The holidays are a great time to help new homeowners with thoughtful gifts, but the best gifts for new homeowners may not be what you think.
The best gifts for new homeowners may not be what you think.
Everyone has their own idea of what a friend or family member will need once they buy their first house, but it’s important to consider things like their taste, space, and actual needs after moving into a home.
The holidays are a great time to help new homeowners with thoughtful gifts.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re picking out housewarming gifts. Since you’re spending your hard-earned dollars, it’s understandable that you want to get it right. Plus, giving a gift that doesn't hit the mark is also a burden on the new homeowner.
“You don’t want to give a gift that someone doesn’t want or will use,” says Kirsten Jordan, a real estate broker and cast member of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing New York. “A gift can become a burden, especially if someone feels obligated to use it or figure out where to donate it.”
To ensure you give something that your friend or family member will truly appreciate, here’s a guide on what to buy — and not to buy — new homeowners this holiday season.
The best housewarming gifts are often unique to the homeowner, but if you’re stumped, these ideas are always winners — and they’re actually things new homeowners need.
David Morales, licensed real estate agent at Lou Morales Realty, says indoor plants have become a huge trend, and they’re great for brightening up a house. Plants make nice holiday gifts because the lush green of a succulent or another easy-to-care-for plant can be especially friendly to see on cold winter days.
Morales suggests avoiding potentially dangerous plants such as cacti (on which people can prick their fingers) or ones that have cultural taboos when kept indoors.
Zina Kumok, a financial coach at ConsciousCoins.com, also suggests buying plants that aren’t potentially toxic to pets, so there’s no risk to animals in the new homeowner’s place.
Moving homes is hard enough, but then you have to deep clean your old and new houses on top of it. Offering to pay for a cleaning service for either the new or previous home can save your friend or family member a lot of time and money.
Plus, Tana Williams at DebtFreeForties.com says new homeowners “will be so busy packing and cleaning their previous household that they'll be less likely to do so at the new place.” Paying for a thorough cleaning will make the new place that much more welcoming and relaxing for them to settle in.
These gifts may be especially useful for homeowners moving into an older home, since it’s easy to gloss over this seemingly minor, but actually quite important, maintenance task.
Admittedly, footing the bill for a duct cleaning or other mundane household expense doesn’t feel like a particularly exciting holiday gift to give, but remember that you’ll be helping your loved one settle into a clean and stable home.
Jen Smith, host of the Frugal Friends Podcast, suggests getting gift cards to the closest home improvement store, as these are usually much needed. “When we first bought our home, we had no idea how many little things we needed to buy,” she says. “A gift card can offer a sigh of relief the next time your friends need to touch up paint or replace a gasket.”
It can also give them a boost toward trying their hand at a DIY project they’ve daydreamed about doing once they were no longer renting.
“Due to the emergence of DIY shows and home improvement shows on TV, many first-time homebuyers will want to tackle small projects to put their own personal touch on their new home,” says Joe Pessolano, a branch sales manager with Fairway. “Providing a gift card helps offset the expense of small projects and still allows the recipient to customize their purchase.”
It may sound cliché, but buying a meal or a gift card to a new homeowner’s favorite restaurant can make a massive difference, especially during the intensity of a home move. Not having to cook amid moving, or frantically unpack your kitchen to throw something together for dinner, can be a big stress reliever. This is especially true if they’re moving around the holidays, when they’re unpacking, decorating, and hosting all at the same time.
Anne Keery, owner and gifting expert at UniqueGifter.com also suggests local coffee shop gift cards, so homeowners will feel like part of the community faster when they have an excuse to get out and explore.
Consider items such as tickets to a sporting event or local attraction. Jordan suggests giving your loved ones an experience the recipient wouldn’t normally take themselves to. Think a high-end dinner, tickets to a major concert, or even a spa package at a luxury wellness center in the area. That’s a nice way to encourage them to get out and make memories in their new city or neighborhood.
Items such as your friend’s favorite craft beverage, a fancy bottle of olive oil, or coffee beans from a local business can make great holiday gifts for new homeowners.
“Sometimes homeowners can have so many physical items that getting one more gift can be a pain, especially if you're a minimalist,” says Kumok. “It's also much easier to unpack a bottle of wine than it is to find a place to put a serving bowl.”
There are gifts that may seem fun or useful, but which don’t actually get used. Worse yet, the new homeowners may appreciate the thought but wish the giver had given a gift card or something more practical instead.
With that in mind, here are some gifts to steer clear of for new homeowners:
It’s tough to buy for someone else’s tastes, which is why these gifts can be a miss. Morales said he hears a lot of complaints from homeowners about how they don’t enjoy receiving these types of gifts. Unless you’re 100% sure your friend will like it, you’re better off skipping these in favor of something more immediately useful.
Avoid decor like art, vases, throw pillows, and display items, unless the new homeowner specifically mentioned one they wanted. Keery says that decor can be extremely personal, so it’s hard to hit the mark with these types of gifts.
Even seemingly helpful items such as a cheese board or cutting board, wine glasses, or a coaster set can sit collecting dust if the homeowner already has these or you buy ones that don’t suit their tastes.
A monthly delivery of a subscription box filled with snacks or wellness goodies may seem fun, but these can quickly create clutter if they’re not the kinds of items the homeowner normally likes to have on hand. Kumok suggests steering clear of subscription boxes unless the homeowner mentions that they love getting them and you know you can find one with a theme that they’ll like.
Items like furniture or items where someone needs to put it together could add additional stress after someone moves. Williams points out new homeowners are still trying to figure out where everything they already own belongs, so piling on more stuff isn't as thoughtful as you think it may be.
Related reading: Young Homeowners Are Keen on Green Remodeling. Here’s How to Get Started
What is the best gift for housewarming?
The best housewarming gift is one that a new homeowner will love and use. For instance, if the new homeowner loves drinking coffee and their coffee maker broke during the move, you can purchase a new one as a gift.
Thoughtful holiday gifts for new homeowners would take into consideration how stressful this time of the year can be and seek to ease their transition, such as homemade meals so they don’t have to cook, gift cards to home improvement stores, and tickets to local holiday events so they can take a break from unpacking.
What do you buy a new house owner?
There aren’t set rules on what you should buy a new homeowner. Focus on practical gifts they can use immediately, such as gift cards, cleaning services, or gift certificates to local restaurants. If you know of something they want for their house but would not buy themselves, that can be a great gift to celebrate the purchase of their home. But if you’re not sure what they want or need, keep it simple with a nice house plant or consumable gifts, such as baked goods.
What is the traditional gift for a new home?
Here are a few items that have been historical housewarming gift traditions:
-Bread
-Broom
-Candle
-Coins
-Olive oil
-Pineapple
-Honey
-Houseplant
-Knife
-Rice
-Salt
-Sugar
-Wine
-Wood
Many of these would make great modern housewarming gifts as well. But whatever you give, keep the homeowners’ preferences and needs in mind. More likely than not, they’ll appreciate something practical that will make their move a little less stressful.
Doing online searches for gift ideas is fine, but the best way to give a truly great gift is to spend time noticing what your friend or family member likes.
For instance, take note of any comments of what the new homeowner likes about certain homes or what’s missing they’ll need to get after moving. Or if they give compliments — such as admiring your fancy pour over coffee machine — it could be a clue as to what they’d be happy to receive.
Choosing a gift for new homeowners can feel overwhelming, since you’re trying to strike a balance between your budget and someone else’s tastes and needs. But when in doubt, keep it simple, especially at the holidays. A platter of homemade cookies, a festive cake, or a nice set of coffee or hot chocolate can help them get in the spirit in their new home without further filling up their space.
And if you decide to buy something for their home, don’t stress too much. Perhaps Keery puts it best when she says, “At the end of the day, it’s the thought that counts.” Your friend or family member will appreciate that you were thinking of them as they settle into their new home.
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