Etiquette Guide for New Home Gifts & Party

Buying a new home is a big milestone and many homeowners give housewarming party by inviting family, new neighbors and friends. It’s important to consider housewarming etiquette.

List of questions in your Mind before housewarming Party:

• Do I have to serve food at my housewarming party?
• What is etiquette for the Host and Guest?
• Should one get a gift for hosts at a housewarming party?
• Is it alright to accept gifts from invitees at a housewarming party?
• Which Housewarming Gifts you should avoid?
• How to arrange a hassle free Housewarming party?
• What are the best housewarming gifts online?
• Can you ask for money instead of gifts?

The following article answers all such questions by suggesting proper housewarming gift etiquette. Here are a few minor things to keep in mind while you are setting up.

Do I have to serve food at my housewarming party?

If you throw a new home party, your invited guests will expect you to supply both food and drink. Guests also bring some dishes along themselves.

Finger foods, deli-style dishes, and drinks work well for such a party. Don't use such types foods that could stain the wall paints or floors.

Etiquette Applies to Both Guests and Homeowners

There are unwritten protocols and procedures for both homeowners and guest. All must follow these etiquette to make a housewarming party memorable.

Etiquette for the Host

• Guests must be informed about housewarming party quite well in advance. Send formal invitations about three weeks before the event. Include specific information like address, date, time, phone number, children are allowed or not. Make sure to include directions to your home in invitations.

• Invitations must not include a gift registry notifications. It will be inappropriate to suggest that guests bring gifts. You may register at a home store but share this information only when asked. You may receive gifts in the housewarming. Don't open gifts during the party.

• Home must be as presentable as possible. Do shift all unpacked boxes out of sight. Try to have enough unpacked that your home at least looks inviting and presentable.

• Guests always expect that a meal will be served. Provide both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, to fulfill every person's choice.

• It is a great idea to greet and welcome your visitors at the door. You may designate miscellaneous tasks to family and friends for this purpose.

• If children are invited, give them specific area with toys, video games, movies, etc. You may even hire a babysitter to keep an eye on the children.

• You must permit guests to tour your house during the housewarming party. If the party is styled like an open house party, where guests can drop in anytime within an allotted time span.

• It is great to mail thank you notes (personalized) within short time for coming to your party and/or gifted you.

Etiquette for Guests

Guests, Please read general guidelines for housewarming party.

• Give a response within stipulated time to the housewarming invitation.

• Reach the destination within time limits and ensure to greet the hosts as you arrive.

• Meet new people in the party and socialize. The hosts might not be able to entertain you all through the event.

• Give your congratulations to hosts for their new abode. Give compliments on interior designs and decorations of house.

• Do select an appropriate gift for the hosts. We are providing a detailed list of gifts that can be or may not suit as housewarming gifts. Give the gift discreetly so as not discomfort those guests who have not got a gift.

• Before you leave, thank the hosts for their invitation and compliment them on the event and their house.

• Friends hosting the housewarming (instead of the house owners) can suggest gifts to the invitees. It is perfectly alright.

Do you have to bring a gift to a housewarming party?

Yes, It is very nice manners to bring a small token (whatever you can afford) as a welcoming gift. But, you really have to know the receiver when you buy a gift.

Find: 11 Unique Ideas To Get The Best Gifts On The Best Deals

Housewarming Gifts that Homeowners Actually Want(Wish)

People thinks receiving a housewarming gift is great, but receiving a gift you actually need is even better. Choose gifts that they would never actually buy for themselves and will helpful to their daily work.

These simple gifts are thoughtful, smart ways to help someone moving into a new place.

1. Bonsai Plants
2. Food hamper
3. Wine
4. Cutting board and a CookBook
5. Money Covers

Why Choose Bonsai Plants?

A graceful bonsai plants are one of the most suitable gifts for housewarming occasion. It is always appreciated as a wonderful gift for special occasions as it combines natural art and beauty. It is very easy to order online for bonsai plants delivery at home.

They offer a number of health benefits as enlisted below:

• Growing and taking care of bonsai trees relieves stress.
• Bonsai plants purify and clean the indoor air quality.
• It keeps a person at peace as you are working with nature.
• Bonsai plants help to fight over cold, coughs, sore throats and fatigue.

Why Gift a Food Hamper?

The new homeowners are yet to complete the unpacking totally. A food hampers with goodies and delicacies makes a wonderful idea on such an occasion. Designer cakes also make a great food hamper and the good thing is that you'll get online cake delivery in USA at the ease of a finger.

Why Wine?

Wine is traditionally offered as a housewarming occasion gift. Wine symbolizes the thought "May you always have joy and never go thirsty." Giftblooms provides the best wines online delivery in USA to make your party memorable. 

Personalized Cutting Board and Cook Book

One more superb idea is a personalized cutting board and an actually useful cookbook. Cutting boards are subject to wear and tear dues to the movements of knives. With a new house, a personalized cutting board will make an excellent gift. A cook book which suits the culinary choices of food recipes that they will enjoy most.

Why Gift Card?

A Gift card is trending gifts for ones who move into a new apartment or home and suit a majority of celebrity occasions. The new homeowners can always have great use of gift card to meet those small expenses and necessities.

Must Read : Bad Housewarming Gifts you should avoid

There are a number of gifts which one must avoid mainly due to superstitions. These are enlisted as under:

1) Knives as gifts – Bad ideas (Superstition - knives can cut friendships in half)

2) Clocks are not given, especially in Chinese culture as the word “clock” resembles “death”.

3) Money holders must not be given empty, but holding at least a few dollars to avoid bad luck.

4) Garden hose must not be getting into the house, but directly submitted to the tool shed.

5) Horseshoe, frogs, ladybugs, and pigs are a symbol of get good luck.

Can you ask for money instead of gifts?

No, it is not appropriate to ask for anything. Guests came to celebrate your great day.

However, when your family or friends ask you about your choices before the party, you may answer them in that context.

For example, you may state that you need a gift card to upgrade the renovations, etc.