5 Essential Renovations to Do Before Moving into Your New Home

Moving house is certainly one of the most stressful events in homeowner’s life. Apart from the financial worries that tend to drain your savings and turn your wallet inside out, there’s an issue of limited time and short deadlines that often force us to make hasty decisions which we sometimes regret. Finally, there is the uncertainty of the future, fitting into the new community, establishing new relationships and accepting new cultural practices. One way to alleviate the moving-induced stress is to renovate your home prior to moving, and find comfort in the fact that you’ve made improvements you always wanted in your new house.

Things to consider

Before you start your remodel, there are certain issues you need to deal with. Depending on the complexity of the renovation you have in mind, the works might take up to several months, so make sure you have a place or your family to stay, so that everyone is comfortable with the setup and timeframe. In the same way, you need to envisage the scope of your remodelling plans, as there’s much difference between remodelling the second-floor bathroom to renovating the entire home. In case of smaller renovation jobs, you can move as well, while the work is taking place. In the end, you need to rank the remodelling projects so that you finish up the messier ones first and then move to the less disruptive ones, when you move in.

Plumbing and electricity

It’s not even worth mentioning that essential utility systems in your new home must work like a charm. And since tearing down walls and disconnecting existent equipment is costly and stressful once you move in, make sure you carry out the inspection which will identify potential problems down the road, such as leaks, overheating, and short circuits. Hire an experienced plumber who will identify old valves and rusty pipes. If you’re moving your family into a house previously occupied by a couple, or moving into a house built in 1970s or earlier, it’s strongly advisable to improve the capacity of both electrical and plumbing system since back in the day, consumption was much more moderate by today’s standards.

Update the kitchen

According to a report provided by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), kitchen renovation is a priority of 47% of new homeowners. Apart from revitalizing outdated looks, you should also upgrade the functionality, space, and storage by adding new appliances and countertops, replacing fixtures and hardware, or replacing or refurbishing the cabinets.

Organize the logistics

It’s always a good strategy to have all your appliances lined up before you make the move, and to have a means of transporting them safely to your new home. When you consider the cost and hassle of using your own car or your friends’ cars you’ve commandeered into the move, as well as number of rounds you have to make, it’s always better to go with a trusted transport company. You can rely on Budget truck hire service, which operates a diverse fleet of trucks and vans to hire, so you’ll be able to find one that suits your project needs and budget.

Floor refinishing or installation

If you’re lucky, your new home might be hiding something salvageable under the dusty old carpeting, but in reality, the floor needs refinishing. If you feel skilled enough to do it yourself, take all safety precautions when sanding and applying the new finish, such as opening all the windows and setting up dust barriers. A water-based finishing product will give off less harmful emissions than an oil-based product, evaporating in less than 48 hours, as compared with up to 6 months, needed for an oil-based finish to gas off. If your idea of new flooring is a new carpet, keep in mind that it gives off a lot of emissions too. So make sure you choose wool instead of synthetic and finish the underlying floor with a low-VOC product. If you decide to keep the existing carpet, have it professionally cleaned so you don’t have to worry about dead skin cells and mites of the previous owners.

Insulate the roof and windows

Improved insulation will not only save energy, but also protect your home from the natural elements. Appoint a roof inspection and track down any possible problems that need fixing, repairing and replacing. Take care of the damaged sections, and insulate the entire roof. A variety of rigid insulation types available today includes wood fibre, perlite, polyisocyanurate, expanded or extruded polystyrene, cellular glass, and gypsum board. If you’re considering a wood-burning stove or revitalizing an old fireplace, inspect the chimney well. Damaged or aged window frames will make impossible to heat up or cool down your home without trumping up your energy bills, so give them no further thought and replace them before you move in or shortly after. The overwhelming number of consequential decisions make every home move stressful. One of the ways of dealing with stress is preparing as much of your new home in advance, which includes the major renovations which will make it more suitable to your preferences and lifestyle. Use this resource to find info on carpentry costs: https://www.airtasker.com/carpentry/price/how-much-does-carpenter-cost/.

About the author: Mike Johnston is a home improvement blogger, DIY enthusiast and sustainability buff from Sydney. He is a regular writer at Smooth Decorator and contributor on several interior design, real estate and eco blogs, always on the lookout for new ideas and the latest trends in these fields.