Blogs

You searched for months, had an offer accepted, did the inspection, and finally closed on your new home. With keys in hand, you can’t wait to settle in. But where do you go from here? With so many things to tackle—plus the list of “dream updates” you’d love to make—it’s hard to know where to begin.
 

1. Prioritize painting

There’s probably at least one room in your house where you don’t love the color. Start there. You’d be surprised what a fresh coat of paint can do for a space. Whether you want to brighten up a room that is too dark, or just match your preferred color scheme, painting is an easy, cost-effective way to transform your home—one room at a time.

2. Update the bathroom

Like it or not, this room will get a lot of traffic—from those in your household and your guests. Many homes, unless relatively new, are likely to have bathroom features that date to when the home was built. Making small changes can go a long way:

• Update the faucet, or even the whole vanity
• Replace the towel racks, toilet paper holder, and cabinet knobs/handles
• Deep clean shower walls/tiles
• Get a new mirror
• Paint vanity or cabinet doors

These easy updates can refresh a bathroom and make it a more pleasant place to, well, you know...

3. Check the flooring

Before all your furniture is in place, take stock of the condition of your floors. Clean the carpet, hardwood, or vinyl. In some cases, it’s worth seeing whether there’s original hardwood under the carpeting or vinyl flooring. It’s surprising how often people cover up hardwood floors. Regardless, clean floors will give you peace of mind that you and your loved ones are living in a fresh space.

4. Liven the lighting

Next to painting, updating the lighting is one of the most significant, simple things you can do to transform a space. As noted with bathrooms, many homes still have original fixtures. Replacing the lighting not only lets you customize a space to suit your needs, it also increases energy efficiency and saves money on your electricity bills.

5. Update the kitchen

While there are expensive kitchen remodeling options that you may want to consider, small touch-ups can make a big difference. Consider updating the handles or knobs on the cabinets, replacing the sink and faucet, or even adding a backsplash. These little changes can help the kitchen feel like your own and pave the way for larger renovations down the road.

A house into a home

While this is not a comprehensive list—and budget is always a constraint—here’s the bottom line: have fun making your new house into your home. It’s an exciting (if daunting) thing to do as a new homeowner, and these tips can help get you well on your way. One final tip: If you are unsure about a particular project, you can always contact your Realtor ^® and ask for their opinion. They can give sound advice on what changes will positively affect the value of your home, so use them as a resource.