Setting Up Home - what do I need?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

My partner and I are finally, finally moving together. I have a spiffy new job and we’ve rented a lovely one-bed flat in west London and we move in in three weeks. It’s a fully furnished flat (ie - it’s got a bed, couches, an oven, a fridge-freezer. All the essentials).

I’ve lived away from home before but he has not. I keep getting the feeling we’re forgetting something. We’ve got plates, we’ve got cutlery, we’ve got corkscrews, a duvet, some pillows, soap, toothpaste. And stuff.

What are we forgetting? What did you overlook when you set up home? What obvious thing have I missed?

2

Things I’ve overlooked at one stage or another:

Tin opener
Dustpan & brush
Lightbulbs
Mop & bucket
Tea towels, cloths, etc
Clock(s)
Picture hooks
And if they’re not in the flat already:

Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
Telephone
Vacuum cleaner

3

Just from skimming your post, I thought of pots and pans, sheets and towels, and glasses to drink that wine from. But I suppose you thought of all those.

Most of the ones I’ll offer can be picked up as needed, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

[ul]
[li]Bookshelves! Landlords who rent a place ‘furnished’ usually forget those.[/li][li]Do you have small appliances? A toaster, an iron, maybe a lamp or two (if they belong in the appliance section).[/li][li]Household cleaning and repair stuff like a broom, maybe a mop and bucket, light bulbs, a sewing kit for buttons and whatever else you’re up for.[/li][/ul]

(On preview, I see that GorillaMan beat me to most of these. Oh,well.)

4

Shower curtain! Nothing worse than moving in all the boxes, unpacking, going to wash up at the end of the day and discovering you can’t take a shower without hosing down the washroom!

You’ll also want to move in with toilet paper.

Dishsoap and sponges/cloths whatever to clean dishes with, and paper towels are also very useful, since theres a good chance youll be packing your glassware in newspaper and no one wants to drink from inky glasses. On the move-in day, as soon as you have access to the apartment, send someone out for basic groceries - milk, bread, eggs, breakfast food, supper for a day or two, etc.

You might want to have a mop/broom/vacuum right away, for who knows what the previous tenants left behind! A garbage can or plastic garbage bags are probably a good idea too. If you don’t have curtains, have masking/painters tape and big garbage bags to use in a pinch - our apartment has a streetlight just outside the bedroom window, and the first night was SO BRIGHT!

Confirm that your electricity and heat and phone will be activated on time - you don’t want to spend your first night(s) in the cold and dark and being unable to call for help! Also have a toolbox, just the basics should be good, in case there are any minor repairs (like tightening a shelf screw or something). Make sure all keys given to you work, and that the locks are functional, or get them fixed ASAP if there;s a problem.

And just in general, look up your local housing regulations and KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. Some repairs are your responsibility, others are your landlord’s, etc. Know when you can and cannot withhold rent, if at all. Just good advice for anyone renting, in any city.

Good luck and have fun! I love living with my SO, but we made mistakes in the beginning which we really should have avoided!

5

A basic set of pots and pans. Also some tupperware. A set up measruing cups and spoons.
A hammer, screwdriver (regular and Phillips), wrench, pliers, measuring tape.
Iron and ironing board.
Rags for cleaning (paper towels suck on the tough stuff). You can make them by ripping up old towels or t-shirts.

A good rule is to take a week or so and notice everything you use. Make sure you have one of those things.

Also, try to determine a monthly budget including utilities, rent, all your living expenses prior to moving in. It can be surprising the first month to think you have more disposable income than you really do. It makes things a lot easier to know up front how much you can spend on going out, etc.

6

Stuff I overlooked when moving into the dorm:

Cooking utensils (turned out to be OK cause we can borrow them from our dorm’s front desk)
Can opener
Dish brushes
Dish soap
A good supply of batteries
Organizers
Coffee/tea creamer

(Woah! A “duvet” is a bed? Is this British English or have I just missed out on this word?)

7

In American English, it’s like a bedspread or comforter. You can buy slipcovers to change the color/pattern of it.

8

Tools. A hammer, a wrench, pliers, a measuring tape.

9

Pack one special large box or two or three small ones that are marked to distinguish them from all of the rest. In those boxes you will want to put things that you will need as soon as you get there. Suggestions:

  1. Cleaning rags
  2. Cleaners, dusting sprays, dish soap, bath soap, shampoo, etc.
  3. a radio or other source of music
  4. sheets, covers and pillows for the bed
  5. something to sleep in or a robe
  6. other bedtime needs
  7. alarm clock
  8. two glasses, two bowls, two plates, two sets of silverware
  9. toliet paper
  10. fresh clothes for Day #2
  11. marker, pen, or pencil and paper
  12. trash bags
  13. two bath towels and two hand towels
  14. a roll of paper towels
  15. any medications you will need to take
  16. books to read or something to do to relax
  17. something for sore muscles
  18. one pot, one frying pan, one baking sheet
  19. can opener
  20. canned food, peanut butter, bread, soup, saltines, sandwich stuff, snacks, fruit, cheese, milk, beer, coke, eggs

If you don’t already have them, along the way you will probably need two pairs of scissors – one for cutting fabric and one for cutting paper and other stuff. A bottle of strong glue is good. An assortment of batteries. Candles and flashlights (torches?). Matches or a lighter.

As a woman, I have found that a hat with a broad and flexible brim comes in handy when living in close quarters or driving long distances. It is my way of making my own space when I am angry or just needing time alone. (I think my husband uses huge black sunglasses (that make him look like an ant) for the same purpose.

Unpack these boxes first. Turn on the radio. Put away items needing refrigeration and make up the bed.

Then celebrate all day! Congratulations on your new life together! Keep your sense of humor, especially while you are arguing!

10

Oh, another one: fuses and/or fuse wire. I had a bulb blow, taking with it the entire lighting fuse, two days after moving in. Which also reminds me, get a torch!

11

And candles. In case the power goes out or you just feel in the mood.

Bamboo skewers. the longer, the better. Odd? Nope. They’re great for cleaning drains. Break off the sharp tip of one and put the ragged end down there. Twist and pull, twist and pull. Any hair down there will become entangled and easy to pull out. Grimy gunk can be cleaned out too. Beats chemical cleaners by a long shot for most clogs and is a heck of a lot cheaper too.

12

As a single chap (geek), my furniture needs were simpler than yours.

  • bed
  • TV
  • TV chair
  • computer
  • computer desk
  • computer chair

One of my School colleagues heard about this, and now I am (anonymously) an example of our Social Studies course! :eek:

13

P.S. If buying candles, get matches.

14

You’ll find out as you go along.

15

A good fire extinguisher.
Trash bags.
Know where your fuses/circuit breakers are.
A box of baking soda for the fridge.

16

A powerboard.

17

Help an American… What is a powerboard?

And a house isn’t a home if you don’t have a sledgehammer! What do you need it for? Well, you just never know when something will need smashing.

18

Francesca already mentioned she has a corkscrew :smiley:

Has anyone mentioned a stepladder yet? Even the ones that have three steps which swing out from under a stool are useful.

19

I am 4ft10. I have a Box. It is a plastic box on which I stand if I need to do things at normal height. Anything higher is a Tall Person’s job.

Thanks for all the suggestions, they are very useful. I have almost all the kitchen stuff I need. But - toilet paper! I had forgotten that! Also, a screwdriver. Good idea.

20

Speaking of toilet paper, I am not comfortable if I don’t have at least one unopened six pack of toilet paper in the pantry. If I get down to the last unopened one, I must go buy more. Never give out of toilet paper.

You should get a crock pot, if such things are used in England. You may know it as a slow cooker. Those things are wonderful for soups, stews, roasts, etc. cause you can let em cook all day and voila! dinner is ready at night. I loves my crock pot and my roaster ovens.