<p>My FIL bought us a Lawnmower and a Snowblower. 
</p>
<p>Those are the kind of things people don’t normally think about that they need until after they purchase the house.</p>
<p>A Honda lawnmower, if they have a lawn, or a Weber grill would be my choice! (We gave kiddos a shed). A tree that they can plant is also great. </p>
<p>If you go the kitchen mixer route, don’t just buy a plain one. Take a look here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://un-amore.com/gallery.html”>http://un-amore.com/gallery.html</a></p>
<p>She can airbrush custom image on a KitchenAid, too. :)</p>
<p>I like an opportunity to be a little sentimental, so I made a gift basket for my son and his wife with some of the traditional and symbolic housewarming gifts: salt (it was a fancy sea salt), a loaf of bread, wine, a candle, coins (I put in chocolate coins for fun, and we also gave them a gift card for home improvements). I wrote them a note that explained the significance of the item–I wish I had saved a copy–it was in the form of a blessing.</p>
<p>My older son is graduating from college in May and I already bought him a 4 piece set of luggage, really excellent quality. It was on Ebay, originally $1500, bought for $280…brand new. Gorgeous. I bought it for him early since he was going on a trip a few weeks ago and I was tired of him borrowing ours! I gave him one of the four pieces for his trip and he’ll get the rest in May at graduation. Sturdy enough to last a long, long time.</p>
<p>I love the idea of the traditional housewarming gifts!! (Along with a Home Depot gift card, of course.)</p>
<p>I like that, too. There’s something about just handing over cash that never seems quite right to me, despite my usually practical nature.</p>
<p>My ILs are forever giving us stuff, even after decades of marriage. We have learned to roll with it, and freecycle what is impossible to keep . It’s lovely to give gifts, but it is so nice to be asked : would you like a //this// or would you prefer a //that//. </p>
<p>Do we know what very happy decided to go with?</p>
<p>If they haven’t had outdoor space before, then a lawn mower/gardening tools/grill would be needed and probably appreciated. Also, if their climate is appropriate, how about a splurge of bulbs? Colorblends.com. The kitchen aid mixer is so awesome it is like having a new friend and being so pricy, it might be more than they want to spend. A reAlly good set of pots is a wonderful thing. I only got my first top of the line pot set last year and it was life changing, but nothing we could have afforded in the early years.</p>
<p>My D is probably getting a place with boyfriend next year. I got a bankers box and have started buying little things that they might need. Eventually I will get everyday dished, glasses, flatware and pots for them. I agree with consolation about the tools of entertaining. It is nice to be gifted those and save one’s own money for absolute essentials.</p>
<p>Well, they’ve been living together for two years already, so they have the basics – good knives, some good pots and pans, dishes, some furniture. I love the suggestion someone had earlier to give the “traditional house warming gifts” like honey, a broom, bread, salt, wine, etc. Those things, in a cute basket, plus a Home Depot gift card, will be appreciated, I think. The GF will tear up at the traditional stuff, and S2 will greedily pocket the gift card. They’re planning on redoing the floor in their family room, and I know they will need the lawn mower, grill, etc. So it’s up to them how they want to spend the gift card.</p>
<p>I also expect her parents to be generous.</p>
<p>Weber kettle grill is a great idea…my parents got us one when we moved into our first house and we used it forever…it was a real badge of “house” living as opposed to “apartment” living. </p>
<p>You guys are so generous, I can’t even remember what we got when we got married except for some juice glasses from work friends and a bud vase.
We just got a weber grill two years ago.</p>
<p>My inlaws gave us a washer and dryer when we were first married. Not very glamorous but very appreciated.</p>
<p>When I got engaged my mom took me shopping to fortunoff’s and bought us christmas ornaments that she let me choose. 25 years later I still have some of those ornaments. </p>
<p>Just to clarify: No one is getting married. Yet. They’re buying a house.</p>
<p>When we bought our house, we didn’t get any memorable gifts, but we had been married for many years and had a lot of what we wanted or needed. My niece bought her sister and BIL a nice woven blanket with their last name woven into it. It was a very nice touch. We bought my older sister a rolling garbage can, which we thought was very spiffy. We later bought her a swingset for Christmas (she had a child) and my H & bros installed it. My sis and niece really thought the personalized woven blanket was cool!</p>
<p>I upgraded a couple of large kitchen appliances when my S bought his apt. His fiancé, now wife, moved in shortly after he bought it. I did consult them on their choices first.</p>
<p>I’m impressed they can buy a house. If they really do want to get married, I hope they go for ti. Maybe ask for their suggestion. Personally I like the idea of a Weber grill. </p>
<p>As someone who was recently in this situation, my only advice is to please just ask what they need. We got so many duplicate things when we moved into our first place because no one asked. </p>
<p>Wonderful news on the house 
</p>
<p>Many years ago, my parents gave us a hammock which my dh thought was the best gift ever.</p>