Tips for the first-time homeowner
By Thumbtack Staff•Last updated Sep 5, 2019
Last updated Sep 5, 2019
Congrats, you bought your first home! And it’s a fixer-upper! And you have no money left! To be fair, there are probably some things you love and some things you’d love to change – but where to start?
First step: make a list of EVERYTHING you want to rip out or remodel. It’s just a list, you’re not committing to anything, so dream big.
Next: prioritize. Get realistic about what you can afford now and what needs to wait. If you’re looking for instant gratification, focus on the things that require minimal effort but deliver maximum impact.
Change the wall color
Just because every room was freshly painted when the house went on the market doesn’t mean you can’t repaint it. The previous homeowner chose a neutral shade they liked. It’s your house now—what do you like? If you need help picking colors, find a color consultant or interior designer to narrow down the options. For the actual work, you can always DIY, but hiring a painter gets it done much faster.
Update the floors
Unless the carpet is brand new and you love it, there’s no reason to keep it. Hardwood floors add a designer feel, and there are lots of options for the wood and finish. If the wood underneath is in decent shape, a hardwood installation pro can refinish it and replace a few boards if needed. If you found a floor on Pinterest that you love, your installer can make that happen, too.
Refresh the bathroom
Paint the walls, change the hardware, add a new mirror, and switch out the lighting fixture—these are all quick, easy, budget-friendly ways to give the bath a mini-makeover. If the aquamarine tile from the 70s is something you can’t live with, talk to a contractor about your options. If you’re not changing the footprint, it really is just a facelift.
Paint your kitchen cabinets
Obsessing about that to-die-for kitchen on Pinterest? Create a board, name it “Someday,” and pin all your dreams there. For now, focus on what you can do to make the kitchen feel fresh without the hefty price tag of a remodel. Cabinets are a good place to start—think new paint and updated hardware. This is another place where you could DIY it, but then you’ll have to take all the cabinet doors off and put them back on yourself. Exactly. Leave it to the painting pro.
Let there be new lights
From the bathroom to the dining room to the kitchen, new lighting fixtures instantly make a space feel updated instead of dated. Go bold with a chandelier, add ambient lighting to walls, or replace the pendants over the kitchen island—the right lights distract and draw the eye away from everything else on your to-do-over list. If you bought an older house, it may be a good idea to consult an electrician before you install the fixtures.
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