How Much Should You Customize a Home Before You Move In?

You're in the middle of a completely empty room. All that's there is a bucket of paint and a paintbrush, and the moving truck is getting here in less than a week.

What do you do first? And what do you do at all?

If you're short on time, everything feels urgent, and it's hard to think rationally. Your instinct tells you to fix whatever you can ASAP because, once the furniture is here, everything will be much harder. And some things are absolutely easier to do without the furniture in the way, like new floors.

But what usually ends up happening is that people rush into making decisions, and then they're left with a mess – figuratively and literally.

What to Think About Before You Make Any Changes

Moving is very stressful already, but when you have to think about renovations on top of that, it's even worse. The first thing you need to know about an empty house is that it's a liar. Every room looks like it has infinite potential, but the only reason why it looks like that is that there's nothing there.

There's no clutter, no furniture, no foot traffic, so everything you see looks like a possibility. And until you actually move in, you won't be able to tell that that's only an illusion.

The problem is that you might assume one thing now, and then completely change your mind after moving in. You might think that you'll spend most of your time in the living room only to discover that you like the breakfast nook the best.

Also, remember that everything will change once the furniture comes. That spacious, sunny room won't be anywhere near as big once you put in the sofa, the bookshelves, the light fixture, and a fresh coat of paint.

Another trap many people fall into is thinking that cosmetic problems are actual issues.

For example, a bathroom that's dated can seem like something that has to be torn down and redone from scratch. But if it's clean and functional, that's not necessary. You can tear it down, sure, but that's only if you want to. It's not something that MUST happen in order for you to live in the house.

The changes that deserve the majority of your attention are the ones that are the most permanent.

The kitchen is a good example of this because of how complex it is. If you want to change a faucet, that's quick and easy. But if you're redoing the layout or adding some high-quality elements, such as inset Starmark cabinets, that's a totally different story.

The Parts That Need to Be Customized Before Moving In

There's some work that can be done after you've already moved in, but the rest of the stuff should definitely be done before because it'll be too hard and too messy to do it after.

Flooring, Painting, and Messy Renovations

If you want to replace the carpet or refinish hardwoods, you should know that both are very messy, and the equipment used for it needs a lot of room to work. If you already have furniture in the house, it'll be a nightmare, so do it beforehand.

Painting is messy, too. Even if you tape everything carefully, you'll still have drips to deal with afterward.

Electrical, Lighting, and Technology Upgrades

Upgrading outlets, changing where the lights are placed, and improving the internet are all things that have a huge effect on your daily life, so it makes sense that you want to do them. But it should be done before you move in.

This type of work includes cutting drywall and running new cables, which is dusty and messy. If you have to move furniture in order to do it, it'll be much harder, and you'll have a lot more cleaning to do when it's done.

Decisions About Kitchen and Bathroom Layouts

These 2 rooms are the most complicated ones because they have a lot going on.

If you want to switch up the layout, that's fine, but you should know that it'll cause major disruption. That won't be an issue if you're not living in the house yet, but if you are, not only are you going to be living in a mess, but you'll also be living without a kitchen and bathroom for a while.

This isn't impossible, of course, but you have to admit that even the idea of that gives you chills.

Conclusion