There’s no doubt about it – buying a new House is an exciting time! Many homeowners can’t wait to put their own stamp on their new home with fresh paint, updated flooring, new lighting and other customizations.

But, if you find yourself with a fixer-upper, you can bet that you have larger renovations on your hands, like a new kitchen or bathroom, basement remodel or even an addition.

Projects, such as these, take a lot of thought, planning and money to complete. That’s why it’s recommended live in your new home for six months to a year before swinging the sledgehammer.

Here are five reasons to consider before diving into a major renovation project right away:

1. Living in the home can change your vision

You may have grand ideas for what updates you’d like to complete on your new house as soon as you take possession. But, until you actually live in the home every day, it’s difficult to know how you’ll use the house and its spaces.

For example, you may have immediate plans to renovate your kitchen and remove walls on your main floor. While this may seem like a great idea at the time, in actuality, you may not choose the best floorplan for your family without actually experiencing the home’s flow.

Ideally, your real-life daily experiences in the house should drive your renovation decisions; not your early ideas of how you want your home to function.

2. Renovations can add significant stress

Buying a home is a huge undertaking – one that brings a lot of change and can be overwhelming at the best of times, especially when it comes to finances. Adding a major renovation right away can add even more stress and take away the excitement that comes with remodeling a home.

Instead of rushing into a major project, like a second storey addition or kitchen renovation, stop and enjoy your new home, its neighbourhood and surroundings. After such a hectic life change, you need to recharge your batteries to ensure you are in the right frame of mind to make sound decisions that come with a large renovation project.

3. Give yourself time to carefully plan

Any renovation, no matter the size or scope, should be planned with care. You need to address your desired wants and needs and uncover any problems within the home that need solving. To fully understand these aspects, you need to live in the home to help guide your renovation decisions and priorities.

This also includes ensuring ample time for the design process, which is one of the most critical steps in any renovation. There any many mechanical, structural and aesthetic considerations to be made, which is why it’s best to work with a professional designer who can help understand your needs, create a plan and select the products and finishes to make your dream a reality.

If you are planning a major addition to your new home, you’ll also need time to account for obtaining possible zoning variances and required building permits.

4. Planning a renovation to a home you don’t officially own has its difficulties

Many homeowners want to break ground on their next renovation project the day they take possession of their home. While this is very appealing, planning a renovation to a house that you don’t officially own is difficult.

Before construction can begin, you’ll need frequent access to bring contractors and designers into the home. This can be a challenge to coordinate, as most home purchase agreements only include one or two short visits prior to the closing date.

5. Waiting lets you save for your dream project

Waiting for six months to a year before you start renovating your new home will help you establish a budget, plan your project accordingly and save the required funds to complete the projects that will have the greatest impact on your day-to-day life.

The cost of a kitchen renovation, second-storey addition or bathroom renovation varies considerably, depending on size, scope, existing parameters and goals. For most homeowners, their budget will ultimately decide what renovation projects they can take on now and what will have to wait.

Take Your Home for a Test Drive

Like a car, you’ll want to take your new home for an extensive “test drive” before starting any improvements. You may be surprised at how your intended plans or priorities for the house change after living there for some time.

Taking the time to get to know your house better will also leave you time to research construction options in your area. Many homeowners prefer to hire one company to handle all aspects of their project – this is referred to as “design build”.

A design build firm, like Inspire Homes, partners with residential clients to fulfill all project aspects, including design work, obtaining of zoning variances and building permits, general construction and construction management services. As an award-winning, full-service firm proudly serving Central Ontario, we specialize in complete residential renovations, house additions and custom homes that are tailored to meet the individual needs of our homeowners.

Whether your project is a house addition in Toronto, a bathroom renovation in Etobicoke or a kitchen renovation in Caledon, Inspire Homes provides a full range of dynamic solutions to help you create the home of your dreams!

To learn more or to discuss your next project, please feel free to contact us.