freshening up your new home with a lick of paint? Make sure you have all the painting supplies you need, such as paint brushes, rollers, a mixing tray, masking tape, and plastic sheeting to protect your floors.
First aid kit
Now that you’ll be doing some odd jobs around the house, you may fall victim to some DIY injuries (keep your fingers clear of that hammer!) so having a first aid kit on hand is extremely useful. Keep it stocked with essentials like band aids, painkillers, cold and flu medicine, and a thermometer.
Fire extinguisher
Though the hope is that you’ll never have to use it, it can help put your mind at ease to have a fire extinguisher in the house. The best place to keep it would be in the kitchen, in case of any unfortunate fires while you’re whipping up a culinary storm. One thing to remember is that fire extinguishers have an expiration date, so do check the tag on your extinguisher for dates and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Flashlight and batteries
Batteries are a must for any homeowner – you wouldn’t want your TV remote to suddenly die in the middle of a Netflix binge would you? But a flashlight should also be on your essentials list in case of any sudden power outage.
Outdoor equipment
Depending on the state and size of your yard, it may be worth investing in a lawnmower for your outside space. More essential outdoor items for the Canadian homeowner are a bag of salt or sand, a shovel or a snowblower. These items are especially crucial if your new home doesn’t have a covered garage where you can park your car.
Buying your first home is an exciting experience and the Royal LePage Performance Realty team loves being part of it. If you’re looking to purchase your first home in Ottawa or the surrounding area, then please reach out to one of our dedicated and knowledgeable RealtorsⓇ today!
