First-timer: essentials for that maiden voyage...

other than the usual things like kitchen stuff, linens, food, etc, get folding chairs for outside, beverages, small gas grill and gas, picnic table cloth. Start making list of things by room you don't want to forget like coffee maker, can opener, lighter for grill. For example have a kitchen list, bathroom list, outside bin list. For things in the house that you want to take like clothes, start bins by the door and keep adding to it for last minute loading.