Buying your first property is an experience like no other. You've found the right place, made your offer, and crossed your fingers that your bid will be accepted. Finally the keys are in your hand! Now what?

Well, unless you are taking most of the furniture and belongings from your rented home, you will need to fully deck out your new property with all the essentials a home needs to function properly.

But where to start? First of all, don't worry. We have created a top guide which explains everything you will need for a first property, and we've even created handy lists for each room so that you can print them off and bring them to your local homeware store to make sure you don't forget anything.

And if you're feeling short of cash, we've also got top tips on how to furnish your new place cheaply, and how to make the most of what you've already got without stretching your budget to its limit!

What do I need for my new property?

What you need for your new property really depends on the kind of place you have bought. New and unfurnished apartments, newly built houses, and second-hand homes will each have their specific needs in terms of furnishing.

What do I need if I've bought a second-hand property?

If you've bought a second-hand house or apartment, the most important thing to consider is what the previous owners have left behind.

It's quite common for white goods, such as a washing machine, refrigerator and freezer, and even a dishwasher, to have been included with the sale and, if these have been left in the home, it will save you a tidy sum of money.

Second-hand houses will often come with a garden, however, and it's worth remembering that, while the previous occupiers will most likely leave a garden shed behind, they may take expensive garden maintenance tools with them. The basic tools for maintenance are a lawnmower, if applicable, a shovel, a rake, a trowel for weeding, gardening gloves, and gardening refuse sacks. These can all be bought at your local garden centre, which you can find on the Yellow Pages website, or in your local DIY superstore, such as B&Q or Homebase. Further to that point, it's always a good idea to ask the previous owners what kind of maintenance the garden requires and what kind of tools you will need for the job. Another important tip to remember when buying a second hand home or apartment is to get the services checked. Although this is not something you need to 'buy' as such, it is extremely important to get basics such as the boiler, the electrics, the central heating, and the windows checked by a professional for your own or your family's safety. You may also want to install or transfer ownership of telephone numbers and get your own internet connection and satellite or cable TV subscription.

But it's not always a one-way street. Sometimes you may even have the opposite problem of furnishing a house – the previous owners might have left you with tons of ugly furniture or used utensils that you don't want.

In this case, the simplest thing to do is either telephone a local second-hand furniture outlet, or nearby charity shop, and inquire if they want any of the belongings that you have been left with in your home. They may even pick it up from your house for free.

Alternatively, hire a skip and clear out the furnishings you don't want to keep.

What do I need if I've just bought a newly built house or apartment?

Usually, newly built houses and apartments come with certain things as standard specifications. This will have been agreed with the builder at the time of signing the contract, and your new house or apartment should usually look like the show house or architectural plans that you were shown.

The most common specifications include things like integrated white goods in the kitchen, such as a dishwasher, refrigerator and deep freeze, as well as a washing machine or dryer, showers, sinks, baths and tiling in the bathroom and en-suite bathroom, and light fittings and flooring throughout the house.

Before you buy anything for a new home, however, always double check what your new property comes with as standard. Then you can decide what you can leave out when buying your first property essentials.