Buying your dream home is an exciting time! What is a little less exciting, though, is preparing your new house for the day you move in. If you bought a completely renovated, move-in-ready home, you are one of the lucky ones. All you have to do is get your belongings from your current home into your new house, unpack, and voila! On the other hand, if you're buying a fixer-upper or a place that needs some work, there will be a few more hoops to jump through before you can start unloading your boxes. In the rest of this article, we'll take you through some necessary home renovations you must complete before moving in.
Big Layout Changes
When buying a house, one of the first things you need to ask yourself is: do you want a move-in-ready home? Or, do you want a fixer-upper that you can shape into your dream home? Both options have a long list of pros and cons, so you should make sure to examine all of them thoroughly.
If you decide to go with a fixer-upper, you should know that will delay the moving-in timeline. If you're planning any large-scale changes, such as changes to the home's layout, you shouldn't even think about moving in until the work is almost finished. On the other hand, if you decide to live in a home that's being renovated for the first few months, you'll have a substantial chunk of your home that isn't usable. This will mostly be due to the filth and debris of demolishing and rebuilding walls, rewiring, and installing new floors. If you can complete these major adjustments before your move, it will be much easier for you and your family.
The Walls
If you're not completely changing the layout of your home, you are in luck. However, you will most likely have to repaint the walls. It's one of the easiest yet most important home renovations you must complete before moving in. You should do this before bringing in your furniture and belongings because it's all about practicality. If you decide to paint the walls after you've already brought in all your belongings, you will most likely have to move the heavy furniture around to make space for the painters to do their job.
Furthermore, paint splatters and sprays, so if you have valuables in your rooms, you'll need to cover them with plastic sheeting to protect them. That's why most people prefer to paint all the walls inside their home before installing new flooring - so that they don't have to worry about paint splattering on their new floors.
Finally, you should personalize the space before moving in and pick the colors and design based on your aesthetic, budget, and lifestyle.
Flooring Replacement
Like the walls, floor updates or replacements are also renovations you should do before bringing in your furniture and other belongings. Everything in your home that occupies the floor will be an obstacle for you or the contractors. So, if you're planning to refinish or replace the existing floors, you should do so before moving in. Anyone you hire to get the job done will expect the rooms in question to be unoccupied, so there's no need to bring in your belongings ahead of time. Even if you decide to DIY it, you'll have to move your possessions around. This will only slow things down further.
Home Security Updates
You don't know who lived in your home before you or who has the spare keys. That's why, before moving in, you should consider changing the locks and tightening your home security. You can also invest in a home security system or set up a doorbell camera just in case. If you have any pets, you might have to erect a fence around your front or back yard to keep them from wandering off.
However, little details like these are often forgotten when on a strict schedule. If you're moving on short notice, you can leave upgrades like this for the moving day or the first few days after you've already moved in. But, be careful about them. Don't get too comfortable and forget about taking these security precautions.
Weatherproof Your Home
If your home isn't ready for winter or other bad weather, you may face astronomical heating expenditures. As a result, ensure that everything in your home, including your pipes and attic, is adequately insulated. Moreover, make sure you're not dealing with a leaking roof because it can cause mold, ceiling issues, and even electrical sparks. Finally, it's also a good idea to change the filter in your furnace before or shortly after you move into your new home if it's not during a heating season.
Moving in Before the Renovations Are Complete
Although you should seriously consider putting off your moving day until all the renovations are complete, life is sometimes unpredictable. If you have to move in while the work is still in progress, your biggest obstacle will be space. If you own a lot of stuff, you might have a problem finding a place for all your belongings and keeping things out of the way at the same time. In this case, you will have two options when it comes to renting out storage space: container or self-storage units. You'll need to carefully consider all the pros and cons before deciding what's the right option for you and your family.
In Conclusion
When it comes to home renovations you must complete before moving in, it's very easy to determine what they are. For example, ask yourself: how much space will this require? How long will it take? Will you be able to go about your life normally, even with the renovations taking place? Or, will you feel like you're camping inside your home and can't escape the mess? These are only some of the things to consider.
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