Lift up the house first (5)
I believe the answer is:
hoist
'lift up' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'house first' is the wordplay.
'house' becomes 'ho' (abbreviation for house).
'first' becomes 'ist' (ist resembles 1st).
'ho'+'ist'='HOIST'
'the' is the link.
(Other definitions for hoist that I've seen before include "Raise aloft" , "Lift with ropes and pulleys" , "Wind up" , "Raise with ropes" , "I shot (anag)" .)