When you decide to move to a new place, packing and unpacking is not the only tough part. The excitement of a new home and the fear of uncertainty might overwhelm you. But the rollercoaster of emotions should not distract you from the important home improvement tasks you must align before your move.
Although you can carry out small repairs even after you move, you must handle the big projects before you move in. This way, your family will be safe from any mishaps or harmful chemicals.
So, here are seven home improvements projects to handle before you move to a new place:
Get the Roofing Done
Zillow named Charlotte as the hottest housing market in 2023, with a median house price of $399k. If you’re moving to an expensive city like Charlotte, it is easy for you to lose track of your budget.
Many property owners invest in roofing and bathroom remodeling to get better value for their property. Others don’t have the budget to get expensive maintenance work done before a sale. So, instead of opting for an expensive place staged by professionals, select a place that requires a bit of work.
Once, you have your eye on the place you’d like to call home, you can opt for a reliable Charlotte Roofing Company to level up the place. Charlotte is known to experience extreme weather, such as heavy rainfall in August, which might damage roofs. It would be best to let your selected roofing company take a look at any roof damage that might need repairing before you move in.
You can even get the doors and windows replaced and the siding upgraded to completely transform the house’s look.
Paint the Interior
You wouldn’t believe the difference that a fresh coat of paint can make to the interior of the house. Apart from the aesthetic appeal it adds, a fresh coat of paint also protects the walls from wear and tear.
If you have the budget, you can even go one step up and change the colors of the rooms to complement the color of the furniture you have. The paint’s finish or texture also makes a whole lot of difference to the look of the room. The same room could look dramatically different with high gloss or matte paint.
Pro Tip: Make sure to get the paintwork done before you move in because the smell might trigger allergies. Also, if you move your belongings before the paint job, you’ll need to cover everything to make sure the paint doesn’t ruin anything.
Change the Flooring
Most homeowners don’t change the flooring of the place when they are selling because it is a major expense. Many new homeowners also don’t change it because of the same reason. However, now there are many inexpensive flooring options available if you don’t have the budget to get hardwood flooring.
Vinyl flooring is a good, inexpensive option. However, if the flooring is fine, you could even cover it with a carpet till you think you have saved enough to change it.
However, if you want to change the flooring in the new house, consider doing it before the move. This way, you can skip the hassle of placing your furniture elsewhere when the flooring work is being carried out.
Remove Popcorn Walls and Ceilings
If you’ve purchased a home that was constructed when popcorn ceilings and walls were popular, chances are that there is a room or two that has it. While this style was great for hiding imperfections, the material used for making the bumps on the wall contained asbestos and other harmful substances. So, even if it isn’t an eye sore for you, it’s better to get it smoothed out by a professional.
However, since the task is messy, you would want the professionals to finish it before you move your things into the new house.
Upgrade the Closets
Even if you have decluttered your stuff before you move to your new home, you will need closet space and storage options.
When finalizing the house, ensure you see whether the closets need to be upgraded. If they are not in good condition or don’t have ample shelves, you might want to upgrade them to suit your needs. You can get a professional to do it for you or add the shelves and rods yourself if you want to save up.
Get the Place Deep Cleaned
Even if the place is seemingly clean and free from pests, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is. Pests could be hiding in the nooks and crannies of the house and would multiply to form an infestation when you leave food trays in the kitchen or fruits in the basket.
Moreover, many neighborhoods have houses that install chemical barriers for pests. If you don’t do it, colonies of bugs and insects will make your new house their home, even if they weren’t in the house before.
Even the HVAC system and air ducts can have pests residing in them. The air ducts are also filled with dust and debris you would want to remove before moving in. So, hiring a professional pest control company and an air duct cleaning company is necessary before packing and moving.
Change the Locks
Changing the locks is also one of the essential tasks before the big move. You don’t know how many people owned keys to the house before you purchased it. So, for your family’s safety, change the locks before you move in. You could even get locks from a hardware store and change them yourself if you want to save up on labor costs.
Make sure you change the locks of all the points of entry in the house and storage areas, including the garage!
Final Words
Even a well-staged house needs some repairs and improvements so you can get a sense of belongingness. But when you select a house that needs a bit of work, you can save on accommodation costs and make changes according to your taste and needs.
But even if you choose a house that doesn’t have plumbing issues or structural damage, some home improvement projects like deep cleaning and changing the locks are essential to keep you and your family safe.
