What to buy for your first home

What to buy for your first home

When you’ve gone unconditional and settlement is in sight, it’s time to switch gears from financing questions to things of a more tangible nature: what to buy for your first home.

Plenty of properties are sold with minimal chattels, so you may end up furnishing your new house from top to bottom. There’s a lot to check off your to-do list before you move in, so let us give you a hand.

What to buy for your first home: Safety

There are a couple of things we all need in this day and age. No, we’re not talking about food, water, and air. Think Wi-Fi, having your power sorted out, smoke detectors, smart thermostats and more.

Before you settle everything up with the movers or have friends and family around, you’re going to want to make sure that you have what we would consider essentials for the big move. From a security and safety standpoint, you might want to ensure that you pick up the following if your new home doesn’t already come with them:

- First-aid kit

- Smoke detectors

- Smart locks

- Alarms

Smoke detectors are especially important for homeowners. Fire and Emergency NZ recommends long-life photoelectric smoke alarms over the garden variety ones. This is because they can detect fires that are slow to start and won’t wait for a huge blaze to alert you that something’s burning. Photoelectric smoke alarms are a good idea if you want to have a smart household; they can sync up to others of their kind using Bluetooth. You can even control which alarms go off in a fire situation.

Another home essential is a security system. We’re talking alarms for your doors, locks, and more. You don’t have to be tech-savvy to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with smart locks - these locks for your doors sync up with Bluetooth, often have video doorbell functionality, and are a lifesaver if you’re someone who always forgets their keys.

Local retailer PB Tech has a large selection on offer to suit a first-home buyer’s budget.

The other basics: Power and internet

Getting your electricity and internet set up are arguably the modern building blocks of moving. Regardless of whether you’re moving with kids or having to pack up after five cats, it’s going to be a bit of a trial.

We recommend using this chance to shop around for a power company that can make the job easier.

A number of electricity providers now have deals that make moving into a new house less of a chore. Whether it’s giving new customers a credit towards moving services or connecting you up in record time, there’s bound to be a package that fits your specific relocation needs. Providers like Mercury are currently offering specific deals for new customers in the process of moving to a new home sans power or gas.

The same goes for when you have an internet plan to buy for your first home. If you’re moving from the city to the country or vice versa, the sort of internet plan you’re looking for is going to change. To get a good idea of competitive Wi-Fi rates, take some time to ask around with various providers and see if you get anything for swapping to a new one.

Much like electricity providers, there are often perks for new customers signing up when they move house - compare a bunch of broadband companies before you commit to the one that’s right for you.

What about home essentials?

Now that you’re another step closer to enjoying home ownership, you’re going to want to make sure that you’ve got everything from whiteware to a heater to keep your living room warm in winter.

Depending on your sale and purchase agreement with the previous owner, you may well already have heated towel racks or other household items, but if not then here’s a quick list of what we’d consider important:

- Heater

- Vacuum cleaner

- Microwave

- Washing machine/dryer

- Blinds or drapes

- Shower curtains

- Plunger

- Hangers

- Ironing board

- DIY tool kit

- Garbage bins and bags

- Flashlight

- Lightbulbs

- Ladder

When you’re a homeowner, all the little things that used to be your landlord’s responsibility to fix are now, well, yours. You’re going to want to be able to patch up small issues here and there like a lightbulb going out, so make sure that you’re suitably equipped with items that are easy to install

There’s no need to own a hundred power tools, but it’s good to have a DIY repair kit lying around and to get a ladder too. If nothing else, it should make arranging everything in your new house a bit more convenient too.

You won’t want to forget about your bathroom either - we all know that New Zealand homes have historically had a bit of a problem with damp and mould, so this part of your house could end up being a problem area.

When going for things like shower curtains, try picking some that are specifically resistant to mould. You’ll also want to attach them with clasps or rings that are rust-resistant, so why not go with stainless steel? Places like Kmart and The Warehouse are budget-friendly options for your household needs.

Some other things you’ll want to buy for your first home include appliances. When you’re renting, these are often provided with the place, so get excited about buying your first vacuum cleaner. There are tons on the market out there and like with any appliance, you’ll want one that suits your home.

There are vacuum cleaners that work best on carpet versus regular flooring, ones that clean up pet hair really well, and more. The same logic goes for things like washing machines: if you’ll be living alone, you don’t need an industrial, heavy-duty one. Assess your space and long-term utility needs before you go on your appliance shopping spree, and always check for deals when you’re outfitting your new space.

Buying house insurance

This one might seem like a no-brainer but it’s easy to get caught up in outfitting your first home with all the frills. House insurance is pretty much essential, and depending on your provider you can be covered for all sorts of things ranging from gradual damage, glass breakage, to minor alterations.

It helps to first calculate your sum insured - the maximum an insurance provider will pay in the event that your home has to be totally written off.

In the event of things like natural disasters or even accidental damage when you’re carrying out a particularly involved reno, you’re going to want to ensure that your property is protected and that you can get all the support you need if you have to rebuild. Home insurance is an indispensable part of that process.

When you’re shopping around and choosing between insurance providers, it can be helpful to keep the following things in mind:

- Does your provider offer benefits like temporary accommodation or carpet replacement in the event of property destruction?

- What’s your excess for various breakages?

- Do they have a cost-efficient insurance combination deal i.e. can you combine house insurance with car insurance and get a better rate?

- What is your provider’s claims paying ability? A provider with a stronger ability may be more reliable in your time of need.

Have other queries about buying your first home or about Kāinga Ora’s First Home Grant process? Check out our first home buyers hub, with advice on everything from general financing to alternative ways to pay for your deposit.