5 Essential Renovations To Do Before Moving Into Your New Home

5 Essential Renovations To Do Before Moving Into Your New Home

There’s no use denying it. Moving homes is definitely one of the most stressful tasks that you can tackle. Of course, it’s nothing impossible, but the amount of effort, time and planning you have to put into it can really put some pressure on you. There are finances to worry about, the obvious changes in lifestyle and the general break you have to take in order to sort everything out. And there is also the need to take care of your new place so that it’s perfectly comfortable and functional once you move in. This is why it’s so important to know the most essential renovation projects when it comes to moving into a new home.

Wall painting

If you’re happy with the current state of the walls in your new home, you’re lucky. But, if you find that there’s room and need for improvement, giving the walls a fresh coat of paint may be necessary. Not to mention that you simply may want to enjoy different color combos in your own place. Painting the walls doesn’t have to be a difficult process. What’s more, you can easily do it without professional help, on your own or with friends if you want. But, you may want to consider low-VOC paint for this project to make sure your indoor air is clean and toxin-free.

Check the electrical and plumbing system

Now, this task is a bit more challenging and complex compared to wall paint. However, it’s also one of the most essential renovation projects as it will hugely affect your life in the new home. After all, you don’t want to worry about water leaks and/or short circuits once you’ve completely moved in. It’s always better to have a professional examine your electricity to avoid any potential danger. When it comes to the plumbing, you can see for yourself whether there are some issues. For instance, pay attention to the look and taste of water. Check whether the water boiler and sinks are working properly. Take some time to see if there are any leaks or drips. You may also want to check whether the toilet flushes as well. Of course, don’t hesitate to call a professional when your plumbing system is concerned as well, especially if you need to have your pipes and valves replaced.

Safe transport

Obviously, you’ll need to install all the appliances and devices before moving into your new home. This is another essential part of the pre-moving process to ensure your complete comfort later on. But, in this case, you need to think about the safety of your appliances and other delicate pieces you need to transport to the new place. This also goes for furniture, in case you have to organize the new layout from scratch. To reduce the stress that comes with the move, it’s always smart to get a proper moving truck so that you can deal with everything more efficiently, and thanks to affordable Budget truck hire deals, you can do exactly that.

Flooring installation

In general, taking care of the wall paint, furniture and appliances as well as dealing with electricity and plumbing tend to be the most common renovation practices every new home needs. But, this may not be everything if you want to make sure your new environment is perfect. In that sense, it’s important to check the condition of your floors as well. Investing in a new floor, and especially green flooring options, can boost your home’s value instantly, make the maintenance a lot easier, secure the floor durability and looks, and sometimes even help with insulation.

Kitchen and bathroom remodeling

Even though you dedicate a lot more time to decorating your living room and bedroom, kitchen and bathroom can make or break the homey feel of your new place. If you’re not satisfied with the look and feel of these two rooms, you probably won’t feel content with the home in general. So, if you know that you don’t fancy the current kitchen and bathroom in your new place, don’t rush with the move. Hire contractors so that you can remodel the kitchen and upgrade the bathroom to fit your needs and taste perfectly before you proceed with the move.

Aside from the obvious renovations that may involve electrical and plumbing work, it’s important to remember that your personal environment affects your mood greatly. In that respect, you should never settle for something that doesn’t make you happy and fulfilled. Therefore, don’t hesitate to renovate and tweak your new home into something perfectly suitable for your own peace of mind.

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.

Home Renovation Projects Worth The Investment

Home Renovation Projects Worth The Investment

Just as you deserve to live in a comfortable home, so does your home deserve a worthy makeover from time to time. When done properly, renovation projects can significantly increase the value of your property and make it more pleasant to live in, all in one stroke.

While certain investments focus on maximizing cosiness, others aim to improve appearance. More practical renovation projects even go as far as raising your level of security and reducing your energy losses.

Depending on your budget and ideas, there are always plenty of options available. Here are only some of the top home renovation projects that will take your home to the next level!

1. Upgrade Your Plumbing System

If you’re focused on staying in your home for good, upgrading an old or faulty plumbing system is highly advised. A fair number of homes experience leaks that result in dozens of gallons of water losses per day.

After investing in a new plumbing system, however, leaks and drainage blockages will be history. The new set of pipes will also ensure that you’re receiving a clean water supply, free of hazardous substances.

If you want to increase the safety and value of your home even further, you can also consider investing in monitoring devices that are remotely controlled and ensure that your plumbing system is operating at its max potential at all times.

For those trying to increase the value of their home before selling it, redoing the plumbing fixtures also pays off. As most potential buyers are looking forward to moving into a functional home that requires minimal adjustments, a faulty plumbing system can definitely be a deal breaker.

2. Exterior Cladding

If you're looking forward to giving your home a fresh and cozy look while enhancing its functionality, coating the exteriors of your house with timber cladding is a great solution.

Timber cladding is a popular construction method from the Middle Ages. With this eco-friendly technique, pieces of timber are installed over the interior or exterior walls.

While the solution is relatively cost-effective and quick to implement, it also comes with a set of numerous other benefits that might interest you or potential buyers.

It provides your home with outstanding thermal insulation, resulting in reduced use of energy for cooling or heating your home. Furthermore, your home will be protected by durable wood that provides an entirely new look.

3. Install a Porch

We all need to relax from time to time, and a porch happens to be the ideal place for that. Whether you intend to use it to host BBQ parties, sit under the sun, or simply increase the market value of your home, building a porch in your back or front yard can only benefit you.

If you already have one and aren’t sure what to do with it, consider repainting it and repairing any damaged sections. You are also advised to weather-proof your porch by installing an orangery and bi-folding doors. This will allow you to use the space at any time of the year.

4. Remodel Your Kitchen

Kitchen renovations come with a high return on investment for a good reason. Most people spend a fair amount of time in their kitchen; therefore they want it to be practical, modern, and good-looking.

Smaller kitchen renovation projects include painting the cabinets, replacing cabinet knobs, decorating the walls with moulding, and replacing curtains.

If you want to take on a kitchen renovation project of a higher scale, however, consider replacing out-dated appliances, cabinets, floors, and most importantly, the countertops, as well as the pipes.

5. Install a Surveillance System

In a world where crime is nothing out of the ordinary, making sure that your home is secure is crucial to your well-being. You can never be too safe.

As it happens, CCTV is one of the best ways to keep unwanted guests at bay. CCTV surveillance systems come in various shapes and provide different features that homeowners can use to make the most out of their security system. One such feature that most cameras offer is remote monitoring, which allows the user to see what’s going on inside or outside their house at any given time. An even better option would be to go for remote monitored CCTV that is hooked up to a control centre, where someone else will do the monitoring when you are not home.

Make sure to set cameras in locations that cover a lot of ground and represent primary points of entry. Some examples include balconies, backdoor, garage, and front door. Furthermore, to increase the efficiency of your security system, consider removing any vegetation around your house that is blocking the view of your cameras.

Final Words

Certain home renovation projects are bound to increase your comfort and add to the value of your home when done correctly. Before taking on any major quest, make sure to take your budget and needs into consideration. It is up to you to decide whether you want to increase the level of your security, make sure your plumbing is done right, or give your house an entirely new look. Hopefully, the solutions mentioned in this post will give you an idea of what you should do next and inspire you to step into action!

Guest Contributor, Kevin Jefferson