If you are moving into your first home from an apartment, or upgrading from a small home to a larger one, there are some things you might not think to buy until after you move in. So you are not caught off guard, here are some things to think about before you make the move.

1. Furniture. One common thing to have happen is getting to your new place, and realizing that you have a lot of empty rooms. You might have had minimal or even no furnishings of your own in your previous abode. If you are applying for mortgages right now, you might want to hold off on purchasing furniture if it means using credit. Increasing your credit utilization can decrease your credit score. You want to keep your score high so you can qualify for competitive interest rates. But you can at least start thinking about what furniture you are going to need, and bookmarking some products that might suit you. That way, once you have the opportunity, you can buy what you need to live comfortably without delay.
2. Tools. If you were not responsible for repair and maintenance of the previous place you lived, you might not have a ton of tools. Once you move into your own home, however, you will have to take care of its upkeep. So, you should plan on buying at least a basic tool set soon if you do not already have one.
3. Cleaning supplies. You probably already have at least some cleaning supplies, since even the tiniest houses and apartments require ongoing cleaning. But you might be missing some if you haven’t lived in a large home before. For example, if you had a very small amount of carpet to vacuum in your old home, you might just have a little handheld vacuum. You may need to buy something suitable for a much larger area if there is a lot of carpet in your new home.
4. Bathroom stuff. There are some items in the bathroom that are easy to miss. For example, say your shower stall in your previous residence had a glass door. You move to a home that doesn’t have one of these. You now need to get a shower curtain. You might even need a curtain rod.
5. Home safety supplies. If you have been sub-leasing or living in apartments this whole time, or even living at home with your parents, there is a good chance you don’t own any home safety supplies.
   
   Some things you are going to need include:
   • A fire extinguisher (or several, depending on the size of the home)
   • Smoke detectors
   • Carbon monoxide detectors
   • Flashlights
   • Batteries
   • New locks
   • Security system
     
     You may not need all of these if the home already includes some. There is a good chance, for example, it has smoke detectors installed. But the previous family probably will take their fire extinguishers with them when they leave.
     
     
6. Lawn and garden supplies. If this is your first time owning a home with a lawn and/or garden, you are going to need to stock up on supplies for taking care of those outdoor spaces. You might need a lawnmower, leaf blower, some rakes, a set of garden tools, a composting bin, etc. The exact supplies will depend on your individual yard. Some yards are relatively low-maintenance. Others can require a lot of work each year to maintain.
7. Wall decor. One thing that can catch you off guard when you move into a larger home is how empty your walls look. You might have had enough décor for a smaller home or an apartment. But with so much extra space, everything is now really sparse, giving the home a cold, utilitarian vibe.

Wall décor is something we would recommend you be thinking about, but wait to buy until after you have moved into your new home.

It can be hard to visualize the best way to use your wall space until you have started setting up your furniture and other décor. Only after you do will you see where you have large blank spaces, and understand what balance of elements could bring harmony to your interior design.

You also may need to get used to having more wall space. Once you adjust, you may find you don’t need to buy as many wall décor items as you originally thought you would need.

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