Welcome to Home School, your comprehensive guide to personalizing your first home. Here, we offer expert advice to help you transform your new space into your dream home.
As a first-time homeowner, you may be eager to dive into renovations or decorations. However, it’s crucial to prioritize certain home essentials. We’ve consulted with professionals to bring you the most important items for your first home.
When it comes to home decor, the kitchen is a crucial space. Depending on the layout, you may need to purchase a solid table, comfortable chairs or counter stools, and essential tableware such as plates, drinking glasses, and utensils.
Safety is paramount in every home, particularly in hallways. Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each level, including the attic and basement. Place a smoke detector in each bedroom, hallways just outside sleeping areas, and both the top and bottom of stairways. Carbon monoxide detectors should be set outside sleeping areas at least 15 feet from bedroom entrances and near attached garages. Avoid placing detectors in dead-air spaces, damp areas such as bathrooms, or drafty areas near windows, vents, and ceiling fans to prevent interference with the detecting sensors. For closets or utility rooms, in addition to cleaning supplies, have a tool for picking up dust and particles. This could be a broom and dustpan, a plug-in vacuum, or a chargeable cordless vacuum. Zachary Robert Ronca, a real estate agent, recommends a suite of Swiffer tools for their affordability, compactness, and effectiveness in keeping floors and surfaces clean with minimal effort. Everywhere else in your home, you may encounter spaces where electric outlets aren’t ideally located. Having an extension cord or two on hand is best. Also, consider a power strip with surge protection for areas requiring more outlets, such as living rooms with TVs, gaming stations, streaming systems, WiFi routers, and external speakers. New homes often require handiwork and finishing touches. Therefore, a small basic toolkit is recommended for quick and minor repairs. At minimum, homeowners should have a screwdriver, hammer, and measuring tape. The screwdriver is essential for removing unwanted screws and assembling furniture, while the hammer is versatile for minor home improvement tasks, and the measuring tape is crucial for planning furniture placement and overall room decor.