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Whether you buy or let, getting the keys to your new home and moving in should be a joyous event.
Just think, the weeks and months of stress and frustration are finally over! So why is it that many people move into their new home and feel disappointed?
Over the last few months I have seen many family, friends and colleagues battle with the property market, secure mortgages, or have to deal with difficult landlords. Finally, they achieve their dream home only to feel let down once they have moved in.
It is true that most of them have had a lengthy wish list - great location, good schools, large double bedrooms, period features, attractive gardens, and off road parking (an absolute luxury in my area). Inevitably some compromises had to be made but on the whole the properties chosen have been great and full of potential.
Why the Problems?
With finances tighter than expected this year and mortgages/home loans harder to get hold of, the improvements needed to make sure your new house ‘feels like home’, are not always immediately possible. Consider the compromises. Have you been buying or renting a property that needs work? Are you securing a totally new or fully refurbished property? Until you can completely afford a major refurbishment or those special finishing touches living in your dream home doesn’t feel as good as you thought it would! A case of ‘New Home Blues’ may quickly set in...
What can you do if you find yourself in the same situation?
Is the brown shag pile carpet and avocado bathroom suite you initially thought was OK getting you down? Your own furniture doesn’t quite give your new home the ‘show home’ look you had hoped for? Don’t panic!
Here are some helpful suggestions to help banish your blues:
- Don't rush to the local DIY centre or carpet warehouse and order the first thing you come across.
- Avoid doing things twice. Don’t replace kitchen cupboard doors if you are planning to rip out the entire kitchen in a few months time.
- Make an objective list of things you want to improve. Start with your biggest bug bear then revisit your budget!
- Consider HOW you use the space. Do you need to work from home? Could your dining room be better used as a family/teenage room? How long do you intend to live in the property?
- Even if the property looks clean have the place professionally cleaned from top to bottom. Don’t forget the carpets especially if you don’t like them but have to live with them for a while. Cleansing a space thoroughly always makes it feel better.
- Claim ownership with a fresh coat of paint. This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to make your property feel more like your home.
- Did you borrow more money than you needed to buy your house? Do you have savings set aside for the task in hand? Make sure you treat this money like gold dust. Have a separate account and only take money out when you really need to buy something. Home improvements ALWAYS cost more than you think. Many people get carried away and often blow the whole amount on a new kitchen, forgetting that they really planned to put in an extra bathroom or had a leaking flat roof to repair!
- Call in a professional. Think about using the services of an Interior Designer to help coordinate your ideas. A professional Interior Designer provides you with an objective view of how you can maximise your property’s potential. You will SAVE time and money. Most Interior Designers will work on projects for a fixed fee which you can plan for within your budget costs. Whether you need expert advice and help to find the right wall colour or to plan a full refurbishment in the future, sourcing a good Interior Designer will help you define your ideas and make your dream home a reality.
- And finally: Stake your claim. Start being creative. Make one small change at a time before you too get the ‘NEW HOUSE BLUES’!
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