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My husband and I just bought our first new home, and we're very excited. But I've been fantasizing about it every waking minute, and all of the things I can do with it.

It's a new house and doesn't need any reno's (other than basement), but I find myself wanting to do upgrades here and there, to make it as nice as possible. I'm feeling the pressure to keep it up to date and such so it is admired by others if we were to sell it.

I want to just enjoy it! We're not living in it yet, but I'm worried I'll just be so uptight about keeping it up, and not in a good way!

Anyone been in a similar situation? How do I appreciate my house the way it is, and upgrade it a little bit at a time?!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: EmSteh,

Welcome, Emsteh!

I totally understand your feelings. They're normal, even after purchasing a new home.

You're not in the selling process any longer so take a step back and just live in it (and enjoy it) for awhile. Personally, I would hold off on your changes until you've been there for at least 6 mos - 1 yr.

Why? Well, you'll learn many things about the nooks, crannies and other details of the home as you go. In addition, you'll discover your upgrade needs (v. wants) to enhance your life on a day-to-day basis.

If you made a list of those upgrades now, set it aside and then made another list in 1 year - you'd probably have 2 different lists. So, take some time to figure out how you live in the home over the next year.

Very important, however - do set aside the upgrades (for now) but keep up with maintenance on a current basis, going forward. If you keep up with maintenance, you'll be miles ahead of most of your competition, if/when you decide to sell.

That's only my 2 cents. Congratulations and best wishes!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SurfNow,

Thank you, your advice really helps! I agree with you. I will try to cool my jets!

tsr-res is correct - just enjoy it for now. I understand what you're saying about updating/upgrading with an eye to selling in the future. While a great idea, it is not that practical.

If this is your first "new" house, what is your plan? DH and I our first house was our 5 year house. It turned out to be our 10 year house. Our current house is our forever house so anything we do is for our enjoyment.

If this is your 10 year house - then keep up with maintenance (keep up with maintenance even if it is your forever house). Make changes that make sense to your enjoyment of the home and budget. When you close in on the 10 year mark - decide what you want to do. Stay or go. If you have kept up with your maintenance then anything needed is cosmetic.

For maintenance - when doing a fix in the bathroom - did you replace with original style or go ahead and change out all fixtures to current. For example our house is brass and chrome finishes in the bathrooms - if we do anything in a bathroom I will probably change out everything to brushed nickle or whatever is coming into style at the time. I would not make the change unless it is needed.

You also might quit watching so much HGTV.

When you watch these shows you want to something.... anything. But often it is not in your interest to do so. You have gotten good advise. Heed it.

I agree.

Live in the moment and enjoy your first home...

...You have plenty of time to make changes, upgrades, etc.

Life is too short to place unnecessary pressure on yourself, Sweetie.

Congrats on your new home!!!!!!!!

I'd say enjoy it as is and takes lots of deep breaths as you get to know your new digs.

As time goes on, start a binder for possible future projects. Have a tab section for each room plus outside/garden. As you see ideas/items you like, add them to the binder and at some point you'll see a pattern emerge as to the direction you want to take.

Like someone else said, maybe we all watch too much HGTV where it's constant update/update/update

I agree with everyone - enjoy!!!! What I always do is start identifying potential sources of stuff for whenever I do want to do upgrades.... If you want landscaping done, start looking at nurseries or gorgeous yards (and just ask them who helped them), etc. Congratulations!!!!!