After months of planning and researching, dozens of open houses that went nowhere, and multiple meetings with your real estate agent, you’ve finally found your almost-dream house! We say almost because, unless you built your home from the ground up, it’s difficult to find a home that looks exactly the way you want it to.
So what do you do to make the home you bought feel truly yours? By grabbing your toolbox and renovating, of course.
Renovating Before Moving In
So you know you want to renovate your new property. But should you move in then renovate or the other way around? We recommend the latter. Getting started on renovation and repairs before moving in means an empty house and an empty house means your furniture isn’t in the way of contractors and in danger of getting damaged. Most importantly, you won’t have to suffer through the noise, hazards, and overall chaos of whatever renovation projects you’ll be doing.
With that said, below are some renovation projects you might want to get done before moving into your new home.
1. Painting the interior walls
Painting the walls of your home the color or pattern you want is one of the easiest and most straightforward renovation projects. It’s so easy that you can do it yourself! So, why should it be one of the projects you tackle before moving in? It’s because of the chemicals in paint that can be dangerous when breathed in. Plus, painting your interiors is easier when there aren’t pieces of furniture you’re constantly worried about spilling paint on
2. Upgrading the electrical system
Unless the home you bought is newly built, chances are its electrical system hasn’t been updated in years. Since electrical work creates major disruption, it’s best to get it out of the way before moving in. Once you’ve made sure the wires are intact and protected, replaced old outlets, and installed upgrades to allow for modern conveniences like programmable thermostats, then you’d be good to go on move-in day.
3. Changing exterior locks
Security should be a priority, especially if you’re moving to a new neighborhood. Since, you never know who might have had a copy of the property’s old keys, changing the exterior locks is a security must. If you could swing for it, it’s also a good idea to add an alarm system that only family members know the code to.
4. Installing new flooring
Not every property for sale needs new flooring. But if the house you bought has floors made from materials you don’t like or don’t fit into your plans for the house, replacing the flooring should be done before you move in. This way, the contractors have the freedom to move about and replace your floors efficiently.
5. Remodeling entire rooms
If you’re planning on bigger renovation projects such as overhauling entire rooms or taking down walls, you know that it can be a major inconvenience. Remodeling your kitchen, for example, may leave you ordering takeout for a while if you’ve already moved in. Eliminate this hassle in the future by tackling it now.
With these home renovation projects completed, the house you’ll move into can immediately feel like home.
