Essentials For Moving From The City To The Suburbs
Photos by Gustavo Fring. This is an updated version of an article written by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason in 2023.
In their lives, many adults will experience the phenomenon of moving from a tiny apartment in the city to a sprawling property out in the suburbs. At first the change can be exciting. Suddenly you have an overwhelming amount of cabinet and storage space, never mind a whole pantry. These added perks of a home, while exciting, also make you realize that you have to be a lot more prepared. You’re no longer a step away from a bodega to pick up necessities. In many cases the nearest grocery store might be a 20 minute drive. Outside of the city, all of your necessities need to be in your home, but it can be difficult to know exactly what to buy. Luckily, this list is our top ten items that you never knew you needed when moving from the city to the burbs.
1. A Smart Washer and Dryer
Living in the city presents its own challenges, one of which is laundry. It is rare to find an apartment with an in-unit laundry, and many people resort to a service. Everything is done for you, with your clothes coming back clean and nicely folded, ready to go into drawers. After moving to the suburbs you may be tempted to look for the same kind of service, but you will quickly realize that amenities like that are limited in the burbs. Thus, your first week in your new home will require a large purchase, investing in both a washer and dryer, perhaps for the first time in your life. A lot of research comes alongside this purchase. Should you get gas or electric? Should it be one of those combo washer/dryer things? And how much should you budget for? For many people, the best answer is the Samsung smart washer and dryer. The set comes with high reviews, ease of use, good energy efficiency, and so much more. Smart technology protects clothes from heat damage, and its sanitization capabilities remove 95% of pollen. It is typically available to order online, and Home Depot offers services to remove the old washer in the house, installing the new one in no time. For new home-owners it is the perfect setup.
2. An All-Purpose Tool Set
When something breaks in your apartment you contact your landlord or go to an app and hire a tasker, and most things can be addressed same-day. When it’s your house, there are not a lot of people you can call. You’ll realize quickly that repair people are usually booked out weeks in advance in the suburbs and that the best task apps in the city don't have people available in your area. Instead, a really good toolkit becomes essential to fix things at home. The toolset from HOTO has everything you need to get started - a soft grip cordless drill to help get screws in and out quickly, a magnetic hammer, multipurpose screwdriver, and a host of other necessities, all come with a stylish and streamlined storage case.
3. A Steamer
Moving from the city to the burbs requires much more cleaning than expected. Suddenly you need to clean floors, upholstered furnishings, more than one bathroom, and several bedrooms. Those tiny little dusters will no longer do the trick. Investing in a steamer is a quick, portable, and healthy way to keep your home clean without using lots of harsh chemicals. You can use this portable one from Phueut to clean just about everything in your new house, from grout to grills, mattresses, toilets and carpet. It’s the multipurpose tool you can’t live without.
4. Light Bulbs
When did shopping for light bulbs get so hard? In the city, if a bulb blew out you could simply stop by the bodega and pick up a new one. When you become homeowners, suddenly, there are a lot more lights to deal with — outdoor lights for the deck and patio, hall lights, giant overhead lights in the basement, bathroom lights, and the list goes on. If you’re not prepared, your first time shopping for bulbs will be an hour spent in the hardware store with an extensive list of all of the different bulbs needed, going over the difference between warm bulbs that feel like natural light and cool bulbs that make things feel institutional, and all of the different codes for bases. To make things easy on yourself, identify all of the different bulbs you need, make a list of how many of each you’ll need, and invest in a few variety packs to get started.
5. Batteries
As a first-time homeowner you’ll find that you’ll need more batteries than you’re ever needed before — batteries for fire alarms on every floor, carbon monoxide monitors, holiday decorations, and remotes. This battery variety pack from Better Battery is helpful, as you’ll have access to several types — AAs, AAAs and 9Vs. Their carbon neutral batteries include a recycling program. Once you’ve used all your batteries, the spent ones can be placed in the original subscription box, you can print a shipping label from the Better Battery website and drop the box off at FedEx. The packaging and batteries will be fully recycled.
6. A Garden Hose
A new garden hose will likely not be at the top of your to-do list when you first move into your new home. But many months in, you may realize you have a big spill in your driveway, and absolutely no way to clean it. Unfortunately, garden hose season is not year-round, and you may find yourself with a sub-par hose. Instead of roughing it, use this expandable garden hose from TITAN. Lightweight and portable, with the ability to expand up to 100 feet, this all-purpose hose can clean up paint, be used to water the garden and clean the car.
7. An Indoor and Outdoor Broom
Oftentimes a home in the suburbs will come with lots of hardwood and tile floors making a broom a must. What you may not foresee is that you will need more than one — an indoor broom for all interior floors, and an outdoor broom for sweeping leaves and dirt from the patio and deck. Instead of plastic brooms that are likely to break within a year, opt for handmade brooms with natural wood and bristles that are built to last. The handcrafted Carlisle Broom is sure to get the job done.
8. A Snow Blower
While in the city your streets and sidewalks are often shoveled for you, you might quickly realize that the same cannot be said for the suburbs. Rather than breaking your back using a shovel every time it snows, invest in a snow blower. This electric one from Snow Joe is a great option. It has a long-lasting battery, and is lightweight allowing you to remove snow with ease.
9. A Fire Extinguisher
Making your home safe is something you really have to commit to. In an apartment, it’s the landlord or building manager who's responsible for keeping the building safe. When you move into your first home, safety is all on you. You need to make sure that rooms have monitors, alarms and fire extinguishers in place in case a fire breaks out. This extinguisher from First Alert is practical, safe and it looks pretty cool in pewter.
10. Flashlights
When you live in an apartment in a major city and the power goes out you know you can likely make it with the flashlight on your phone for a bit. But when you’re no longer on a major electrical grid, things are different. You could experience a power outage for a couple of hours or a couple of days if a big storm comes through. And you definitely want to have flashlights on hand in each room just in case. This spotlight flashlight is a modern lantern, allowing you to carry it easily. You can use it as a spotlight, a lantern, indoors or out, and it offers hours of continuous light.
