The Six Month Rule
Sometimes, the timing of home improvement projects is obvious: the best time to tackle updating a 50 year-old Kitchen, refinishing hardwood floors, putting in a new bathroom, etc. is definitely before you move in (think, dust, fumes, noise, intrusions, etc.)
By contrast, there are other, functional home upgrades that are more discretionary.
If you have the luxury (or economic necessity) of waiting, it can be a good a idea to live in your new home awhile before making any big remodeling decisions.
That way, your sense of the house has a chance to settle, and you won’t have to un-do anything later.
A good example of that is . . . me.
I have pretty intensive home office needs, which typically means retrofitting an extra bedroom with some extra electrical, storage, and lighting.
When we first moved in, those upgrades would have gone into an upstairs bedroom.
Six months later, it was apparent that the lower level Bedroom made for a better office.
By holding off and allowing for some new home “trial and error” . . . I only had to spend the money once.
