How to Prioritize Home Repairs and Renovation Projects as a New Homeowner

Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays, especially if you’re a new or first-time homeowner!  It can be tempting to want to tackle the laundry list of projects that lie ahead of you as soon as you move in, but we’re here to help you press pause.  You’ve got to resist the urge to start demoing walls and ripping out the cabinets and planning a full “east wing of the palace” level addition. Let us help you figure out how to prioritize home repairs and renovation projects as a new homeowner!

On today’s blog, we’re going to share our industry expertise on how to prioritize your first home repairs and renovation projects (and trust us, with more than 2 decades of experience under our tool-belts, we've seen it all!)

We’ll be breaking down which projects are an absolute must the moment you get your keys at closing, versus what is a short term within 6 months, versus what you should table until you really get to know the home.  By the time you’re done reading our blog, you’ll be armed and ready to take on those holiday gatherings with ease, knowing your home is fit as a fiddle and ready for friends and family!

What are the first things you should do as a new homeowner?

As soon as you get your keys, head on over to the property and make a few quick changes!  First, you’ll be focusing on all of the locks and security. Change all the exterior locks out with new sets and make sure to duplicate the keys for each family member, plus a spare.  Reset any garage and security system pin pads with a brand new personalized pin code. Reset any Smart Keypad entries with new pins and usernames.  Call any automated security system companies and update the credit cards, names, and phone numbers for all household members.  Reset all security cameras to your personal accounts and register them under your app login/credit card subscriptions.  This is a simple step that helps ensure that your brand new investment is safe and secure!

Other important tidbits to do include: Deep clean the house before you move anything in, and we really do mean top to bottom!  (Hiring a cleaner is a great idea since they’ll leave no inch unscoured and you can be sure things are perfectly tidy from the get go.)  Locate test and label main water shut-off valve, gas shut-off valve, and electrical breaker panel so you know what to do in case of emergency. Gather all manuals, warranties, insurance paperwork, and documents and put them in one central location. Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, replace batteries or entire units as needed. Swap out the HVAC filters and then breathe easy knowing the hardest part is over, and the best ist yet to come!

Bonus round:

Make a list of local contractors (check reviews, local reputation to vet them) in different categories so you always know who to call in a pinch, and you can thank us later for that one. Plan to budget at least 1% of the home’s purchase price for yearly maintenance. Create a household emergency plan and write emergency numbers in easily reachable places.

What should we do if we were planning a full gut/renovation flip?

If on the off-chance that you bought a real fixer-upper and were planning to gut it and flip it, it’s really best to do that before moving in. After you’ve changed the locks and pin codes, make sure you set a special one for your contractors to use so you can track entry/exit of who is on site.  Since we’re pretty sure this type of investment and planning isn’t done overnight, we won’t go into this at great length (but we’ve got other blogs previously published if you need advice on renovation or planning a big construction project!)

What smaller updates can we do to the home before moving in if we’re not doing a full renovation?

Before moving in you can do the following fairly affordable cosmetic updates so you don’t have to deal with moving furniture and wall decor to do them later. Painting a fresh coat on the walls, or applying wallpaper is an easy update option that goes very quickly without furniture in the way!  Removing popcorn ceilings and/or walls is best done in an empty home, by a professional service, because it makes a huge mess and covers everything with dust!  Doing both of those tasks (painting and popcorn removal) before you refinish the floors is optimal.  

Don’t have the budget for new counters but want to cover up some damage? Contact paper or vinyl wallpaper with waterproof/water resistant finishes are a cost-effective temporary way to change up the look of countertops without the investment of replacing them entirely.

Adding even just small amounts of high end finishes and materials: granite or quartz accents, brass and gold hardware, rich wood elements, thrifted marble and stone pieces, matte finishes, woven material accent furniture, brass candlesticks or lamps, antique floor lamps, and even faux imitation accent pieces can elevate a room.  Something as simple as a peel and stick tile backsplash in your bathroom or kitchen in a lush, vivid color palette can add a lot of visual weight without your wallet feeling lighter than you’d like.

Replacing or refinishing flooring is a great investment you can make right off the bat, and best done with nothing in the home; it also takes a few days for top finish to cure and clear the smell of the topcoat chemicals.  Once the floors are finished, walls are painted, and ceilings are fixed up you can add some decorative molding to jazz up the joint!

How do you prioritize repair projects as a first time homeowner?

There are two big steps to prioritizing repair and maintenance projects on the home. You want to first establish a regular maintenance schedule across the first year of ownership, and mark it off on the calendar so you remember for following years.  First year maintenance tasks should include: flushing the water heater, cleaning gutters, testing sump pump, reseal caulking, have all ducts cleared and inspected, seasonally service HVAC and furnaces.  It’s also a great idea to schedule an initial pest inspection within the first 3 months, and set up regular interval schedules as needed.

The second step is going through your home inspection list and prioritizing the projects noted on the list.  Things like plumbing leaks, roof leaks, adjusting misaligned windows and doors, installing missing safety devices, correcting ungrounded wiring, updating electrical outlets and connections, repairing hairline foundational cracks, replacing aging HVAC units, etc are generally some of the more common items.  There may occasionally be big ticket items like replacing the roof, remediating mold, removing termites and repairing their damage, or other higher cost remedies before it’s considered safe to move in, so be thorough in reading your inspection statement so you can better prepare for the expenditures.

What are some easy updates we can do without making big, costly changes?

Changing out fixtures such as sink faucets, shower faucets and knobs, drawer and cabinet pulls, door handles, and basic light fixtures to something more personalised is very wallet friendly.  You can even change out the plate covers for electrical outlets and light switches to add a little touch of flair or luxury if you wish.  Switch out basic lightbulbs for smart bulb or LED options to save some money and add a little mood lighting to the space. 

Choose furniture that’s the appropriate size for your new house!  You’re not buying a house to fit the furniture, you want to customize the furniture to fit your home.  Select options based on relation to scale of the room, so the pieces hold correct visual weight and feel lighter.  Oftentimes lower profile furniture with visible legs can be used to exaggerate the feeling of space in smaller areas.  In smaller rooms, opt for taller, elongated furniture pieces that tricks the eye into feeling the room is larger and more spacious due to the fact that more floor space is visible. If you’re working on a budget, selecting pieces of double-duty furniture with storage options can optimize open floor space and give an air of minimalist luxury without the clutter of bins, boxes, and baskets laying around (unless that’s your jam!)

Thrifting and antiquing is a great way to source luxury items on a penny-pincher’s budget.  Real wood pieces can add depth to a room that modern day materials like MDF could never.  Finding them for $50 or less at a thrift store can bring that richness home without draining the bank account. Mix and match modern furniture elements with curated thrifted and antique pieces can add a lot of layering to a space.  Source high-quality rich woods in natural stains, and don’t be afraid to mix finishes and contrasting tones for more character in the space.

Experiment with paint techniques such as color drenching, or matching one wall and ceiling color, three walls and ceiling, or just one boldly accent wall, etc.  Do not listen to the outdated advice that going dark will make a room feel smaller; most times darker hues add a richness, elegance, and depth to a room that stark white walls and ceilings could never dream of!  If you’re able to play with paint and light efficiently, you’ll be able to give smaller spaces the illusion of being much larger and lengthier than they are!

What if I want to make a huge renovation plan or expand the footprint of my home?

It’s best to wait a year or two before embarking on large space renovations. Waiting it out is not easy, but it helps you learn what will and won’t work in the layout and functioning of your home. Spend time in your home learning how your family uses the space, what you notice needs improving as you go through your day, etc., and take note of the wishlist points that would make it run more smoothly   Don’t rush the big ticket items: renovating kitchen, bathroom, creating an addition, floor-plan changes, etc.  Create a list of desired renovations and prioritize the projects by order of utmost importance to luxury add-on.

Be aware that custom plans with an engineer and architect will be costly, and each change to the blueprints or plans will have a fee; waiting patiently to discuss with your family can eliminate a lot of the back-and-forth cost of changes!  Additionally, expect renovation planning to take quite some time, as many layers of planning go into even the smallest of home updates. Permits need to be acquired, inspections must be done before/during/after, zoning board approvals may be required, and you should plan 20-30% extra budget cost above your estimate to prepare for mishaps, mistakes, and pivots!  Like we said, it’s a huge undertaking and you needn’t rush it.  Slow and steady always wins the race, and you want a home that can bring happy, cozy memories not stressful ones. To learn more about planning for renovations, check out our full blog list for more tips and tricks!

Final thoughts…

As a new homeowner, you’re about to embark on the biggest and most exciting projects, but now you know how to prioritize home repairs and renovation projects! Crafting a home that feels fully unique to you, shows off your personality, and really feels like a sanctuary space is an art. Don’t rush through to try and fill the home with decor and items just so it doesn’t feel empty.

The best homes are a curated collection of things that reflect its inhabitants, procured over time with care and intention, and unfolding like a story right in front of our eyes.   And don’t worry, we’ve all had our “Money Pit” moments, too, so you don’t have to feel alone in tackling the big stuff.  The beauty of a home is that it’s lived in by people with lots of personalities and experiences, and it evolves as you find community and put down roots.  We wish you luck on your journey!  Embrace it and enjoy it to the fullest, the ups and downs alike.

If you’re in need of a contractor to replace or repair your indoor handrails and stairs, Pinto Carpentry can be of service!  Our expert team of carpenters and administrative experts has more than two decades of experience in the contracting world.  We’re here to provide top tier carpentry services to craft custom railing systems and bespoke stair builds to fit every home or businesses’ needs.  Proudly serving most regions of New Jersey, Pinto Carpentry is available for both residential and commercial projects alike.  We work with a wide variety of styles and will happily set you up with a free consultation for a customized estimate!  Our crew will match you with the perfect materials to suit your interior styles, personal tastes, and your budget.  Just ask!  Feel free to look at our portfolio or Case Studies page to see more of what we do at Pinto Carpentry.  We can’t wait to work with you!

Books are filled for 2026, but we will have new installation appointments available in 2027!