Seven Home Improvement Projects to Complete Before You Move Into Your New Home

When you buy a new home, it’s natural to get excited about wanting to move in and settle in as quickly as possible, putting off potential renovations—even the ones that will make you happier in the space—and other home projects until later. And sure, some renovations, like kitchen remodels or additions, require a lot of planning and are best scheduled when your bank account and stress levels have recovered from the home-buying process.

That said, there are some home projects that are best tackled right away—because they come with a lot of disruption, take a long time to pay off on the investment, or both.

Planting trees

If your property has outdoor space but no trees, the time to plant some is right away. Trees offer a lot of benefits—they beautify the property, provide shade that helps keep your house cool in the warmer months, and add serious value to your house.

But trees take decades to mature—20 to 30 years on average, thought some species will mature in just a few years. Depending on where you live and the variety of tree, waiting to plant might mean that the people who get to enjoy your lush, leafy outdoor space (and the added value it brings) will be the folks who buy the house from you.

Refinishing the floors

If your new house has old floors, don’t wait to refinish or replace them. The ideal time to sand, stain, and seal hardwood, tear out worn old planks, or remove ancient carpet is before you have all your furniture in place and you’ve transplanted your busy schedule to the new house. Even if you’re willing to move everything out of some rooms (or an entire floor), the dust and noise of refinishing flooring will probably drive you to move out for a few days or weeks. If you know you’ll need to redo those floors eventually, rip off the bandage and get it done before you move in. Then you can arrange your furniture with the knowledge that you won’t have to move it any time soon.

If you’re not going to replace or refinish old flooring, you should at least have a deep clean done before you move, especially if we’re talking about carpeting. Carpets trap dust, dirt, mold spores, and a host of other stuff—and this can all be deep down in the pile, so even a carpet that looks clean might not be. The easiest time to have the floors in your home cleaned is before you and your family are living on it.

Removing popcorn ceilings

If your home has popcorn ceilings you probably know you’re going to get rid of them eventually. There are two compelling reasons to do so right away, before you move in. One, removing popcorn ceilings is a dust nightmare, so getting the work done before your furniture, clothes, and everything else you own can be coated in a layer of grime will be the better option.

Two, you might need to worry about asbestos, depending on when your home was built and when those ceilings were installed. You’re well advised to test for it before scraping those ceilings off. If asbestos is present, the removal and remediation will be more complex, and you will have to vacate the house while it’s being done.

Painting your home's interior

Painting the interior of your home before you move in is one of the smartest home improvement projects you can do. First of all, a coat of paint will make even a new build home feel fresh and inviting. And painting the walls and ceilings of your house will be a lot easier when you don’t have to move or cover a ton of furniture, window treatments, or possessions.

Changing locks and codes

This is one project a lot of homeowners overlook—but it’s crucial: Change (or rekey) the locks and any security codes associated with the house. Homeowners tend to hand out keys to their home over the years—to contractors, neighbors, house cleaners, even dog walkers. And they’re not always great about remembering to collect them, so it’s possible a lot of people have keys to your house when you move in, or the codes to the alarm system you inherited. The time to change those keys and codes is before you move in and get caught up in everyday life and forget to do it.

And, yes, you should have the locks changed even if the house is a new build. The builder probably has master keys to those locks or a record of the alarm system codes, and you don’t want to rely on their discretion or competence when it comes to your security.

Replacing the windows

Replacement windows are expensive, so it’s no wonder people tend to put this project off. If the windows in your house are in decent shape (even if they’re old) delaying their replacement feels like money in your pocket.

But old windows, even if they’re functional, are going to be an eyesore, and they’re not going to be very effective in terms of soundproofing, nor are they very energy efficient. Delaying this project will doom you to years of drafts, water leaks, and being able to hear every car that drives past the house all too clearly. If you’d prefer more peace and quiet and lower utility bills, bite the bullet and replace those windows right away.

Air sealing

“Air sealing” a house is a process of identifying and eliminating gaps and openings that let your climate-controlled air escape and let the outdoor cold, heat, and/or humidity in. If your house is porous and lacks proper insulation, you’ll constantly lose the battle to keep its interior comfortable—and you’ll pay a lot for a losing cause, too.

Sealing up a house is a process of identifying air leaks (a process you can do yourself), then caulking and otherwise plugging up the gaps you identify. While you’re at it, take a look at the insulation in your attic, crawl space, or basement and consider having it upgraded (or added, if it’s missing) to make the house as snug as possible. Getting this done is a lot easier before you’ve moved in, and getting it done as soon as possible reduces the time you’ll be overpaying to heat or cool the place.