The process of turning a bare house into a home is pretty long, and the first step, buying one, is already hard enough. It’s a pretty long and arduous process when you toss in the task of dreaming up the perfect design, going on a furniture hunt, and diving headfirst into some hands-on DIY magic. If you think that the worst of the worst is over now, you might want to think again. Here are 7 post-renovation things no one tells you about and tips on dealing with them.
1. Do a final walk-through with your contractor post-renovation
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Before dropping that check, you should do a final walk-through with your interior designer (ID) or contractor to ensure that everything has been fixed properly and all rectifications have been cleared. Some things to look for include your lights, power plugs, cabinets, toilets, and flooring.
Pro tip: Do a few rounds of walk-through by yourself so that you’ll be able to highlight any changes or rectifications that need to be made. Bring a friend or two to get fresh eyes to look at the space.
2. Hire a professional to dispose of your post-renovation debris
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Post-renovation, your new home will likely be strewn with debris and leftover materials like wood, cement, and steel. While contractors may assist with some cleanup, you’ll typically need to handle some waste removal yourself.
Hence, depending on the number of new fixtures that you’ve added to your renovation, you might need to fork out a little extra to get someone to clean up and dispose of all the waste or dispose of the renovation waste on your own, which can be quite challenging if you’re inexperienced.
Pro tip: If you decide to tackle the post-reno cleaning on your own, we suggest you don’t whip out that thousand-dollar robot vacuum for the job, as such forms of waste can be pretty hard to dispose of.
3. There’ll be a strong chemical smell that lingers
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Anyone who steps into a newly renovated place would notice the strong, distinct chemical smell that normally comes from the products used to put your carpentry together. To eliminate the smell and potentially harmful fumes emitted from the chemicals, you must open up all your windows, doors, and furniture to air out the area.
Using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier to remove harmful toxins and dust would also be helpful. Meanwhile, you can use home-based solutions such as pandan leaves, baking soda, or coffee grounds to eliminate nasty odours and freshen the air.
4. Use eco-friendly cleaning products for allergies & respiratory issues
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Though cleaning products help you get the job done, most of them usually contain harmful chemicals that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can aggravate the conditions of those with respiratory problems.
If you have a young one crawling around, you should be extra careful because these cleaning products can cause skin irritation if not washed off surfaces properly. A simple solution would be to invest in eco-friendly cleaning products or those formulated to cater to those with allergies or medical conditions.
5. Get a professional post-renovation cleaning service
If there’s anything that you’ve heard about newly renovated homes, it’s that no matter how many times you’ve vacuumed, cleaned, or mopped, the dust never seems to clear. Regardless of the type of renovation you’ve had done, a majority of the time, regular cleaning won’t be able to get rid of the micro dust that seems to settle on every surface.
Hence, to save you time, energy, and headaches, it’s recommended that you engage professional post-renovation cleaning services. With the right equipment and skills, you can expect your place to be sparkly clean, clean of dust, and ready to move in.
6. Updating your insurance & arranging your move-ins
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Something not to be forgotten is definitely your insurance. Your policy might need to be re-adjusted to cover the increased value of your home and any potential risks that might have taken place during renovation.
After getting your insurance all sorted out, you would still have some admin work left to do in the form of arranging the delivery and move-in for all your things.
Pro tip: Apply blue tack to the corners of your new renovation, furniture, or built-ins to prevent them from being damaged or scratched during your move-in.
7. Registering your new appliances for warranty
Image credit: TheSmartLocal
It’s crucial that you register the warranty for your new appliances as soon as possible before they expire, as the chances that you forget are pretty high. You don’t want to put yourself in a position where you’d need to fork out extra cash just because something’s broken and you don’t have a warranty to back you up.
Remember to keep all the original receipts and relevant documentation safely in a file so that they are easily accessible in the future if and when you need them.
Post-renovation tips for new homeowners
Securing a flat, completing the renovation, and moving in is a stressful yet fulfilling journey. However, the work doesn’t just stop there. Hopefully, these tips will help you through the post-reno process to wrap things up and enjoy your new home.
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Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal, @our_mansion_in_bg
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