You purchase a home and you want make it feel like your home when you move in. I have a lot of people ask me, "Should I make the big changes before I move in?" It seems like a great idea because you avoid living in a construction zone and everything is new when you unpack. My question to them is,"What if you realize after you move in that you made a mistake while remodeling and need to remodel again to make your home function well for your family?" That means you spend more money to get the home you wanted.
That would be HORRIBLE! Exactly. This is what I suggest to people who want to make some changes to their home right after purchasing it:
- Make small changes to things that are driving you crazy - paint the wall, change a light fixture or get rid of the wallpaper in the Dining Room. (I did all of these at my home within the first month) *The one exception to this suggestion is if there is something that has to do with structural integrity or water infiltration that is a known issue - you need to address that right away.
- Take the first 6 months to a year and be an observer. Study how you use the spaces in your home. What spaces are used often, what spaces are rarely used or are dumping grounds for clutter and what spaces are missing that would make life a bit more efficient or enjoyable. Dream a little... (The dream I had for our home was to see more of the great view we have to the North.)
- After living in your home you are going to be able to be much more strategic and realistic about the changes you have been thinking about as you experience your home each day. What style are you drawn to, what spaces could be repurposed and what needs to be added.
A real life example:
It all started when we needed a larger shop for tools and equipment. Another builder mentioned he knew of a property. The rest is history. Here is the plan of the our home when we moved in. We did consider making some major changes before living there, but ended up taking our own advice and waited to see what we could learn from living there first.
After living there I realized I wanted to highlight the view from the back of the house. The Family Room addition to the North allows for lots of windows and allows the Kitchen to get deeper to accommodate a larger island. More views to the outside are available from the 4 Season Room addition to the East.
We also learned that we needed a bedroom on the first floor for older guests or a time when stairs are harder for us. We had used the original Living Room as our Office to try it out. Ultimately the Office moved to make room for a 2nd Primary Bedroom on the Main Level. Goodbye pink carpet....
I was originally planning to add on in a different place had a different idea for our Office, but after thinking a lot about my list of non-negotiables, this configuration checked all of the boxes. This option also left more walls intact and my contractor was happy about that.
Does this sound like a lot to figure out? We have compiled a free guide to help you navigate the beginning stages of the Remodeling Process. You will use your own observations from the living in your home to help form the requirements for your project. We can help you turn your non-negotiables into a home that works for how your family lives.
Download our free guide today to start the process!