Buying your first home can be an exciting time, as you embark on a brand-new adventure. Many first-time home buyers opt for a home renovation project to create their dream home interior and make sure everything is perfect before they move in. When doing so it’s important not to get ahead of yourself and head straight to the nearest DIY shop to purchase paint, fixtures, and fittings. Instead, you should do your homework and establish a clear plan of action.
Sufficient preparation is key for a renovation. You need to make sure that you know exactly what steps you need to take, including deadlines and budgets. This will save you time in the long run, as you won’t have to plan as you go.
In this guide, we will provide you with helpful tips that are essential for renovations, especially if you are a new home buyer.
Table of Contents
Setting goals and the budget
Taking time to think about and plan out exactly what you want from your renovation project should be your first step. You need to think about your goals, priorities, and how much you need to spend to achieve your desires. Planning out which area is going to be renovated first and which area needs the most attention can help you create a structured plan of when you will be doing what. This will also help you stay focused and avoid any potential problems.
Knowing your budget in advance is crucial. It will determine every aspect of your renovation project, as it will help you identify what kind of products you can purchase, the services you can use, and the materials you will use. If you don’t have a clear budget set, you can miss out on deals and it could lead to overspending.
It’s also important to have contingency funds in place in case of overspending. A fund of around 20% of your total budget should be in place to cover any unexpected expenses so that you aren’t panicking if a situation arises. There are also ways you can receive help with home improvements, such as loans and grants.
Consider the exterior
When completing a renovation as a first time home buyer, the outside of the home can often be forgotten and not receive the same love and attention as the interior. It’s very important to consider the outside of your home, as that is what everyone else will see. So, if you care about how you come across to other people, having a nice exterior would benefit you.
Using a Stihl Lawn Mower to make sure your grass is cut and shaped neatly, or making sure your hedges or plants are well-kept, are great ways to improve your home exterior. You can also install new windows and frames, or give them a new coat of paint to make it look slick. On top of this, new brickwork and a fresh jet wash to remove grime are extra things you can do to improve your home.
Prioritise functionality
The priority when renovating your new home should be functionality and your lifestyle. You should think about each room individually and think about what would work best for your needs, instead of thinking strictly from an aesthetic standpoint. Every aspect of a functional home is designed to make our lives easier and more enjoyable, so if this is ignored, you will have a pretty home that isn’t good to live in.
Perhaps the most important room to have good functionality is the kitchen. Enhancing your kitchen can greatly benefit your daily routine and make your living space much more enjoyable. Even though you want it to look as nice as possible, a kitchen that doesn’t function properly is no use.
Get inspired
Before you embark on your first renovation journey, it’s important to know what designs and styles you want to use throughout your process. Taking inspiration from social media platforms, home design websites, and magazines can help you with designing your home interior. Eco-friendly home improvement designs are all the rage at the moment, so might find yourself opting for this too.
You can also sketch your inspired designs so that you can get a feel of what it would look like in the rooms you are renovating. Creating a bank of your ideas and inspiration on a mood board, in a scrapbook, or on your mobile phone is a good way to remember what designs you want to use and visualize them as you go.
Quality matters
While a budget may have to be in place and you should seek the best possible deals, you shouldn’t skimp out with material purchases. Using quality materials that ensure longevity and durability will make your renovations last longer. Cutting costs on materials could lead to costly repairs in the future, which could end up costing more than buying the better materials in the first place.
Doing the necessary supplier research should not be overlooked, as you must get the best material for the renovation at the best price. You should take as long as you need to get the materials required, as purchasing anything wrong could hinder your process.
