5 Home Improvement Projects for First-Time Home Buyers

All those years of helping your parents with yard work is about to be put to the test. That’s right! Buying your first home comes with your very own yard, and it’s up to you to take care of it. This is your chance to make it look the way you want it. Whether it’s adding flowers or trees, pruning those overgrown shrubs, or adding exterior lighting, landscaping is important because it can increase the value of a home. And, if done well, can be very appealing to look at. If you’re planning a big landscaping project that requires the removal of asphalt, dirt, concrete, or more, a roll-off dumpster is perfect for disposing of yard debris.

According to Rodney Gaumitz of Home Loan Investment Bank, most home buyers want to update flooring before moving in; “whether that be carpeting that needs to be scrubbed or replaced, or hardwood floors that look as though the previous owner’s cat used them as scratching posts.” Updated flooring instantly updates a home’s decor. The cost of carpeting depends not only on the quality of the carpet, but the design of it as well. Having carpets professionally cleaned is a cheaper alternative to replacing them altogether. Of course, if you have a steam cleaner, you could always clean the carpet yourself. If for some reason you have carpet in the kitchen like I used to have in my first apartment, just get rid of it. And since you bought the home, you have the option of doing just that.

One thing home buyers, especially first-time home buyers, don’t think about when purchasing a home is the lighting. It’s easily overlooked. Much like the color paint you choose can either make or break a room, so can the lighting in that room. Replacing old light bulbs with brighter ones can open and brighten up a room at the flick of the light switch. It’s amazing what track lighting or ceiling lighting can do to a room as opposed to a floor lamp.