This list has a variety of items that range from free to inexpensive, especially if a few of you go in together – such as a 1/4 cord of wood. This list is better for Fall or Winter home purchases. We’ll have another list in Spring. In Colorado, we have SNOW to consider for months and months. There are so many checklists of what new home buyers need to do, purchase, etc. but what can you do for someone you know who is about to embark on the biggest investment of their lives – and one of the most exciting?

  1. Snow shovel and sidewalk salt.
  2. Subscription to Handyman and/or Consumer Reports.
  3. *FREE* Share an online calendar with them with reminders for maintenance tasks such as gutters, seeding the lawn, changing filters, winterizing the hoses, pipes and vents, chimney maintenance and add in numbers/website locations for recommended resources for these services.
  4. Subscription to the Littleton Independent or other local community papers. The local papers usually have more upbeat news and ideas for things to do nearby, vs. gloom and doom of the bigger national papers.
  5. Gift cards for your favorite restaurants, coffee houses and bars near their new home – or ask for recommendations for them if it’s a brand new area or state.
  6. Get them a photo frame and take a photo of them on their new front step with keys in hand to commemorate the occasion. If we are their local real estate professional, we can help you get the photo, just ask us.
  7. What about finding a historic photo of the area where their home is and framing it? OR a photo of where they are moving from side by side with their new home?
  8. If they have a wood burning fireplace, go in with a few people and get them a 1/4 cord of wood delivered and stack it for them. Encourage them to invite you all to stay for dinner after or to watch the game. 😉
  9. Basic repair items for vertical blinds, holes in the wall, picture hanging hooks – good ones like Ooks.
  10. Cleaning package that includes the dishwasher and washing machine soaps best for their model, fresh sponges, furniture polish/wax/markers to repair any dings from the move. If they have a lot of black stuff, matte black nail polish works wonders on small dings.
  11. Mulling spices for the stove for holidays or one of those Scentsy type of oil air fresheners for the seasons.
  12. Traditional welcome package: Bag of oranges, loaf of bread, bottle of wine.
  13. Grilling tools if they have a new grill outside.
  14. If they have a glass cooktop – get them the special cleaner for that to keep it shiny. This stuff works well >
  15. Does their new home have a lot of trees that will drop leaves? Get them some leaf bags to be ready and a good leaf rake.
  16. Everyone needs an electric drill/screwdriver. Go in with someone so you don’t have to get the cheap store brands. Go Black and Decker or better. Nail guns with nails are handy too.
  17. Do they now have eaves for hanging lights? Help them out and get them those clips that fit under the eaves to hold the lights tidy and give them a gift card from you to help hang them the first season. Who knows, you may start a tradition.
  18. What about solar footlights to line their walkway? You can get sets online or inexpensively at Home Depot.
  19. How about a dozen pavers to give them a path that’s not muddy in the rainy season? Pavers can come from your local garden center – your goal is just to make it not muddy to start. They can replace them later, but you will help them until their lawn grows in or back in spring.
  20. Small deck or yard? How about a small chimnia? That’s a portable fireplace. This is another thing to go in with a few people. Check their HOA/CCRs about these. They may not be permitted.
  21. Make them an outdoor bench from wood and bricks – inexpensive and from the heart. A welcome place to spend time together or for them to enjoy their new yard.
  22. Power outages happen. Get them a set of LED flashlights – you can buy them in bulk. Same with extra fuses for the fuse box.
  23. Native plants or seeds that will grow well in spring.
  24. Bulbs that, if planted in fall or winter, will bloom beautifully in spring/summer. Include bulb planter tool and good garden gloves.
  25. *FREE* A list of emergency numbers they can have in the garage or mudroom, including spaces for their insurance company/policy number.
  26. *FREE* Offer to take away their moving boxes and get them recycled.
  27. Return address labels.

Hopefully there are items on this list that work for you. How exciting for your friends or family member! Most of the items can be shipped directly, too, if you are far away, but still want to celebrate with them.

Photo by Freddie Collins on Unsplash