Buying your first home is an experience like no other. You have found the right place, put your offer in, and spent hours sitting by the phone, hoping that your bid will be accepted. Finally, the keys are in your hand, and it is time to think about getting everything together that you need to set up your first home.

Now, obviously what you have depends on where you are coming from. Perhaps you are flying the nest and moving out of your parent's home, or moving out of student accommodation. Maybe you have been in a houseshare or rental, where everything belongs to your housemates or landlord. For the purpose of this article, we are assuming you are coming with absolute nothing, so read on to find out what you need to set up your first home.

Setting Up Your First Home: The Essentials

White Goods

If you have purchased a second-hand property, the most important thing to consider is what the previous occupants have left behind. It is not uncommon for white goods to be included in the sale of a property, such as a freestanding cooker, washing machine, refrigerator and freezer, and even a dishwasher, and if these have been left in the house, it will save you a decent amount of money. However, you should know this in advance, because the previous owner would have filled this out on the records for the fixtures and fixings. These are relatively important things, so if they are not included, you need to sort them quickly.  

Kitchen Equipment

You can't prepare meals if you do not have basic kitchen equipment and utensils, so this should be high on your list as a priority. This is not an area to skimp on if you can afford it - a quality set of saucepans and pots, a set of the best Japanese chef knives and decent chopping boards are a must. You also need plates, bowls and cups and mugs - enough for one per person plus a few extras for guests. Don't forget cutlery as well!

Cleaning Equipment

Even if you are fortunate enough to be able to hie a cleaner, you still need to keep some basic supplies and equipment for in-between cleans or spills. A vacuum cleaner, a dustpan and brush, a broom and a mop and bucker are the bare essentials, as well as a range of cleaning cloths and disinfectants.

DIY And Hardware

Even if you are not a DIY expert, it is still important to keep some basics in the house in case a simple and easy to fix issue arises. Things you might want to keep in include:

• Spare lightbulbs
• Step ladders
• Screwdriver
• Hammer
• Plug extension lead
• Selection of screws
• Pliers
• Measuring tape
• Drill and drill bits

While you may need just the necessities to get by in your new home, there's nothing like the feeling of getting your first place completely kitted out with all the items that make it a proper home.
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It can seem like quite a list, but it can be completed relatively cheaply, particularly if you have friends and family ready to pass on things they no longer need or use. This will make the transition into your first home as smooth as possible.
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