Renovate before moving in?

First published 23 July 2020, 12:00 PM

It’s the moment you’ve been dreaming about - you’ve bought your dream home and have been handed the keys! But, before you rush in to unpack all your boxes - it's worthwhile to consider how you could use this time while the house is empty to add in some personal touches to make it your own.

If you do have the opportunity to access your new home before you fully move in, it could be a good idea to get some of your home improvement projects out of the way - before all the boxes and furniture get in the way! An empty house means your furniture won’t be in danger of spilled paint or other damage and you or the tradies can take advantage of an open space.

So, as tempting as it is to move in right away, consider what home improvement projects might be doable before the moving trucks show up.

Here are our top 3 project ideas we’ve come up with to get you started.

1. Pick a colour and start with a fresh coat of paint

There’s nothing like freshly painted walls to give your house that move in ready feeling. You can add your own character, colour and style. Make the most of an empty space by taking the time to repair and flatten any cracks or roughness on the walls and get rid of mould or moisture for good before you put your paintbrush to work.

2. Spruce up the bathroom or the kitchen

A renovation such as a new kitchen or bathroom can transform your day to day life dramatically. You don't even have to replace everything. Modernising the taps, replacing a refrigerator, adding a new vanity, changing a few handles, redoing the floor and even repainting the cabinets can help revamp a slightly aged kitchen or bathroom.

Remember, the bigger the project, the more critical it is to get things right and you’ll need to put aside a fair amount of time and effort, particularly in the planning stage - so if the project is set to take months you may want to renovate after you move in!

3. Flooring

As lovely as new flooring is, it can be a tedious task. Move furniture, rip up old carpet and flooring, dust, mess, move all the stuff back over and in place and so on! If you get the flooring done prior to moving in, all of this can be avoided and you can dodge the double-work of moving your things in and out and getting them dusty and dirty.

Hopefully, these home improvement ideas will make you even more excited about your new move - and if you do get the chance to tackle a few projects you’ll thank yourself down the track when you move into a home that’s in tip-top shape!