What to Do After You Buy a House
Jan 9, 2010 Home Improvement
After months of searching for a house to buy, you found it, made and offer, which was accepted, got into escrow, went to the closing table and became the proud owner. Now what?
If the home that you bought needs some home improvements, there are some things that you can do before moving in. If you need to move in right away, follow these easy tips.
Before unpacking, take a note pad and go around the home to look for things that may need improvement or fixing. Categorize these in three columns: To fix right away, intermediate – can wait, and will become a future project.
Now that you know what you have to take care of right away, you can unpack, but try to leave room around the areas that you are going to work in right away. Since the rest of the items in the other two columns can wait, you can unpack on those areas. Stuff will be moved when it is time to fix those. The items in the first column are your priority.
Take each item that needs fixing and create a budget for it. Look at alternatives to save money, and for new and different ways to approach the project. Look for discounts and free resources too.
If you need to hire a professional for some of those priorities, do that first. Get several estimates before choosing someone. Leave the DIY items for later. Besides, you want to make sure you can cover the cost of a professional before spending the money in “do it yourself” projects.
Give some method to your madness; come up with a good working plan and systematic approach. It will save you time and money in the end. Prioritize by starting on the rooms that are most essential, such as bathroom and kitchen.
If your friends and family are lending a hand, revise your working plan with them so everybody is on the same page. Assign areas of responsibility to boost productivity and complete the project without wasting time and resources. Take time off, and rest. This will help you to be more productive in the end.
If you run into a challenging situation, and you are not sure or qualified to fix the problem, hire a professional to avoid causing damage to other areas. It will save you money. For example, if you have a plumbing issue, and you know nothing about plumbing, call a plumber. You do not want to spend hundreds of dollars down the road because of a bad leak from something that just wasn’t fix the way it needed to be.
Finally, take your time. Once you have taken care of the immediate and most important items, there is no need for you to rush. Keep watching your budget, saving money, and looking for better alternatives. There is no need to finish everything right away. Moreover, enjoy your new castle.
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