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NEW HOMEOWNERS: BUY THESE 10 THINGS BEFORE MOVING IN

Homeownership is an awesome role, but it requires a bit of responsibility. For everything from changing light bulbs to hanging up home décor, homeowners are responsible for their own routine home maintenance and other odd jobs around the house. And these tasks require supplies!

With all the excitement that goes along with buying a home, it can be easy for new homeowners to overlook some essentials needed in their new role. To help homeowners prepare, we’ve compiled a list of must-buy items.

Here are 10 things new homeowners should buy for their new homes:

1. Keys and Locks
When you buy a new home, it is a good idea to replace the locks upon moving in. Most homeowners give a spare key to a neighbor, friend or family member. If you want to be sure you’re the only person with a key to your home, replace the locks after you move in.

2. Lawnmower
Unless you’re planning to hire someone or your new home has a homeowner’s association that covers lawn care, a lawnmower is a must for any new homeowner—particularly a new homeowner who moves in during the summer. When you own a home, lawn care is your responsibility—you’ll need the tools to do it right.

3. Snow Removal Equipment 
Yes, it may be difficult to imagine needing this homeowner necessity right now, but when winter’s first storm hits, make sure you can deal with it. From snowblowers and shovels to salt or sand, when you’re in charge of taking care of your own home in winter, you’ll want to have everything on hand!

4. Tool Kit
Whether you consider yourself to be handy or not, as a homeowner, you’ll need to have the basics when it comes to tools. What are those basics? At a minimum, you should have hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers and the screws and nails to go with them. And, don’t forget the tape measure—if you didn’t already have one when you were buying your home. These tools will get you started, but expect to need even more as a homeowner.

5. Headlamp
For homeowners, your standard flashlights may not cut it for every repair job. Add a headlamp to your toolkit so that you’ll be able to complete any job without having to hold onto a flashlight. Make sure you’re able to see to do any job around your home.

6. Ladder
When you first move into your new home, you’ll want to hang up some pictures or artwork. Don’t rely on standing on your furniture to reach the right spots. As a homeowner, you may also need a ladder to change light bulbs, paint walls or clean out gutters. In fact, you may need more than one ladder!

7. Painting Supplies
Speaking of painting walls or anything else after you move into your new home, you’ll need a few supplies to refresh. In addition to standard painting supplies like brushes and rollers, you may also want to invest in some drop cloths to protect your furniture and flooring when you’re doing any painting.

8. Bucket
For tasks that range from painting to picking up after your pets, having at least one bucket available is essential for homeowners. In fact, five-gallon buckets are pretty inexpensive, but pretty important for homeowners to have. Our advice? Get two!

9. Emergency Kit
Homeowner or not, you should be prepared in the event of an emergency. So, if you already have an emergency preparedness kit, great. If you don’t, it’s time to make one. Include things like water, non-perishable food and even some cash. Don’t forget a first aid kit, batteries and flashlights too. Build up enough supplies to last three days in case of an emergency.

10. Fire Extinguisher
Speaking of emergencies, be sure you equip your new home with a fire extinguisher. Of course, you hope you never need it. But if you do need one, be sure you not only have one around but that you know where to find it and how to use it.

As you get more comfortable in your role as a homeowner, you may find that you need many other tools and supplies on a regular basis too. But, these 10 items are sure to give any new homeowner a great start in a new home!