Top 5 Housewarming Gifts

It is just a part of life much like birthdays and retirement parties can you guess what it is?  If you guessed moving then you would be right.  From the time that you get that invitation to a friend or relative’s housewarming party, you might be met with both excitement and a bit of worry as you realize that you will have to buy something for the occasion.

Today must be your lucky day because we are going to take the guesswork out of buying housewarming gifts for you.  As an added bonus, we will let you know what you should avoid, too.

Small Kitchen Appliances 

Some of the best gifts that we have ever received as housewarming gifts were those that we end up using the most.  Point in case, our bread maker, which we use every few days to bake up a nice fresh loaf of bread.  Few things are more appreciated than those that we don’t have but that would make our lives easier!  From a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer to a toaster with four wide slices (for bagels, of course!) you can’t go wrong.  Don’t forget to get a gift receipt in case of duplicates!

Small Household Electronics

Gifts like the newest DVD player or a stereo system can be a great gift for a housewarming party.  These types of gifts are especially good for couples who have moved out of their parents home for the first time or those who have just recently become married and are starting out on their own.  Before you buy, make sure the recipient doesn’t already have when you are planning on purchasing!

Gourmet Gift Baskets

These are always a hit, especially in the middle of summer.  Depending on the company you choose, gourmet gift baskets can be customized and come in many shapes and sizes.  I’ve given gourmet gift baskets with some amazing BBQ utensils, BBQ sauces and a surprisingly delicious beer collection.  For the chef, there are plenty that have ready to make dips and marinades and if you’ve got a sweet tooth there are more that have cookies and other culinary delights.  You can’t go wrong with a gourmet gift basket, unless of course you’ve eaten halfway through it before the party even starts.

House Plants

Always a good option, especially if you live somewhere where vegetation might spruce up the place, like in a big city.  Remember to take into consideration though the fact that whoever is getting the gift might be allergic so ask in advance.  The best bets for houseplants are ones that require little to no maintenance, like a cactus. Obviously not a great choice if the family has little kids, but definitely a good starting point.  Perhaps something less prickly, like a fern?

While we are sure that our friends’ hearts were in the right place, we have consequently received some pretty horrible housewarmings gifts as well.  We were excited when a friend brought over a basket of home baked goodies, only to realize that they were well beyond being edible, not to mention rather, um, solid.  

The lovely garden gnomes that we got from a new neighbor were just too creepy to put in the garden, or anywhere for that matter.  When the neighbor asked where they were, we quickly told him that the dog had knocked them over and broken them.  Although this apparently prompted the neighbor to give us a new set the following year for Christmas, which are now proudly displayed under the back deck.

Nadia Sokoloff is the owner of BeGiftingBaskets.com, which offers corporate gift baskets and gourmet food gift baskets.