Purchasing a new house is an incredibly important financial decision, as well as one of the most exciting new chapters in our lives. But before the enthusiasm can take over, moving often presents a number of challenges, from packing and hiring moving companies to those important renovations we need to make before we can ensure our house is move-in ready. And while home improvements might be the last thing on your mind at the moment, here are some of the most essential projects you need to complete before the final move, to save yourself from stress and additional costs in the future:
Start with the necessary repairs
When renovating a home, it’s always best to start by assessing all the projects that need to be done and prioritizing the most urgent and important ones, especially if you’re working with a tighter budget. For instance, if some aspects of your new home are unsafe or not functioning properly, such as asbestos, roof leaks, and plumbing issues, they should always be addressed first. Then, you can move on to other key components of your home like the HVAC system, smoke and alarm systems, and security features, as the bare minimum that needs to be done before the final move.
Consider changing the flooring
While the flooring can be updated at any point, it’s much easier to finish these improvements before you move in and before all the furniture is placed inside your home. If the flooring in your new house is in fairly good condition, simply refinishing the current floors can be a simple, cost-effective solution. In case the flooring is in bad shape, however, or you simply have a larger budget for renovations, you could also consider tearing up and replacing the old flooring or installing carpeting before you move in, in an effort to avoid more labor and larger costs of flooring repairs in the future.
Create a waste management plan
Home renovations tend to produce a significant amount of waste, particularly when larger structural works need to be performed, which is why it’s recommended to create a proper waste management plan in advance. To that end, it might be a good idea to hire a waste management consultant who will be able to find the best and most suitable solution. Apart from assessing the needs of your project and designing an appropriate waste handling system, such a professional will also be able to acquire any necessary permits and simplify the entire process of waste management and disposal.
Replace important appliances
Of course, larger appliances such as washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and other similar appliances can be installed and replaced at any point. However, it’s important to remember that some of these items might require additional work as well, whether it’s electricity, plumbing, or even ducting. For that reason, it would be wise to replace the most important appliances before your final move, in order to avoid additional works, and consequently costs, in the future.
Repaint the entire house interior
Once the most crucial home improvements have been completed, the final thing you need to do before you move in is repaint the entire interior of your new house. Whether you paint your home in the same colors or even start planning the decor in advance and choose new shades, painting a house is incomparably easier when it’s empty. What’s more, it’s one of the quickest home improvement projects professionals can complete in a matter of days, or it’s something you can easily do on your own as well if you’re dealing with a tighter budget.
Moving into a new house is an incredibly stressful and time-consuming process that often comes with additional work and hidden costs. However, you can do your future self a big favor simply by taking care of these essential home improvements before you finally move into your new home.
