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Home Renos to Complete Before You Move In
Here is a small list of home renovations that would be nice to complete before moving into your new home. These things will disrupt your life the most if completed while living in your house. If you can, plan to renovate these areas before you move in to maximize the enjoyment of your new place.
Paint the Walls
The best part about purchasing a home is being able to make it your own and getting a fresh start. A coat of paint will infuse your personality into the space, and what’s better than painting without the obstacles of furniture? It is also ideal to avoid dreaded paint fumes and let the house air out before moving in. Painting rooms beforehand will allow you to live in your new home without the added stress of trying to move in and paint simultaneously.
Floor Refinishing or Changing the Floors
Chances are, if you are moving into a house, the floors will be in good condition, but what if they are dated or damaged? Replacing dated floors or refinishing existing ones before moving in is an excellent idea–this will help avoid damaging the new finish on the flooring and dust from removing carpets and installing new ones. You can attempt a project like this yourself, but allow extra time for errors and materials shipping. Involve professionals if you are uncomfortable tackling the floors and if your budget allows. Always make sure to have a solid plan in place before starting. Decide on the style and material of flooring you want and budget for extra costs.
Renovate the Kitchen
When purchasing a new house, it might be dated and not perfect. If you love the location and style of the house, but the only issue is the dated kitchen, it might be worth renovating it before moving in. Living in a construction zone and being unable to prepare meals for the first months in your home is not ideal. Before you get started, make a list minor to more significant updates you want to make to the kitchen, then decide on how much time it will take to finish them. Don’t forget to allow ample time to clean up the mess from construction before you move in.
Renovate the Bathroom
Similar to the inconveniences of not having a kitchen is not having a bathroom. It is probably the most troublesome renovation in your home, primarily if only one bathroom exists. If there are any problems with the bathroom in the house you are moving into or you want to renovate it, the best time would be before you move in. Like the kitchen renovations, make a list of larger and smaller projects, the amount of time each will take to complete, and plan accordingly. Hiring contractors can make this job smoother and stress-free than trying to renovate it yourself.
Renovate the Bedroom
The main bedroom should be a place of rest and relaxation. A few updates before moving in could make your bedroom the ultimate escape. Whether it is a few minor cosmetic updates or a complete overhaul, make it a priority to finish before moving in. Not having a designated bedroom is another room in the house that can be inconvenient if not move-in ready (not exactly sure how this sentence is supposed to read?, lol). Hiring professionals for this project will also be beneficial to finish it on time. If you choose to renovate yourself, account for setbacks and multiple trips to the decorating and hardware stores.
Installing a Furnace or Air Conditioner
There’s nothing worse than faulty equipment regarding heating and cooling. After getting your home inspected and if the furnace is older, think about replacing it before you move in. The same can be said for air conditioning. Decide if you want it installed before moving in. Installing or updating these will alleviate the headache of living in a construction zone and the loud noises that accompany it. Plus, you could negotiate a lower selling price by getting the old homeowners to include these as-needed upgrades. Or take more out for the mortgage through the bank.
Here are just a few things to think about renovating before moving into your new home. Renovations will give your home a refresher and infuse it with your style. Finishing specific renovations or home repairs before you move in will allow you to settle into your new home and enjoy it from the start.
If you need help finding the perfect home, contact your local REALTOR® today!
Tips to Make Packing A Breeze
Selling your house is an emotional process. You have many memories tied to your possessions and the space you lived in. One of the biggest mistakes I see my clients making is not emotionally preparing for what selling your house entails. While selling a house is challenging in itself, packing and moving all of the belongings that hold emotion for you can just add to the chaos of this time. With careful planning and forward-thinking, packing up your house to move can be a smooth process to relieve the emotional stress of selling your home.
Get Prepared
Moving is a whole process. Starting early will help you cover all of your bases and ensure you’re not doing the last-minute shuffle where some things get forgotten.
- Call the utility company as soon as you know you’re moving. Utilities are essential, but it can be easy to forget this step or leave it to the last minute. Being prepared and calling ahead will save you future headaches.
- Set your budget. Moving can be expensive. Make sure you know what your budget is and that you keep track of expenses.
- Plan your packing supplies. Boxes, bags, packing materials, and more. I recommend finding plastic tubs or buckets for extra stability and to be environmentally-conscious. Check-in with friends and family to see if they have any extra storage containers to help move.
- Eat extra food. Try to eat as much of your kitchen supplies for less to move on the day. You can also plan to donate unopened or unexpired food to a local food bank.
Downsizing on Stuff
Whether you are moving to a smaller place or just want to minimize packing, getting rid of old objects and downsizing what you’ll be moving will help lessen the number of boxes (and stuff to unpack)!
- Top to Bottom, Left to Right. This is an excellent method for those spaces in your house that can be so overwhelmed with stuff. Places like closets, dressers, or shelves where it may have started looking organized but now are chock-full of things you’ve tucked into corners or objects that haven’t seen the light of day for years. Clear out top to bottom, then left to right, to give yourself a place to start and a direction to keep moving.
- Get rid of old clothes. You would not believe how much your closet weighs when taking it out to the moving van. Getting rid of old or outdated clothes can do miracles for packing day. Plus, when you move to the new place, you will only have clothes that make you feel great!
- Make donation pickup arrangements. Donating unwanted furniture is great for lessening your load but can come with its own stress. Help yourself out by arranging for a pickup of your furniture.
Packing for the Move
Perhaps the most time-consuming part of the moving process, packing can quickly look like lots of piles of stuff and half-full boxes if you aren’t prepared. Here are some packing tips to make everything a bit easier.
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- Don’t empty dresser drawers. Instead, take the drawers out of the dresser with the clothes or objects still in. If you are worried about things falling out, secure the drawers with plastic wrap or in a plastic bag.
- Leave clothes on the hanger. Group the hangers and wrap them in a large garbage bag or hang them in a wardrobe box. This helps with packing but will also make unpacking easier as well.
- Use linens, towels, or other soft items. Wrap breakable objects like dishware in your kitchen towels or other linens for extra protection. Smaller things, like glasses or delicate knick-knacks, can be wrapped in socks for serious padding. Sharp objects such as knives can also benefit from this system.
- Use pots to hold small items. Your large pots and other storage containers can be great for those small objects that can get lost at the bottom of larger boxes.
- Create a box label system. Either write a note on each box or use a colour-code sticker system where each colour represents a different room. This will help you unpack super quickly.
- Put together a moving essentials bag. Pack a duffel bag or suitcase with items you will need during your move. This can include important documents, a change of clothes, basic toiletries, medications, phone chargers, or anything else you may need while you move.
Those are the top packing tips for moving we have. What hacks have you done that helped? Leave your suggestions in the comments below! While moving can be stressful, selling your home doesn’t have to be. Contact us if you want assistance in selling your home.
