So, you bought a new home? After buying a house, many people opt to renovate the space first. Even before they move in! This works because it’s easier to tackle these renovations before all your possessions are moved in. But which are the top home updates after buying a house? That’s what we’ll cover in this article.
Since every family is different, it’s only normal that you wish to create a space that will cater to your family and its specific needs and lifestyle. But it can sometimes be quite difficult to prioritize which renovations you want and which you can afford.
Where to Begin?
Start by inspecting your new house room-by-room and identifying all the potential projects that could be done in order to turn your new house into a home. Next, start to assign some prices to each project. This can be tricky so you’ll likely want to get some free estimates from recommended contractors. Make sure to ask your Realtor for those!
Ranking Renovation Projects
Use your professional home inspection to evaluate your home’s most vital elements. Your home’s foundation is first. Next, comes the roof as it needs to protect everything under it. Are there any leaks or cracks that need to be corrected? While these types of issues are critical to your home’s overall health, they can be tackled after you move in most cases.
While you’re at it, think about your home’s insulation. If the home inspector noted problems in this area, improving this part of your home before any large renovations or even painting makes a lot of sense. For more information, check out insulation4less and learn more about the type of insulation that will be best suited for your specific needs.
Understand that there are certain renovations that are far easier to do now, with an empty house, than later once everything is moved in. A project like installing new hardwood floors is a great example. You get the picture. With this in mind, priority your list of potential projects in a firm list of the top updates after buying your house.
Prioritize High-Use Spaces
As you consider top home updates after buying a house it’s important to prioritize high-use rooms. Kitchens and bathrooms are considered to be high-use spaces because these are the areas that most easily succumb to wear and tear. Then, as you assign dollars to projects you can put your dollars to work where they matter most.
1. Thinking through a Bathroom Renovation
When bathroom renovations are concerned, you should make sure that everything is structurally sound. We all take water movement for granted these days, but it’s one of the biggest dangers in your entire house. Make sure that all pipes are up to code and functioning correctly. Otherwise, your money will be going toward repairs rather than improvements.
Then, start thinking about the different aspects of the space. Take advantage of free expert advice that comes from both retailers and service companies. You might be planning a particular bathroom layout only to find that it could be even better by moving things around.
Today’s home buyers are prioritizing a large shower over a bathtub, especially in the primary bath. As long as your home has at least one bathtub in it, feel free to go crazy with the shower of your dreams. Current data shows that only 19% of people prefer baths over showers. Plus, water usage is less with a shower than with a bath. So it’s easy to see why there is a trend towards bigger, nicer showers and fewer bathtubs.
If the baths in your house have been recently updated, maybe all they need is a professional cleaning. That’s even a project you can tackle yourself and save some cash if you’re so inclined.
2. Essential Kitchen Updates
As mentioned earlier, aside from the house’s bathrooms, the kitchen is the most used room in the house. Because it’s a high-use space, it will need to be well-maintained and updated as time marches on. You will want to customize it according to your family’s needs and habits.
When making long-term investments, choose design choices that stand the test of time. Don’t opt for a trendy choice that might be in style today but then costly to change down the road.
As you plan, think about how you will use the space today and also in the future. Are you planning on growing a larger family? Or are your kids leaving the nest soon? Keeping this in mind will help you emphasize which kitchen updates will be the most important.
Also remember, that if you’re planning on selling your home soon, reach out to your trusted Realtor for advice on what buyers are looking for. That way, your renovations can fit your family’s needs and also increase the value of your home at the same time.
Conclusion
I hope this piece has been especially helpful as you think about which top home updates after buying a house that you’ll want to tackle. There are many things to consider. First, make a list. Second, prioritize the list as you identify costs and your personal desires. Then tackle the projects in order. When all the dust settles, you’ll have the dream home you’ve always wanted.
