Housewarming Gifts They'll Actually Use (From a Portland Realtor)
Updated: 6 days ago
At every closing, I hand my buyers their keys and a short list of what to do in the first week. It's the stuff nobody puts on a moving checklist, and it's what I'd want a friend to know.
If you're shopping for someone who just bought in the Portland area, here's that list, with a gift that makes each task easier.
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Tucking a card in with your gift? Add my free Portland Fall Home Checklist. It's a one-page plan for their first rainy season.
1. Change the locks
Previous owners, their contractors, cleaners and neighbors may all still have a key. I tell every buyer to rekey or replace the exterior locks the first day, and to reset the garage door codes too.
The gift: a wall key holder by the door, so the new keys have one home from day one. Check today's price on Amazon. Not ready yet? Add it to your cart so it's waiting when you are.
2. Test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm
Oregon requires sellers to have working smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms if the home has a gas appliance or fireplace. Working doesn't mean new. Check the date on the back, since smoke alarms should be replaced about every 10 years.
The gift: a Kidde fire extinguisher set. One for the kitchen, one for the garage. Check today's price on Amazon. Not ready yet? Add it to your cart so it's waiting when you are.
3. Find the water shut-off and the breaker panel
Find them before the first leak, not during it. Walk the house, locate the main water shut-off, the gas meter and the electrical panel, and label the breakers while the house is still quiet.
The gift: a real home tool kit for the labels, the curtain rods and the first loose hinge. Check today's price on Amazon. Not ready yet? Add it to your cart so it's waiting when you are.
4. Put the utilities in their name
Electric here is usually PGE or Pacific Power, gas is NW Natural, and water and sewer depend on the city or district. Confirm the providers for the exact address and set service to start on closing day, so nothing lapses.
The gift: Kasa smart plugs. By November it's dark before 5, and a lamp on a schedule makes a new house feel lived in. Check today's price on Amazon. Not ready yet? Add it to your cart so it's waiting when you are.
5. Know when property taxes are due
Oregon's property tax year runs July 1 to June 30. Bills go out in late October and are due November 15. Paying the full year by then earns a 3% discount, or 2% if you pay two-thirds.
This year November 15 lands on a Sunday, so the due date moves to Monday, November 16. If your lender escrows taxes, they'll pay it, but check your closing statement to see what was prorated. Your county tax office has the details for your address.
6. Get ready for the rain
Clean the gutters and downspouts before the heavy rain starts, keep storm drains near the house clear of leaves, and set up a landing spot for wet boots so the new floors stay nice.
The gift: a coco coir doormat that catches the mud before it comes inside. Check today's price on Amazon. Not ready yet? Add it to your cart so it's waiting when you are.
7. Celebrate the first night
The first dinner in a new kitchen matters, even if it's takeout on the counter.
An acacia cutting board for the first meal in. Check today's price on Amazon. Not ready yet? Add it to your cart so it's waiting when you are.
An electric wine opener for the first toast, since the corkscrew is always in the last box. Check today's price on Amazon. Not ready yet? Add it to your cart so it's waiting when you are.
A Home Sweet New Home ornament for a holiday housewarming. My clients tell me it comes out every December. Check today's price on Amazon. Not ready yet? Add it to your cart so it's waiting when you are.
You can see all eight picks together in my Amazon storefront, under Holiday Gift Guides.
For a friend who's still mid-move
My Move + Settle-In Planner keeps the move, the utilities, the address changes and that first week in one place. It's the planner I wish every buyer had before closing day.
More for new homeowners:
Know someone who just closed? Send them this. And if they have a first-week question, I'm always happy to help.
-Cindy
Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, including Amazon links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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