Test kit: First, right now, order your test kit. I suggest the TF100 since that is the best value, but there are a few others that can be ordered online. See Pool School, Test Kits Compared. Add to that a salt test. TF100 will get to you faster than anyone else it seems.
Cleaning tools; A leaf rake and skimmer net that attaches to a pole that extends long enough for you to reach everywhere in the pool. A brush or two, I like the Wall Whale brush, you may want a hand held brush or two, depending on your pool and what sort of nooks and crannies there will be for crud to hide in. You may need a vacuum of some sort, a spa wand may be sufficient, or some other sort of minor cleanup tool, and a regular vacuum with hoses and such.
Chemicals; You will certainly require Stabilizer (CYA) and a source of chlorine. See Pool School for a discussion of these things, in short, bleach is pure chlorine, chlorine pucks and skimmer tablets also contain either extra CYA or calcium, which may be needed or may be excessive, depending on your water. Shock products have chlorine plus either CYA or calcium, unless it is liquid shock which has only chlorine. You gotta test to know for sure what your pool needs or has too much of.
Other chemicals; You will need products to adjust pH, muriatic acid and/or baking soda, maybe washing soda. Which of these you need will be clearer after you get a good test of your tap water.
A log book; Keep all the daily testing in one place, with printouts from Pool School, and details of your equipment and things that you learned from reading on the forum.
Storage; Chemicals need to be safe from kids and muriatic acid and bleach must not be together. Bleach is best protected from excessive heat.
Once you get the first fill up balanced properly, you just need to test regularly and adjust water a little bit from time to time. Keep it clean of debris and know what you are adding when you add fill water or any chemicals. Don't buy snake oil from the pool store, buy simple chemicals that have predictable effects on the pool. Test before and after to see that you got what you expected.
