Is Renting Things for Your Home a Good Idea in Australia Is Renting Things for Your Home a Good Idea in Aus | Page 5

Many first-time home buyers, after weeks of waiting for mortgage approval and then signing piles and
piles of documents that nobody reads -- because if you don't sign, you don't get the loan -- might think a
major hurdle has passed when closing finally happens. However, that stuff is only the calm before the
storm. This is what really happens. With keys in your hot little hands, you open the front door to your
marvelous new home. You're both so excited. However, this is where you might stop dead in your tracks
to ask: "Why does the house look so bare?" Because that's when it may hit you that you have a lot of
shopping to do.
Things to Buy After Buying a Home
You probably have not thought about all the items you will need to buy for a new house that you did not
need in an apartment. This news comes as a shock to many first-time home buyers. So, if you've scraped
together your last two nickels to pay closing costs, here are ways you can save a little on some of your
new purchases:
Keys & Locks The first thing you should do is re-keyed or change your door locks. If the previous sellers
were like most people, the neighbors, friends and coworkers all might have a set of keys to your house.
Even new home builders give out keys to contractors. It's smart to change the locks and / or install
deadbolts. The easiest solution is to remove the locks from your doors and take them to your local
hardware store to re-key. You can buy all new locks, but that's expensive. Or, you can call a locksmith to
change the locks for you, which is cheaper than you may think. Then, think about a place to hide a key
so you won't get locked out of your house. Lawnmower unless you plan to hire a gardener or your yard
is filled with rocks or drought resistant vegetation; you will need to buy a lawnmower. Not surprisingly,
many new homes in California have no lawns. The back yards are dirt, which means new homeowners
here are forking out cash to lay sod or growing their own grass from seed. Consumer Reports publishes
reviews that are extremely helpful when comparing brands and will suggest a "Best Buy" in lawnmowers
for you. You can also search on Craigslist or in your local newspaper for used lawnmowers. Garden
Supplies Every home needs a garden hose. You can buy those at a low price, plus find adjustable sprayer