In the same spirit that the stockings are all hung by the chimney with care, I have also found my closet floor teeming with a myriad of unwrapped presents that neither myself nor the ascribed jubilant and spirited spouse can recall for whom they were initially intended. This arduous task of deciding what goes to whom will be assigned to me. Keep in mind, I am not the one that purchased said items, so this will amplify the difficulty of this burden tenfold. However, I have had some experience in this department. This will not be my first Christmas rodeo with unmarked gifts on the closet floor.

Lest you get the wrong impression, this pile of presents does not in any way imply that I am through with my shopping. I am still under the obligation to pick out several clever, unique, thoughtful and befitting gifts for my friends, acquaintances and spirited spouse. By examining the pile, I am confident shopping for family is done.

This is the sort of thing that causes significant holiday stress for me. If everyone in my life were first-time homebuyers, this would be a piece of proverbial cake, not fruitcake, however, since there are only two or three people on the planet who have acquired a taste for this nasty, heavyweight marvel of nature.

New homeowners need several items to start their homeowning journey. I think back to my first home. I was fortunate to have a few basic items since I had lived on my own for a few years before investing in my own home. However, I had ignorantly purchased patio furniture shortly after moving in, rather than a much-needed lawn mower. After a few weeks of my neighbor volunteering the use of his own mower, I took the hint and purchased a used mower from someone who had upgraded. Sadly, the mower was stolen off my back patio, where it was parked right next to my new outdoor furniture less than a month later. I later spotted it, along with my missing mountain bike, at our next-door neighbor’s yard sale. I did confront but was deterred from pursuing by everyone surrounding me. My size is not exactly intimidating. Either way, a lawn mower is a nice gift for a new homeowner.

In fact, garden tools of all varieties can be great gifts, as can a snow shovel. Rakes, a hose, pruners and garden gloves as well as a grass trimmer/edger for the warmer months are also needed items.

For the best indoor items, I took to the streets and conducted a poll. The results varied widely but included an extension cord, a shop vac, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, a ladder and a doorbell camera (stay tuned for further discussion on this).

Personally, when I think about the most valuable gifts I have received over the years for my home, there are specifically three that come to mind that I have used over and over and have found to be indispensable.

The first would be my knife set. It has been truly the best and worst gift. I use my knives for something or another nearly every day. From chopping vegetables to opening a package, to accidentally cutting off the end of my finger and being rushed to the ER to reattach it, my knife set has been more than practical.

The second would be my basic tool set. I have written about this previously and I stand by my opinion. I have one in my car, my garage and, likely, my closet (one of the gifts with an undeterminable owner). It consists of screwdrivers, pliers, a wrench, measuring tape scissors and duct tape (which, incidentally, can temporarily hold a finger together).

This brings me to the third gift, which only exists because of the first two — a well-stocked first-aid kit. Happy shopping.

Jen Fischer is an associate broker and Realtor. She can be reached at 801-645-2134 or jen@jen-fischer.com.