5 Home Improvement Tips for First Time Home Buyers

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So, if you’ve come to this page, it’s likely that you’ve just bought your first home - congratulations! Buying a home is such a huge achievement and it’s something you should be very proud of. 

After you’ve bought your place, you may be thinking… what next? Well, it’s time to make your mark on your home, inject some personality, and ideally future-proof it for the years ahead. If that sounds like something you’re interested in, read on for five home improvement tips for first-time buyers. 

1. Plan, plan, plan 

Getting a clear plan in place before you begin any renovations is key. If you don’t have it already, start a home folder and make sure to file away important documents and plans in a safe place, so you can refer to them easily. If you’ve got big plans, then make sure that you know the building regulations and planning permissions that you need to have in place before you begin. There are various online planning websites that can help you get organized.

2. Set a schedule 

Ensure that you know exactly what jobs need to be done and in what order. Traditionally total home renovating means stripping out and removals first, then structural works, plumbing, wiring and heating, then onto the walls and the floors, then installing bathrooms and fitting a kitchen and finally undertaking decorations. This general order means that nothing important gets missed and you’ll know in what order you need to hire contractors and builders. Having this schedule in mind will also help you budget for the works and see where you can save costs.

3. Tackle the hardest or most expensive jobs first 

This is one of the best ways to approach home improvements - ensuring that you’ve got expensive or complex renovations out of the way first means that you’ll be able to get done what definitely needs to get done. It will then give you the time, space and energy to crack through the other jobs. 

4. Look at what you can do yourself 

If you’re on a tight budget, it’s worth looking at what jobs you can do yourselves. It’s amazing how much you can do with a can-do attitude and YouTube, so take a look at the list of jobs you have and see what you can do - it can save you thousands. Jobs could include wallpaper stripping, painting, paneling and even replacing kitchen cabinets. It’s remarkable how much money you can save, and you’ll also get a great sense of satisfaction that you’ve helped to create your new home. 

5. Pick the right professionals 

It’s inevitable when undertaking home improvements that you’ll need to call in some professionals. Make sure to check that each contractor working in your home has the right certification and background checks. Home remodeling is an expensive undertaking, but hiring the right people can mean the difference between a gorgeous new home and costly mistakes. 

Hopefully, this article has given you some things to think about when it comes to renovating your first home. Good luck!