Top 10 essential gadgets every starter home should invest in

Purchasing your first home is a huge milestone in your life. But, after the initial stress of making the sale, you’ll then have the stress of furnishing it. However, other than the obvious furnishings – like a bed, table, sofa, and so on – there are a few items that are often overlooked but are no less essential to every modern home.

Of course, we are assuming that you already own a laptop, TV, and smartphone as it’s a no brainer that these gadgets are a must have for your new home. Other than that, here are 10 more essential gadgets that every starter home should invest in.

1. Electric Lighter

Whether you are fed up with throwing away disposable lighters or matches, or are looking for a more environmentally friendly way to light, electric lighters are a must have gadget. As well as reducing waste, they eliminate the need for the combustion of butane gas, which makes them much better for the environment, more convenient, and more cost effective than their alternatives.

For additional functionality or those hard-to-reach wicks that are always nipping at your fingertips, you can also get electric lighters that have a flexible end. These lighters can be easily bent into shape to ensure your fingers are as far away from the open flame as possible.

2. USB Charging Station

In such an increasingly digital world, there comes an increasing amount of devices. From tablets to phones, portable chargers, and more, one thing that they have in common is that they all need to be charged.

However, with so many devices, you might find yourself running out of plugs, or with a tangle of wires and devices cluttering your floor. Instead, you might invest in a USB charging station. These gadgets can help to organise all your devices and charge them simultaneously, which will ultimately make your life easier.

3. Microwave with Grill

It is likely that your starter home will already have all the basic kitchen essentials inbuilt, such as your oven and sink. However, it will be up to you to invest in white goods and gadgets – this means your fridge, freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, and microwave.

When it comes to microwaves, there are a wide range of models on the market to choose from. For added convenience, you might consider combination microwaves and microwaves with a grill setting. These additional features can make those mid-week meals quick, easy, and convenient.

4. Air Purifier

Having an air purification system in your home can boast a multitude of meaningful benefits. Particularly, purifying the air can help to reduce symptoms and triggers of allergies and asthma, reduce airborne dust and animal hair, and even potentially reduce the spread of airborne viruses.

There are three main types of air purifier you can choose from – filtered air purifiers, electrostatic air purifiers, and UV light air purifiers. Of these, the one commonly regarded as the safest and most eco-friendly are filtered air purifiers.

5. Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is another gadget that is often overlooked as an essential item. However, a dehumidifier can be super beneficial in reducing costs in the long run, and keeping your home healthy, making it an extremely worthwhile investment to consider.

Dehumidifiers suck damp air from the room, condensing the water, and blowing the drier air back out. This can help to reduce mould and mildew in your home, prevent any musty smells from building up, and can also speed up the drying of paint, which could be invaluable when decorating your starter home.

6. Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Your starter home will likely already have smoke detectors and fire alarms already installed. However, you can bolster the safety features with a handy carbon monoxide alarm. These devices will detect when the dangerous gas is present in the air, alerting you to the hazard as quickly as possible.

7. Smart Plugs

We have all been there – you set off for your holiday or arrive at work, and find yourself wondering “did I leave the light on?” To mitigate this, you will want to take a look at smart switches and smart plugs.

Smart plugs in particular are a fantastic investment as almost any device can be plugged into them, and then these devices can be switched on and off through a smartphone app. In fact, some smart plugs can be integrated into, and controlled through, the Google Home App.

8. Plug-In TV Casting Device

Perhaps you already have an old TV from when you were renting, or you only have the budget for a relatively standard TV – either way, it is likely that the TV in your starter home will not have any ‘Smart’ TV functionality or inbuilt streaming service applications. That said, this does not mean that you have to miss out on the convenience of these features.

Instead, you can invest in plug-in media receivers – such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku Streaming Stick, Google Chromecast, or Apple TV – that will allow you to cast your favourite shows from your phone to the TV, or log in to your trusty streaming services through an external device.

9. Security System

From video doorbells to intruder alarms, and even live-streaming CCTV, there are many different security devices available. The ones you choose depend entirely on your personal needs and requirements, and the area in which you live.

These devices can be combined to create a robust security system, which can also sometimes be controlled via an app on your smartphone.

10. Coffee Machine

If you have just invested in a starter home, the likelihood is that you’ll be looking to cut back on any non essential spending. That said, having a decent cup of coffee is a treat that’s worth having, even if you don’t have the cash to pop to your local cafe.

Whether you opt for a coffee filter, barista-style machine, or a one-cup coffee maker, this gadget will give you the much needed boost you will need to get through the week – and treat yourself occasionally too.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are numerous gadgets available to new homeowners, which can make the decision on what to buy a little confusing. However, by bearing in mind these 10 ideas, you will be able to make a more informed decision on what gadgets you really need in your starter home.