September 21, 2016, by Madison Fisler Lewis
When you purchase your first home, it can be easy to get sucked up into home improvement projects galore. However, not every home update is created equal, as some provide more return on investment than others. Read our list below for the top 4 easy home updates that you can complete in one weekend or less, to make your new house feel more like home without breaking the bank.
Freshen Up Your Paint
Your first home likely isn’t exactly the right color for your taste when you first move in, and a fresh coat of paint on the walls is a great, cost-effective way to make your home look more beautiful and uniquely yours. Pick colors that complement your style, and at the cost of a few hundred dollars and a weekend, you can have a freshly painted home that looks like new!
Liven Up Your Curb Appeal
While your home is waiting for you to move in, it’s only natural that your front yard might get a little overgrown. On your first weekend in your home, mow your lawn, trim up trees and freshen up flowers to make your entryway more inviting. Your entryway is the first thing that visitors see when they come to your home—make sure their first impression is a good one!
Update Your Hardware
Installing new cabinets or even painting them can get expensive fast, however, there is one way that you can renovate without the cost—simply update your hardware! Visit your local hardware store, home boutique, or even resale shop to find unique drawer pulls, cabinet handles, and other hardware items that suit your style. Then, simply spend a few hours swapping them out for a low-cost revamp that gives a lot of bang for your buck!
Install a Kitchen Backsplash
When you’ve plopped down your down payment on your first home, you might not have the extra cash lying around to do a major kitchen update. However, you can give your kitchen areas a refreshing new look with an inexpensive and easy-to-install kitchen backsplash! Doing so is easy if you choose a backsplash made from a single sheet, which only requires a little measuring, cutting, and gluing to get done. With a little time, your kitchen will look sleek and stylish without having to break the bank!
If you’re in the market to buy your first home, wouldn’t it be nice to walk into your new house with a little extra cash on hand to complete your first home improvement projects? With the NC Home Advantage Mortgage™, administered by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, you can get down payment assistance of up to 5% of the loan amount along with competitive rates that can help make homeownership more affordable and leave more money in your pocket to make your house a home.
Learn more about how we can help you make your dreams of homeownership come true at www.nchfa.com/home-buyers.