Start Now! Begin House Projects When You Move In

**Our honesty policy: This post may contain affiliate links and I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. Some are, some aren't--I do some comparison shopping. The important thing is you will know exactly what we are talking about. Drop a note/comment if you have any questions on the products as these are materials and tools we use on our own projects.

How many HGTV shows have you watched where a family improves their current home to sell it and go buy another one? The homeowners pay the general contractor $10K and they get the biggest bang for their buck to address the main eyesores in their house. At the end, there is a big reveal and the house looks AMAZING. Why didn’t they do this before? Oh well, on to the new place!

I absolutely love Property Brothers: Buying and Selling! The shows are great sources of ideas and the guys are good looking, too. I know I have watched too many and will happily watch many more (and have nothing to show for it in my own house other than folding laundry… if I am super motivated, but I digress).

How many times have you thought to yourself: the family should just stay and enjoy the place? Sometimes the revealed remodel ends up being nicer than the new house. Forget about going through the hassle of packing, cleaning and moving!

I am also bothered by the fact that often the show’s writers play up the part where the family does not want to spend the money for a remodel. You know the homeowners already know they are going to go through with this before signing up for the show. On the other hand, there probably is a little reality there. Buying another home requires a down payment and other fees that all add up! Throwing out more money to fix a home you already are trying to detach yourself from is hard to swallow… even if the featured home needs some help to compete with the local comparable listings. Spending extra energy on the old home is mentally hard at this point in the process.

Riddle me this: a thought experiment

What if we change one thing in this situation: what if the homeowners saved up the same $10K when they first purchased their home and completed the home improvements soon after moving in?

Why wait until moving out? Enjoy a home’s improvements the entire time you live in a house! If you begin house projects now, you can maximize the time you enjoy the results even if you have been in your home for years.

Do you want a luxurious spa bathroom in your next house? Do you think the next owner of your current house would like one, too? Forget waiting to move into your next house. You could have it now!

Start small, but start now

Maybe you don’t have all the funds at the moment, but you could start with fluffy towels and bathmats. A glamorous light fixture and mirrored bathroom accessories* will also help set the tone. Small touches get you motivated to upgrade the rest of the bathroom to match. Then, when you have more money saved, you could update the vanity area: the cabinet, countertop, sink and/or faucet. The next phase could be the shower and/or bathtub.

If you choose wisely, your home will be just as classy when you want to sell as it is now. If water fixtures/ features are installed properly there will be no plumbing leaks, mildew forming in the walls, or a shower pan breakdown from an improper slope. After each daily use, take a few moments to admire your work as you wipe down the glass, tile and handle surfaces of your blinged out improvements.  This will prevent you from noticing hard water buildup and water spots as you walk through to the adjacent closet.

Timeless choices, proper installation and cleanliness all allow you to put your house on the market tomorrow! Or the day you decide to sell 20 years from now.

And now a little something from personal experience!

Growing up in a military family, we moved a few times. My parents bought a beautiful home at the beginning of Dad’s last assignment just prior to retirement from active duty. One of the first things they upgraded was the carpet. I remember the new house rule of taking off my shoes the day of installation. Once the new carpet fuzzies finally went away (seemingly years later)… it looked just as plush and felt just as vibrant. In fact, 22 years later, it looked exactly like it did the day it was installed when my parents had the carpets cleaned just before putting the house on the market .

Why did the carpet last so long? My parents bought a high quality carpet with a high quality pad. They also chose a neutral color (though this may not have been a consideration at the time, but a neutral color also appeals to the next home buyer). Then, we two kids helped vacuum the carpet once a week, keeping FOD (foreign object debris) to a minimum. Two reluctant kids at times… man, those stairs were a pain.

Do you like saving money?

Here is another angle to consider: what can you replace now that actually puts money back in your pocket? For example, new windows are probably on your radar if you a resident of someplace like Phoenix, AZ with single pane windows.  Adding new insulation and replacing an old water heater are also common energy-efficient household repairs.  You are paying yourself back for your own home improvement. The earlier you do this the more you maximize your savings!

Another benefit: time and energy savings. Do your projects now before you accumulate more stuff and have to move it out of the way. If you just upgraded to a larger home you don’t have the extra bedroom furniture for guests…yet… so, now is the perfect time to replace the carpet before you have to move any furniture.

Or even better: your earlier home improvements prevent unexpected bad news from a home inspection after accepting an offer on your home (remember, you took care of this already and benefited from the improvements!). I would like to present a fairly common home owner nightmare… uneven temperatures in your home.

An example of good ducting with strapping creating straight runs.

Why is the temperature uneven in your home?

1. The original heating and cooling plan does not account for differences in air flow over longer distances.
2. A bad connection from the ducting to a vent and your air conditioner is cooling off the attic instead of your living room.
3. Your ducting is doing loopty-loops in the attic slowing down the flow of air.
4. The return line is too small so your air conditioner is pumping all this cool air to the rooms but the air flow back to the unit is like sucking air through a straw!
5. All of the above.**

A home inspector will likely not stay long enough to notice temperature differences between rooms, but they could catch a disconnected air duct and rollercoaster ducting in the attic. If you take the time to find these problems and fix them now you get all the benefits mentioned above!

Are you convinced yet?

Take a moment right now. Look around. What can you change right now? Perhaps start with something small. Is there a faucet that drips from time to time? Is there a sink that drains slower than it used to?  What color bathroom mat would you like to sink your toes into while you are brushing your teeth?

As the examples illustrate, if you choose high quality materials with mass appeal, install them properly and keep up on the maintenance, you do not have to make last-minute changes prior to listing your home. Classic, high-end looking remodels properly done on your schedule within an affordable budget will also allow you to sell your home quicker, with fewer surprises for a higher price. Also, try to tackle comfort issues. When you have made your home look nice, it should feel nice, too.

A small win will get your momentum going. Once you have a small win you can move up towards bigger projects.

Enjoy your hard-earned money and make changes leisurely on your own schedule, but start now, long before moving out.

*Not an affiliate link, but I really think these mirrored accessories take my master bathroom to the next level of glamorous. Thank you, lady, for starting the collection, and friends who gave pieces as wedding gifts.

**My answer is E.  These are all problems in my current residence which this blog post reminds me needs to be done sooner than later!  Although we repaired the bad connection already since the fix was an easy win.