Improvements First Time Homeowners Should Tackle First

Guest Writer Sally Norton

Image courtesy of Unsplash

You have saved enough money to purchase your first home not long ago, but don't be so excited just yet. There may be some additional expenses coming your way. Being a first-time homeowner, chances are you've acquired a property that isn't all that perfect - either due to the lack of knowledge or money. However, that doesn't mean your home can't become perfect. With certain adjustments, you can very well turn that ugly duckling into the house of your dreams. This article will cover all the necessary information regarding the improvements first-time homeowners should tackle first. And don't worry, most of them are actually inexpensive while still providing a significant return on investment.

Improvements First-Time Homeowners Should Tackle First

A house doesn't instantly become a place you can call home. It takes days of adjusting it to actually become worthy of that title. Some properties require little to no investment, while the others use up your money, along with your time. Regardless of the amount of work needed around your house, it would definitely flourish if you were to improve it slightly. With that in mind, keep on reading to find out just what you can do to spruce up that latest asset of yours!
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Repaint Your Home
​You may not believe it, but paint can actually give a whole new life to an otherwise lifeless property. It's also one of the most straightforward projects you can tackle. You can even DIY it! The amount of money you will spend on painting, of course, varies based on the size of the property. Nonetheless, painting the entire house shouldn't cost you more than a few hundred bucks. Furthermore, these days, companies producing paint have improved their products significantly. This means you can easily achieve good coverage with just one coat, thus contributing to lower costs.
 
To ensure none of your belongings get paint smeared all over them, perhaps, you are better off coating your walls before moving in. Once that has been dealt with, you can continue bringing things to your home. Remember, your possessions should only be handled by reliable movers you can trust. When looking to pick a reputable company for the task, perform your due diligence by reading through moving reviews. Only this way will you be able to spot a potential scam.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders in terms of sprucing up the look of first-time homeowners' properties.

Brighten the Place Up
​Much like paint, lighting has a way of drastically impacting the perception of one's home. Poorly lit areas can make a person feel cramped - almost as if they were trapped in a tiny space. Bright rooms, on the other hand, give off a feeling of spaciousness. You definitely want this for your house, too, so pay special attention to lighting! Of course, this doesn't mean you must invest in brand new fixtures, lamps, and chandeliers. In fact, you will still see a great difference by simply switching regular bulbs with their LED versions. The latter come in a variety of colors, too. It's up to you to choose the one you believe best suits your interior.

Update Flooring
Many first-time homeowners lean towards hardwood flooring rather than tiles. Over the last couple of years, the quality of synthetic flooring has significantly improved. Thanks to that, those interested in updating their flooring have a chance to do so at an affordable price. They also needn't worry about rapid deterioration. Nevertheless, tiles are still a popular option and are easier to maintain. As far as how much the actual undertaking costs, the answer largely depends on factors such as the chosen material, square footage, the cost of labor, and even location. On average, though, you are looking at $10 to $15 per square foot of tiles and as little as $6 to $23 per square foot of hardwood flooring.

Renovate the Bathroom
On the list of renovation projects that improve a home's value, bathroom remodeling ranks exceptionally high. Full-on remodeling, which includes new plumbing, complete retiling, flooring installation, and more, is pretty costly. At the same time, certain cosmetic upgrades aren't that ridiculously priced but will still improve the appearance of your home. This can be anything from replacing the old toilet with a new one to covering walls with aesthetically pleasing wallpaper. Of course, if your property is in such shape that it requires you to spend thousands of dollars on a bathroom renovation, then, sadly, there isn't much that can be done in terms of lessening the financial burden.
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Renovate the Kitchen
Alongside bathrooms, kitchens are the selling point of properties. If you were ever to sell, remodeling your kitchen would have proven a smart idea as it drives the home's worth up. A kitchen is also one of those high-traffic areas, so it isn't unusual that many first-time homeowners want this room in its best shape possible.
 
Depending on the condition of the current kitchen, you are either going to deal with a large-scale remodel or a minor one. You may want to change the layout altogether, switch the old appliances, replace cabinetry and countertops. The project can end up being pricey, with it costing more than $30,000 even. Naturally, it all depends on the materials and the size of the kitchen.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Kitchens sell homes, which is why a kitchen remodel may very well
increase your home's worth.

Fix Up the Systems
​Prior to purchasing, you've probably been made aware of the faults in the HVAC and electrical systems, if there were any. After all, a home inspector's job is to inform you of these. If yes, you already know what must be fixed, and it's better to do so as soon as possible to avoid having to deal with additional problems. This isn't something you can do on your own. Enlist the help of an experienced electrician or contractor to fix everything up for you.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

​Never attempt dealing with electrical work by yourself!
Instead, contact a professional to do it for you!

This isn't the end in terms of improvements first-time homeowners should tackle first. It all comes down to the condition of the property upon purchase. If the house has been recently renovated, there may be absolutely nothing for you to do other than decorate. We sure hope that is the case!

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Sally Norton is a freelance copywriter based out of Miami, with a flare for writing optimized articles. Her experience is focused on moving, travel, real estate and overall guides to help people with some challenging projects and endeavors. In her spare time, Sally enjoys yoga and walks with her dogs - Mane & Rex.