Why It’s Best to Make Upgrades Before You Move In

Upgrades

Before you move into your new home, make upgrades that will add functionality and value.

If you’re able to, make upgrades before you move in. And there are five great reasons to make them before you do:

  1. Upgrades add value to the investment you’ve made in your new home
  2. They improve the function of your home
  3. Upgrades help you convey your personality
  4. They make your new home feel like home right away
  5. And inconveniences, later on, are brought to a minimum

Which Upgrades Should You Make Before You Move In?

  1. Kitchen

The kitchen is the most expensive room in the house. A great one meets your family’s needs. And upgrades that improve the quality and function of your kitchen add value. You’ll gain a deep appreciation for your home, too.

  • Replace the old appliances with high-end, energy-efficient, or water-saving appliances.
  • Most breakfast bar counters or islands are 42” high. Lower yours to 36 inches to make it more accessible.
  • Change the countertops to quartz.
  • Brighten up the countertops. Add lighting under the cupboards to illuminate your workspaces.
  • Make fixtures match your hardware. A brushed bronze faucet should match your brushed bronze cabinet pulls.
  1. Bathroom

When updating your new bathroom(s), think about the needs you have currently as well as those you’ll have in the future. Will your family grow? Do you plan to entertain often? The answers to these questions and others like them will help determine the upgrades you will want to make in your bathroom(s).

  • Install a double sink
  • Build walk-in showers
  • Use decorative shower, floor, or wall tile.
  • Add custom lighting or fixtures
  • Hang lots of shelves for more storage
  1. Kitchen and Bathroom

Cabinets in both the kitchen and bathroom affect the function and appearance of your home in a big way. Installing new cabinets before you move in and start unpacking helps you get and stay organized right off the bat. But don’t throw out the old cabinets. Hang them in the garage or attic to help you get and stay organized there, too.

  1. Floors

I’m sure it goes without explanation, but it’s definitely easier to upgrade flooring while the new home is empty. There’s no furniture to contend with!

  1. Electrical Wiring

Older homes usually have outdated wiring. We discovered the need for additional outlets throughout our 80-year-old home. There aren’t many, and the ones we do have are in odd places.

Walk through your house and plan updates for the electrical wiring. Then, hire an electrician. Discuss adding outlets and light switches for better function. There may even be some light switches that need to be rewired to properly connect with the right light fixtures.

  1. Internet Service

Research and find a company that will improve security and internet speed in your new home. Also, consider having the internet wired throughout the whole house. This will allow you to install electronics such as security cameras, for example, in any room. And when the internet is wired throughout the whole house, you’ll keep outside users and hackers from accessing your network. Full-house internet is a plus for home security!

  1. Storage

If your new home is light on storage, you might want to seriously consider installing closets throughout your house. Storage helps you unpack completely and organize your home the way you want at a pace you want. You can never have too much storage!

  1. Laundry Room

If your new house includes a laundry room rather than a laundry closet, turn it into a pantry, drop zone, and/or mud room. Utilize it fully! Rearrange the washer and dryer hookups to make room for pantry storage and a utility sink. If it’s located close to the garage door where your family enters the house, add a bench, boot tray, hooks for shoes and umbrellas, and cubbies for backpacks.

Do yourself a huge favor. If you’re able, make upgrades before you move in. As you can see, the benefits are extremely homeowner-friendly. You’ll enjoy them right away and long-term.

Need more suggestions on what to upgrade in your new home? Ask Charles D’Alessandro. With over 30 years of real estate experience in the Brooklyn area, he can tell you which upgrades will give you “the most bang for your buck” and those that will serve you and your family well. Contact Charles D’Alessandro, your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate, at (718) 253-9700 ext. 206 or click here.


Charles D’Alessandro

Your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent with Fillmore Real Estate

718-253-9600 ext. 206

[email protected]

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