While some Americans are downsizing their lifestyle from expensive homes to cheaper apartments, what about upsizing? As the housing market rebounds, more people are thinking about buying their first home and saving up that 20 percent down payment.

Of course, there are a number of things that you may not be aware of when moving from an apartment to a full-sized home, much of which was likely taken care of by the management at your apartment complex. Whether you are buying or renting your first full-size home, here’s exactly what you should be ready for:

The NeverEnding Story (minus Falcor, plus lots of grass)

See all that grass growing in the font yard? It needs to be cut. Every week, without fail. There’s no landlord to take care of it anymore and you may have a HOA breathing down your neck making sure your home is maintained. While you can certainly hire a gardener to take care of your lawn each week after moving in, you can also pick up some lawn care equipment and grab some outdoor time during the weekend to cut the grass, pulls the weeds and trim the shrubs.

To start, you will probably need gas powered tools such as a push mower and a weedwacker as well as a batch of hand tools that include hedge clippers, a rake, a shovel, a water hose, a sprinkler and a spreader to fertilize your lawn. For cold climates, you should also consider a snow shovel. For hot, desert climates, you may have to invest in multiple sprinklers or a sprinkler system to keep that grass green all year long.

Look for deals during April and November at Home Depot and other retailers like Lowes and Sears that also sell lawn equipment. Home Depot likes to treat April as the Black Friday of the Spring, thus you will see significant discounts on lawn care gear.

Check Ben’s for Home & Garden Deals

You Don’t Want to Become Bane (So Buy Some Lights)

Most apartments have built-in lights at the center of the room, typically attached to ceiling fans. That’s not always going to be the case within a home, especially older homes that were built fifteen years ago or more. Some homes may only have light fixtures in the kitchen and bathrooms while ignoring the rooms that people spend the majority of their time in, like the living room, family room or bedrooms.

If you are handy and the wiring already exists, peruse through the lighting fixtures at Home Depot or Lowes to find something that works with your taste. If electrical work scares you, consider outfitting your home with floor lamps after moving in. Many homes have outlets connected to electrical switches, thus you can leave the light on all the time and simply use the switch to turn it off and on.

If you are looking for some inexpensive floor lamps, check out the collections below:

Target  Walmart  Amazon

Without Fail, Things are Going to Break

It’s an inevitability of owning or renting a home. Something will happen that require more than that starter tool kit that you got in college. You know, the one in the plastic case that’s missing all the screwdrivers. And the hammer. And the tape measure. The one that’s been buried in the back of your closet for the last 4 months and only makes an appearance when you need a penny nail to hang up a picture (using your shoe as the hammer, of course).

It’s time to invest in a real tool set. There are tons of deals on full hand tool sets, but if you want to buy the tools separately after moving, here are the essentials: a toolbox, a hammer, vice grips, needle-nose plyers, screwdriver set, a metal pry bar, wire cutters, a utility knife, a hand saw, a steel chisel, a drill bit set (assuming you have a power drill), a tape measure, a torpedo level and safety glasses. That’s going to take care of the vast majority of household fixes.

You are also going to want storage and organization when it comes to your tools. Assuming your new home has a garage, invest in some cheap pegboard, metal hooks and a stud finder at a hardware store. Mount that pegboard an inch or two off the wall and you can easily hang up all of your large garden tools. Looks for deals on storage chests for your small hand tools as well.

Check Ben’s for Deals on Tools

You Will Be Invaded By an Army of Millions

You know what else that your apartment management company did on a regular basis? They sprayed for all sorts of bugs, basically whatever type of insect is predominant in your area. Now the job of protecting your family from scary bugs falls to you, both on the inside and outside of your new home.

Depending on the size of your property and the nastiness of bugs in the area, you may want to consider paying for monthly spraying around the exterior of your home. The quality of pesticide that an exterminator will use if much more deadly to bugs that the can of Raid that you purchased at Walmart. For those of you with pets, be sure to ask for the pet-friendly version. It may not be as strong, but it’s specifically formulated to be safe for your dog or cat.

On the inside of your home, consider spraying for bugs before you moving in. It’s definitely easier to get to all the nooks and crannies before the furniture is moved in. Your local hardware store will likely have the best selection and provide some helpful assistance on the best spray for your area.

Check Home Depot for Pest Control Gear

Fear Not! That’s Just the Music of Burning Toast

While many homes will come with smoke detectors, it’s going to be up to you to purchase carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be on all floors of your home and near the sleeping areas. You should be testing the alarms monthly, replacing the batteries annually and removing dust from the grilles of the detectors every few months.

Regarding fire extinguishers, you need one in the kitchen and one for each floor. You also need to check them annually to make sure they are charged. If you have a second or third story on your home, consider purchasing a roll-up ladder to escape the home if needed. Don’t overload your electrical outlets (particularly in older homes) as it could cause a fire. You should also keep rechargeable flashlights near beds in case of a fire.

When it comes to home security, make sure you have a deadbolt on all doors that go outside. Install motion-sensing lights in the backyard and along the sides of the home. Insert a metal bar or wooden dowel to lock access to a sliding glass door. Prune all bushes that hide windows (and would hide a burglar) as well as tree limbs leading to windows.

Of course, if you really want to get high-tech with security, you should invest in home monitoring solutions. There are plenty of cheap solutions that will use motion sensors to monitor the interior and exterior of your home as well as record video of any intruders.

Check Bens for Deals on Surveillance Gear

Five Things You’ll Need When Moving from an Apartment to a House

Despite the bugs, the manual labor, and the soul-withering heat, for some strange and unknown reason, we love gardening. There’s just something about backseat driving with Mother Nature, telling her what plants should go where because, after all, it’s your land now.

But, as with all struggles of mankind versus nature, the only real advantage we have are tools. Whether a shovel fashioned out of rocks and sticks, or an app that hires a professional gardener, tools can make the difference between garden and a bunch of plants.

This summer, enjoy these 10 lawn and garden tools to turn your yardwork into yardplay

1. Black & Decker Alligator Lopper

Just look at it! Good thing you’re a gardener so you have an excuse to buy such a cool-looking machine!

The Black & Decker Alligator Lopper ($67.00) takes all the fun of a chainsaw, shrinks it, and gives it clamping jaws. Logs and branches up to 4 in. tremble in fear at the sight of its 4.5 amp motor. Perfect for tree pruning, large plant sheering, and zombie attacks.

Buy the Black & Decker Alligator Lopper Now

2. Togetherfarm Blocks

Maybe they’re not Legos, exactly, but the Togetherfarm Blocks ($74.99) make up for it by being specifically attuned to gardening. Made from recycled, food-grade plastic, these Lego style blocks allow creative gardeners and their children to build plant containers however their imaginations want. You can use them for raised flower beds or protection against weeds, and there’s even built-in allotments for trells.

Buy the Togetherfarm Blocks Now

3. GreenWorks Cordless Pole Saw

Think you can trim those high-up tree branches by tying your chainsaw to a long pole? I’d advise against it — I lost an uncle that way. Instead, take advantage of the GreenWorks Cordless Pole Saw ($148.99). It operates on a battery and charger so you don’t have to worry about wires or extension cords, and the aluminum shaft extends up to 8 feet. It’s also equally effective for shorter trees within 8 feet of your living room window.

Buy the GreenWorks Cordless Pole Saw Now

4. Bird Photo Booth 2.0

You’re not the only one who enjoys your garden, you know. Bird-watchers don’t have to try nearly so hard with the Bird Photo Booth 2.0 ($59.95). This bird-feeder, up-close camera combination satisfies both your curiosity and the bird’s megalomaniacal vanity.

This Kickstarter favorite can work one of two ways: You can let the motion-sensor camera do all the work, or place your iPhone or Android smartphone in the weatherproof case and control the shots via an included Bluetooth remote. No more of those second-rate, amateur photoshoots for your starlet starlings.

Buy the Bird Photo Booth 2.0 Now

5. GrowOya Irrigation Pot

You have to water the garden how often!? Every day!? Jeez, if I knew gardening was so much work, I would have just gone to the supermarket for tomatoes.

If you’re one of those gardeners that hates going outside, interacting with your plants, or gardening in general, the GrowOya Irrigation Pot ($24-30) is just what you need. Just bury this porous clay pot up to the neck in your garden and fill it with water. The natural time-release will keep your plants hydrated on a schedule, cutting your your watering time. Make sure you get the right size for your garden.

Buy the GrowOya Irrigation Pot Now

6. Bigfoot Boot/Shoe-in Slipper

Just because you’re gardening all day doesn’t mean you’re outside all day. Sooner or later, there will be something you need indoors, even if just the bathroom. That’s when the Bigfoot Boot/Shoe-in Slipper ($34.50 – SALE) is perfect. These shoes for your shoes protect your floors from whatever dirt and mud you’ve collected when gardening.

Buy the Bigfoot Boot/Shoe-in Slipper Now

7. ScareCrow Motion Activated Animal Repellent

We’re on the verge of inventing microscopic robots that carry medicine inside our bloodstreams — are you still using hay-filled scarecrows to chase away pests? The ScareCrow Motion Activated Animal Repellent ($54.00) uses motion-activated technology to repeal animals like deer, rabbits, raccoons, and more up to 1,200 feet away. Ecological and cruelty-free, the device uses a simple spurt of water to enforce your garden’s boundaries.

Buy the ScareCrow Motion Activated Animal Repellent Now

8. Parrot Flower Power

Gardening? There’s an app for that. If your favorite part of gardening is sitting on your couch and playing on your phone, the Parrot Flower Power ($59.99) is just what you need.

You just have to leave the couch for a few seconds to plant the sensor in the desired area, and then check your phone to see the status of your plants. The app will tell you if your plants have enough sunlight and water, plus whether the temperature and soil nutrients are adequate. How did farmers grow anything before smartphones?

Buy the Parrot Flower Power Now

9. Ohuhu Garden Kneeler and Tool Pouch

Activities that involve getting on your knees aren’t usually recreational, but hey, neither are ones that involve digging holes, so gardening is just special. Still, if you want to save some wear-and-tear and your body’s most valuable joints, the Ohuhu Garden Kneeler and Tool Pouch ($26.99) can help.

Providing cushiony support why your serve your almighty plant overlords, this kneeler also comes with a hand tool pouch to keep everything you need nicely organized in front of you. And what if you’re dealing with slightly higher plants? Simply turn it upside-down and it becomes a chair.

Buy the Ohuhu Garden Kneeler and Tool Pouch Now

10. Misty Mate Keepin’ Cool 6 Portable Misting System

You’ve been out working on your lawn and garden all day, when suddenly you realize, “OMG, it’s freakin’ hot outside!” You need to take a break in the shade and cool off, and that’s where the Misty Mate Keepin’ Cool 6 Portable Misting System comes in handy.

Using a pre-assembled system of 6 misters, this life-saver creates a blanket of mist that extends 10 feet. Mist is not playing around — this device has been proven to reduce the ambient temperature by up to 30 degrees. Attach it to your patio fascia and enjoy the view of your garden in the way nature intended: surrounded by an artificial cloud of water.

Buy the Misty Mate Keepin’ Cool 6 Portable Misting System Now

10 Lawn and Garden Tools for Feeling Superior to Nature