July 12, 2025
As a real estate agent, I’ve seen it too many times: clients walk into their first home full of excitement and start dreaming about knocking down walls before the ink on the closing documents is even dry. And while I get the enthusiasm—trust me, there’s something empowering about finally owning your space—my advice is simple: slow down.
When you’re finally done renting, every quirk in your new home feels like a design opportunity. You finally get to say goodbye to bad lighting, peeling tiles, and oddly placed outlets.
But the truth is, you won’t fully understand how you live in your home until you actually live in it. That’s why a “wait and feel it out” approach to renovations can save you a lot of money, stress, and regret.
Think of your house like a relationship—you wouldn’t marry someone after the first date, right? The same principle applies to your home. You need time to figure out how you actually move through the space.
Do you cook every night or order in? Do you work from home in the kitchen or the living room? Where do the kids drop their backpacks and where does the dog love to nap?
The most successful renovations I’ve seen—whether DIY or done with a contractor—always come after homeowners get clear on how they use their space. One of my clients lived in their home for nearly a year before touching their outdated kitchen.
They realized a full gut wasn’t even necessary. Some cabinet paint, new lighting, and smart storage tweaks made a world of difference.
Renovating in stages also helps from a financial standpoint. With today’s home prices and high renovation costs, most buyers don’t have the budget to do everything at once. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s more common than you think.
Zillow even reported that fixer-uppers are selling for over 7% less than move-in ready homes, meaning buyers who are patient can get a better deal—and add value slowly, on their own timeline.
If you still want to make the place feel like yours right away, focus on small things that make a big impact: hang up art, swap out old light fixtures, change cabinet hardware, or paint a room. These details give you a sense of ownership while you get a feel for the bigger renovations ahead.
Remember: your home doesn’t have to be “done” all at once. It’s okay to take your time—and honestly, that’s usually when the best design decisions happen.
Disclaimer: This content is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, legal, or insurance advice.
