Items to register for at a home center
Compiled from discussions on misc.consumers.house.
Couples who find china and silver a mismatch for their lifestyle--or who
would like to include items which may appeal more to a male--may consider
registering at a home and garden center. The following list of items was
taken from a thread in misc.consumers.house on items "essential for new
home owners." While some couples may first live in an apartment or may
have purchased a home together before their marriage, many will find this
list a good starting point for general household items if they are just
starting out. (A basket filled with a number of the smaller items makes
a great "couples shower" gift.) Of course, there is little of romantic
value on this list, but, from a practical standpoint, it's easy to find
items which fit a range of budgets. Adapt and modify as needed.
- Extremely Essential
- Book on home repair/how to
- Assortment of washers, bolts
- Bucket(s), for water leaks.
- Cleaning supplies (mop/broom/dustpan)
- Combination square
- Crescent wrench (large and small)
- Drill or drill-driver with a 3/8" chuck and variable speed
(cord/cordless is your choice)
- Drywall screws (good for lots of things)
- Duct tape--quick fix for water leaks.
- Electric screwdriver with a drill attachment
- Electrical tape
- Extension cord (indoor)
- Extension cord (long outdoor-rated)
- Fire extinguisher
- First aid kit
- Flashlight
- Gardening gloves / knee pad
- Garbage can
- Hacksaw
- Hammer (16 oz)
- Hand saw
- Hatchet
- Hose with a sprinkler and nozzle attachments
- Leaf rake
- Monkey wrench
- Needle nose pliers
- Pipe wrench
- Plastic wall anchors and matching screws
- Pliers (large and small) or longnose vise-grips
- Plunger (plumbers helper)
- Pruning shears.
- Rake (1 leaf rake, 1 with metal tines)
- Screwdrivers (six or eight of assorted sizes, both phillips and slotted)
- Set of bits (fractional in 1/16" steps to 3/8")
- Shovel (dirt)
- Smoke detectors
- Snow shovel
- Tape measure
- Toggle bolts (for the wall anchors that get pulled out)
- Tool box
- Trowel
- Twine/ 1/8" cord
- Weeding tool
- Not essential, but nice to have
- AC socket tester
- Axe
- Can of silicon spray lubricant
- Circular saw
- Closet organizers
- Curtain rods
- De-icing salt
- Door mats
- Drop light
- Drop spreader (seed, fertilizer)
- Fire ladder
- Hoses (1 per 5000 sf lawn is nice)
- Keyhole saw (only had my house 2 yrs, used it 3 times)
- Level
- Multi-meter (a little more useful than AC tester)
- Paint roller with handle extension
- Paintbrush & spare paint that matches your walls
- Paintbrushes, (couple of sizes)
- Plastic dropcloths, masking tape, spackling compound, and roller
covers for paint jobs
- Putty knives (1.5" and 4" should take care of most jobs)
- Skill saw
- Snow shovel (unless you live in florida or texas or ca)
- Square
- Stepladder
- Storage shelving unit (freestanding to move when you do)
- Square
- Wheelbarrow
- Wire cutter/stripper
- Wood filler / patching compound