As per the title. Have been renting so I have all the essential things (fridge, bed, tv etc) but as I’m about to move into my first home, I’d like to hear about your household items that seem non-essential but now you’d highly recommend to others? I guess it’s a bit of a celebratory housewarming present to myself…
Eg. Airfryer. (I already have one but this is a non-essential item which is more of a “nice to have/make life easier” item)
CCTV
4 cameras at least
Fleshlight
A sovereign flag and a flag pole
Cleaners and or gardeners.
Get a gym mat if you're going to do dead lift at 4am.
4am! Don't be a jerk and wait until at least 430am!
On a serious note, what is the go to pots and pans suggestions from ozbargainers? Imagine I want to chuck everything and start again….but I don't want to spend $1000!
Specifically fry pans…I find pots last fine,but frypans, saute pans really seen to battle!
Lodge cast iron
Cast iron is great for proteins, but I wouldn't recommend someone mass-buy Lodge pans just because they get upvoted on Ozbargain. They actually need more work than nonstick, take longer to heat, are harder to clean, and frankly overkill for things like eggs.
Specifically fry pans
I use a Scanpan "Impact" stainless steel frypan. There's a bit of an initial learning curve but once you get the hang of it, it becomes non-stick. The "non-stick" plastic coating Teflon varieties peel off and it costs to replace again and again.
With stainless steel: hot pan (but not too hot), cold oil.
Yeah, I've always been worried that for things like eggs they will stick…we do a lot of eggs!
Yes, they stuck a lot at first! I'm not sure if the pan became seasoned over time or I just got the hang of it, but eggs fry just fine and slide right off now.
Ikea have a range of excellent stainless steel pans - sensuell
Cast iron - wait for aldi sale, or create a camel watch for lodge pans on amazon (goes on sale often)
Will have a look at the ikea stuff.
A family member has had the same set of Scanpan stuff for probably close to 15 years and it looks pretty much brand new. I assume it must be anodised in some form since it looks like it's non stick,but no issues with any coating.
Solidteknics AUS-ION cast iron pans. They're much more expensive than Lodge, but are lighter and Australian made. We've just got the biggest 35cm pan and use it all the time, it's awesome. Will hopefully never buy a pan again :)
Air Conditioning, refrigerated not this air to air evap sh!t.
Heated towel rails, great when there is no natural light in your bathroom.
If you've got a walk in pantry or a pantry that opens with shelves you can leave appliances sitting on, extra power points in the pantry to plug things in so you can hide the clutter.
(if its a toaster or something that gets hot think about the shelves above as not to burn anything.
Good lighting, automation of lighting where possible.
CCTV covering boundaries or entry \ exits.
Decent security doors.
Heated mirror in bathroom.
What's your lifestyle, preferences and budget?
I think an easy purchase is house decor that makes the home feel like "yours." Or something you've been eyeing for a while but didn't think it worthwhile to buy when renting. What item is on your wishlist?
A large Penthouse calendar, somewhere in the kitchen or living room.
Wall hanging mirror (it will brighten your room up and make it feel more spacious)
Art work, painting or nicely framed photo - it will make it more like your home.
Espresso machine
Congrats champ, exciting times ahead.
Undersink garbage disposal system - dunno why this isn't a given in most Aussie homes like in the States
how do you get this installed though?
comes with instructions, or call a plumber if you're not confident doing it yourself
And a spare broom handle for when someone drops chicken bones or something in it.
They used to be common in the 1990s until people realised they’re disgusting, they stink and they inevitably stop working when people just never replace them.
Insinkerator.
They install these in new apartments where I am. We always get complaints about jamming, and after a couple of years they just rust and stop working altogether. After the warranty period of course.
Interesting to note these are illegal in Western Australia.
170L stand up freezer
Cost like 70 per year to run
Amount of affordable groceries, extra food I store there
Save me up some money
Solar Panel + Hot water tank + Solar Paladin controller (google it)
Save you loads on electricity bill
Ikea Applaro outdoor lounge - such a great investment for lazy Sunday afternoons or general outdoor relaxing. Basic study design but its super comfy (have had a few naps on this)
https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/aepplaroe-modular-corner-sofa-3…
A harem can liven up a home.
Simplehuman rubbish bin
A nice comfortable chair or couch.
BBQ, coffee machine and/or plant something in the garden.
And congrats mate, it's an awesome feeling to call a place "home".
Electric instant hot water system (eg. Stiebel)
Central AC with as many zones you can get.
Network ports in each room.
Smart lighting.
Smart garage door opener.
Robot vacuum.
Maid.
Pinterest app
Solar Panel!
It will pay for itself in 5 years
good quality speakers, you'll come to love your music more and also improve tv / movie experience
Double glazed windows
Minimalism is a nice to have
Trying not to double post what has already been mentioned…
Alarm you can operate remotely
Place for a spare key
Fire pit
Storage area for shoes and bags
Garage storage / shed
Lawnmower and garden tools
Big Shed
Swimming pool
Nah. I actually avoid buying houses that have swimming pool; wasting Too much space, too much to maintain, and less to gain/actually using it.
Decent Swim spa seems like a better investment, 15k. Costco these days change 5k for a normal spa installed
House or apartment (or others)?
A Gumtree account to sell off the excess door mats received after the house warming party.
Weight rack plus equipment for deadlifts. Nothing better than an early morning work out - most people agree any time after 4:30am is fair to start, helps to encourage the neighbours to have a healthier lifestyle too.
I understood that reference
I am getting attic storage installed soon. Attic ladder + 12sqm storage platform ~$1800.
link?
My parents just had this installed by the same company. Good system, good price and opens up heaps of space for seasonal things that you don't need often…We'll definitely get one in our place
My most used cooking appliance at the moment is my instant pot, easy clean up, it's quick and they seem to come up for sale on Amazon pretty often.
instant pot sounds like a household essential.
I’ve been looking at getting an instantpot! Is this the best brand for pressure cookers? Costco sells this for $199: https://www.costco.com.au/Kitchen-Laundry-Appliances/Cooking…
I don't know if it's the best one but it works really well. I paid 189 for the 5.7L version without sous vide and i think the time it's saved has more than paid for itself.
I'm vegetarian so I'm not sure about cooking meat in it, I mainly make curries, pasta, risotto, rehydrate beans, and make yoghurt in it
There's heaps of recipe websites for them.
A swimming pool and if you have room, a pony.
+1 for pony
Security cameras
First of All congratulations. It's a great feeling getting your own home.
Things I can recommend:
1. A drill set
2. A screw driver & pliers set (Supercheap sells those kits for around $70)
3. Security cameras (If not already there)
4. A good WiFi modem
5. Get a shed
6. A good vacuum cleaner
7. Solar Panels with government rebate (If in VIC)
8. Extra power points for charging devices.
9. Create a study room/nook for peace of mind reading
10. Shoe cabinet to put in garage
11. A non stick pan set (Go for good quality ones)
12. Electric blanket for bed & electric throw for couches to reduce electricity & gas bills.
If you have cold hard floors like tiles, I'd recommend a nice wool rug! Great when you go barefoot on the couch and just adds a snuggly touch
AEG impact driver skins and a few batteries. I got stuck in the ozito pxc range, but regret not getting a better brand. I'd also get a petrol pressure washer if you have concrete or a deck…
irobot i7+, irobot braava jet m6
Does this mop and go up stairs?! I have 3 floors… lol
Sex
Robot Vaccum for sure!
Why not just buy proper system if spending over 1k on google tech.?
https://www.proacousticsusa.com/brands/bose/bose-commercial.…
A few reasons:
1) the link you sent over is based in the US.
2) you might not be able to wire it affordably
3) google products are cheaper than 1k
4) google tech isn't limited to only speakers. If you get the items with a screen you can cast to it as well, photo albums etc.
5) Google Nest devices can be used in room isolation as well as around the house so it might be better suited for some. You can also move it in and out of rooms as needed. If you're moving houses, it's cheaper to move it where if it's built in it stays with the house.
I'm not against proper built in systems, just those were my reasons for going with google vs built in.
Pressure cooker
Smarten everything
- lights
- plugs
- garage
- curtains
- windows/doors
- cameras
- door locks
- temp sensor
- AC
- water sensor
Also, heated floors, both tiles and timber floors, just like in Korea
Heated bathroom floors are just waste of money. Most people put mats anyway which traps heat. We almost scammed by our builder for an upgrade.
I think it depends where you live and how you do it. With a new build (in a cold city) with a decent heat pump HWS, circulating hot water to heat the floors, and solar power to keep usage down, it's almost a crime to not do it!
A new good wife
Where do you buy one of those? And can you get cashback?
Afghanistan, no Cashback unfortunately.
Get a spare key lock that can be mounted in a safe place that you just use a code to retrieve. Perfect if you lock yourself out! That and a smart lock for the front door so all you need are your car keys, perfect! Highly recommend solar as well.
Sonos speakers
Rugs and things to hang on walls in places of the house that have cold echoey acoustics. And lamps in places that feel poorly lit.
A set of tools that include…
a step ladder
gaffer tape
screw drivers
hammer
stud/pipe finder
work gloves
an entry level cordless drill
and a collection of different sized screws and nails.
I can't tell you how frustrating it was the first few months when we moved into our first house - light bulb change? Sure I'll stand on that rickety dining chair. Hang that picture? Fingers crossed I don't go through the gyprock. Pipe dripping? Gaffer the bugger until the plumber/you fix it.
Oh the other thing we did wrong, we bought a giant TV to celebrate moving in and the damn thing was too big for our tv area.
Step ladder is a good buy. I bought a 3 step from bunnings for $50, and it's been so handy, especially if you high ceiling
Trees, plants and flowers top of the list.
Playstation 5
If you can DIY certain things a good set of all purpose tools.
Screw drivers, drill / impact, safety gear, a 3 or more step ladder, multi meter, stud finder, hammer and a mallot, pocket knife… you get the idea. You’d be surprised how useful they are in years to come. For seldom use don’t need to spend a fortune on cordless models.
but I love my cordless drill!
I didnt mean it’s a bad investment. I said don’t stress over it if you can’a afford. Because here is my thinking, batteries will degrade over time. If you’re using the drill or driver just couple of times a year, it won’t make sense for additional investment.
Corded on the other hand, anytime ready to go.
A whiskey cabinet and some nice whiskeys for an occasional tipple
Replace your old TV with a massive big screen TV. If you wanna enjoy your house you should find reason to stay inside and enjoy it. I bought an 82" wall mounted on a feature wall and loving it especially we're at home more often than not.
Other things I agree with are smart lights. My whole house is fitted out with smart Zigbee downlights. Full RGBW and voice controlled on Google home hub. It's amazing how many households are stuck with either cool white or warm colours. I like cool white during the day as warm can be depressing but at night I prefer warmer colours to relax and chill out, white is too clinical. If i leave lights on downstairs, i don't need to run down just to turn it off, I can tell google or siri to turn it off. I can never go back to traditional lighting.
Other recommendation is Solar. I should've gotten onto this much sooner. You start seeing your return on investment the day it starts producing solar for you. I had mine installed just before winter and my first quarterly bill came back in $83 credit.
Maybe look into SONOS for wifi home audio. You can connect it to audio streaming sources like Spotify/Tidal etc, plus internet radio and many others. Also has voice commands. Also if you have an offline music library somewhere on your network.
The mobile app is great too
The SONOS One is the most basic around ~$240. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative I have also heard of people using Yamaha Wifi speakers
This is on my list already! Thanks
Robot lawn mower
If you qualify for the vic solar rebate then i would definitely be getting some solar panels installed. The system ends up being around 3 years payback then its free electricity after that so worth putting in as soon as possible to maximise the benefits.
You trying to keep up with the Joneses, to have an OzB decked out place?
"Hey neighbor, I got the same things as you, but at OzB price!"
Under sink water filter. I should have installed it years earlier! Chlorine has never tasted the same since.
Solar panels & solar hot water. These things pay themselves off, so worth the extra $$$ on the loan up front.
Things we use EVERYDAY and love
Powered Blinds. Can get expensive, but really love these. If you don't have them, you probably don't see the point. Once you do, you use them all the time. eg I can ask Alexa to open all the blinds in the morning, and close them at night. Lovely to have the natural light in all the rooms.
Zip tap - We just have the chilled filtered water version because we drink lots of water. (We didn't get the boiling water version, just the chilled water). Don't have to remember to put water in the fridge, and don't lose fridge space. Also Didn't like the fridges with chilled water and ice. Used to have one, but after a few years the ice and water started to taste strange.
Other Things we Love.
Or even use a Vegepod for herbs and small veggies, strawberries etc. https://vegepod.com.au
Pizza oven. I got this one cheaper when it launched, I love it. https://au.gozney.com/products/roccbox
Lenovo Alarm Smart Clocks with Phillips Hue lights. Perfect because you can leave your phone outside your room, and dim the lights with your voice as you go to sleep.
Perfect because you can leave your phone outside your room, and dim the lights with your voice as you go to sleep.
Google listens to your nightmares
Yes, it's more versatile and can cook more when you have guests over.