My brother and SIL just closed on their house! It's a new construction and currently no grass and he is required to start on the grass within 3 months, so I got him a seeder and garden hoses. (I didn't get the seed since I know there's special kinds and wasn't sure what he wanted.)
My other sisters are trying to figure out what they should get them.
Are there any gifts that you want and don't want? I'm sure gift cards to Home Depot would be nice but gift cards can be so impersonal.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@littlebug: Oh, wine fridge. Nice! What about a chest freezer? My SIL mentioned wanting to get one, but I wonder if it's better for her to pick it out herself, since there are different sizes.
pear / 1998 posts
We built our home after we were engaged and before we were married.
I did not want picture frames or home decor. I had a ton already and prefer to shop on my own for that kind of stuff.
We lived in an apartment, so garden tools were appreciated. Lawn games were a good gift, as were BBQ tools.
Cash and gift cards were, of course, very nice but less personal.
Wine and alcohol was a popular housewarming gift.
Large plastic tubs or organizational baskets and stuff would be really practical.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
my friend and her dh just closed on their first house and we're going to gift them a gift card to lowes/home depot since they have a bunch of reno's to do!
coconut / 8079 posts
Grilling/patio stuff? We just bought a house in Oct and I am most excited about finally having our own outdoor space this summer.
Or maybe some plants?
honeydew / 7091 posts
WINE!
But more practical... New construction so they probably don't have any/many plants? But those might be personal preference. Hmmm... that's a tough one because there are SO many things. A gift card would just be easiest.
Related to yard work, when we first moved in we needed: Wheelbarrow, shovel, rake, spade, gardening buckets, plant clippers, heavy duty gloves
pomelo / 5220 posts
I would have liked a lowes/home depot gift card too! If they wanted to personalize it they could get some seed packets to start a garden or some flower bulbs to add to the yard - its not expensive and shows a bit of thoughtfulness 
cantaloupe / 6869 posts
Gift cards. We got several to Home Depot, Target, and Bed, Bath & Beyond and they were appreciated so much!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@bluestriped bee: chest freezer > wine fridge. We have a wine fridge and wish daily we had a chest freezer. Sigh. Stupid registry item.
coconut / 8430 posts
Lawn mower
Hedge trimmer
Edger
Hand tools (for planting bulbs, weeding)
Shovel
Those would all be useful for a new homeowner.
pomegranate / 3917 posts
Gift cards to Home Depot or Lowe's were amazing, I always made a point to let gifter know what we ended up getting with it! We have done two new build's now and those were so great, as there is just so much to do after closing with a new build!
I'm picky with decor and not a huge drinker, so that stuff was "eh" to me. I loved getting perennials for the garden (someone severed me a ton of hosta's) as garden stuff is so expensive, but such a nice treat to receive part of someone else's garden or a perennial as a gift that can start potted and then transfer into garden!
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
I agree with Lawn games, a patio set (even just chairs and a small table like bistro set), and other gardening tools (sheers, etc).
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
Gift card to home improvement store or a decorating store like Crate & Barrel, Pier 1, etc.
Wine or alcohol if they like that or a wine chiller/accessories
Grill/ grilling utensils and cover
Flowers/succulents
A gift basket of home improvement tools like extension cords, power surges, extra light bulbs, some cleaning supplies,
honeydew / 7504 posts
@mediagirl: Depends on your needs. As someone who doesn't buy a lot of stuff in bulk and doesn't hunt and had plenty of room in my normal freezer for my BM stash, I would have no use for a chest freezer. Whereas a wine fridge gets tons of use at my house.
persimmon / 1385 posts
Gift cards for home improvement store for sure. I felt like we were hemorrhaging money after closing on our house!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@littlebug: yep, everyone has different needs, that is true.
pomegranate / 3983 posts
If we ever move into a bigger place I would love a chest freezer. I like all the gardening ideas people had. Or if you know their taste something like an area rug?
honeydew / 7916 posts
We would have loved gift cards with maybe a smaller more personal touch like an indoor plant or something that isn't as dependent on individual taste!
pear / 1998 posts
@spaniellove: We got a big houseplant from our friends and it looks great and is going strong 2+ years. Good suggestion.
nectarine / 2358 posts
@bluestriped bee: I would love gift cards to home improvement stores! You can never have enough!
cantaloupe / 6751 posts
Gift card to Lowes or Home Depot would have been most helpful. We needed like blinds and garage door opener so ended up spending a ton of money at those stores.
Gardening items, a nice vacuum (if it's carpet), patio set, maybe a storage shelf solution for the garage...
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
Outside tools (shovel, big broom, etc), bird feeder, IOU to help with yard work,
apricot / 355 posts
We closed on our house in early spring and one friend brought over this cute little potted plant with a bunch of $5 Lowe's gift cards tied to the branches. It was $30-40 total, and super cute presentation. We were able to put the plant in the yard and it's still doing well 5 years later.
pomegranate / 3053 posts
I think gift cards are actually okay. Better to get something you want than something you don't. I don't mind it at all. At least you already got them something practical. I'm all for practical!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
$. Seriously I'd prefer that over "stuff". My one brother gifted us a TV for the living room. The other gifted us a new fridge. My mom gifted us a living room set. We picked it out ourselves and then then they paid for it.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
Def giftcards. When we closed and began renovations, it took a while to figure out exactly what I wanted and I would want to pick them out myself, so gift cards would come in SO handy! Maybe you can give the gift card along with a HGTV (or related) magazine for inspirations!
pear / 1837 posts
Gift cards or a month or two of house cleaning. We didn't build but bought an older house that had been empty for a while- needed cleaning before we moved in.
grapefruit / 4649 posts
If they are going to several more bathrooms maybe practical stuff like toilet brushes, waste baskets, soap dispensers or just cute hand soap and hand towels. I couldn't believe how much we spent stuff.
I love the gardening stuff idea though, I would have thrilled!
apricot / 498 posts
We bought our house in June. In the idea of something you may not by yourself but be helpful: a leaf blower, a snow blower, new closet doors, closet organizers (the installed kind), offer to pay 1 room's worth of crown molding, a tree for the yard, rain barrel, or a composter.
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