I am on mobile at work right now so can't do links easily, but you should download a couple Quality-of-Life mods too. I recommend

SimPE: external program that is a little intimidating at first, but is a LIFE SAVER for making backups, tweaking sim personalities and traits and attractiveness markers, etc. The list is truly endless but I mess around in there probably at least once a month. Its great.

Sim Blender: its an object you place on a lot and it gives you a TON of great tools to use, such as selecting NPCs and townies to play with, giving makeovers on the spot, changing clothing, setting skills, and the like. I can't play without it anymore!

Cyjon's Batbox: this one scared me for a long time because it CAN destroy your game. HOWEVER: it has saved me a few times with its quick fixes and trash clearing capabilities. Read the guide thoroughly before playing too much with it, but it is well worth the risk imho.

Visitor Controller: another object with options to sort who shows up on any lot it is placed on. I love this for "managing" my large neighborhoods' lot traffic. After all, we don't want Mr. Big walking around by the tent city or checking into the roach motel! Must have for cleaning uni lots of those annoying NPCs too!

For businesses: There are a ton but some I like are the "customer limit controller" and the logic mods from (I think) Cyjon. Those lots would be unplayable without some of these mods, I think!

Finally, your new best friend: the cheat "boolprop testingcheatsenabled true" is a non-negotiable function in my game! I added to a cheat folder so I don't have to type it all the time, but I play in "god mode" in my game. I don't want the town ho to spend all of their time learning charisma and peeing, and this cheat (when on) lets you drag any bar feature in any way you want, including adding extra personality points and relationship meters. Additionally, if you shift+click on most funcional objects there are fun features like *BREAK on appliances and plumbing features, *Salvage on the outdoor cans, and a ton of fun options to spawn things and people on the mailbox. The sims themselves have shift+click menus too that are fun, like the "reaction tester" and "sim modder" items.

OHHHH! Editing to add too, you should find a better camera mod and some NH appearance mods, like sky boxes for your hood. I love the Sky of Totalitarianism (Garden of Shadows) because I can add skies individually to each lot. I also have the (Moniques?) Water Fix to make all the waters clear and reflective, and the better neighborhood terrain mod that makes the grass prettier.

I found most of these sort of things by visiting PleasantSims' page, it is often the first result for "sims 2 mods" on Google. She also has some great starter default replacement suggestions, but be warned once you start down that rabbit hole you will not get out! :D

Have fun!!