365 Days of Homeownership

Happy Cinco de Mayo! One year ago, today, I was signing contracts and paying large sums of money to buy my first house. So, with 365 days of owning my house, here are 365 things I learned.

Just kidding.

I'm not even sure I can come up with Ten Tips.

1. Don't pay all your savings towards the down payment of the house. Even if the house is in good shape, little cosmetic changes add up quickly.
2. Homeownership requires the owning of junky clothes and shoes. And if you don't already own them, you will as soon as you paint, clean, mow, etc.
3. Selecting paint colors for an entire house is a challenging decision. By the end, all the colors of different brands look the same and you will be tired of making decisions.
4. Painting is tough. Painting in a straight line is tougher. Textured walls soak up more paint. Paint costs a lot.
5. Painting in small spaces and behind toilets is the worst.
6. Wallpaper should die.
7. Vinegar/warm water mixture, elbow grease, a putty knife, and patience took down my wallpaper. Then more vinegar/water mixture and patience took down the glue from the paper.
8. Start small with renovations. The bigger the job, the longer it will take for you to get to it. And the longer it will take to be completed.
9. To save money, spray paint hardware to match your tastes.
10. After painting, hire professional carpet cleaners right away. I put it off and still haven't had the carpets cleaned.
11. (Okay, I made it beyond 10 tips) When buying light fixtures, consider what type of bulb they take and if an energy efficient one will fit. Energy efficient bulbs are different in shape, so sometimes they will not fit into a covered fixture or they will hang below a sconce.
12. When changing the light fixtures, switch the light bulbs to energy efficient. The bulbs should last five years, so you won't have to get on a ladder for awhile.
13. Change all your door locks. And hide a spare key somewhere. Otherwise you may have an uncomfortable meeting with your neighbors while wearing your pajamas.
14. Change your heating/AC unit's air filter. (Actually you should do this every six months.)
15. If your house did not have a garbage disposal, consider how much stuff might be semi-clogging your kitchen pipes.
16. Do not put large amounts of pasta down the drain (even if you have a garbage disposal).
17. Before calling a plumber, call Dad. We bought an inexpensive, 25-foot, use-your-muscles snake tool and were able to unclog my kitchen pipes. (You can read between the lines - or rather read the above lines - to figure out the cause.)
18. Stick to your lists when at the hardware stores. It easy to buy things. Browse online and in the stores for the style and price of hardware, light fixtures, appliances, flooring, etc. Go with a plan.
19. Don't put off mowing the lawn. Don't mow when the grass is wet. Longer, wetter grass is much more difficult to mow. Wear sneakers and pants that you don't mind dying green. Wear gloves (like weight lighting gloves) that will protect your hands from blisters.
20. Don't mow uphill. Mow across a hill (not up and down).
21. Apparently, changing the direction you mow your lawn keeps the grass green and healthy. Healthy grass grows faster, just saying.
22. When making a turn with your push mower, tilt the mower on its back wheels to make it easier.
23. Don't plant too many flowers your first year. Wait to see what plants sprout and make a plan for the additional colors and sizes you want for the next season.
24. Acorns suck! I still haven't figured out a way to rake/pick up all those little, round buggers.
25. If you don't live is a neighborhood, don't rake up a ton of leaves; the wind is great at getting rid of them.
26. Insecticide is a single woman's best friend.
27. Consistently check your basement for dampness. Run a dehumidifier (on a timer to keep energy costs lower). And learn how to check to make sure your sump pump is working. I check mine daily and more than once on the rainy days.
28. Keep flashlights handy.
29. Learn where your fuse box is and, if not marked, determine which fuse controls what appliance, room, etc.
30. In your basement, look up. Look at wires, cables, phone lines, pipes, etc. Know what rooms you are standing under.
31. Know where your water shutoff valve is and how to turn it off.
32. Learn how to adjust your water heater's settings.
33. Shoveling snow sucks. I have no tips. What I learned: I prefer to push the snow rather than picking it up and throwing it. I have two shovels for my driveway - a push shovel and a bent handle one for picking up. I need both depending on the type of snow and how much there is. Don't let the snow pile up and try not to pack it down with your car wheels.
34. Keep a shovel at every exit. Keep your exits clear.
35. Knock snow drifts off your roof. I couldn't reach. I called Dad.
36. Use a programmable thermostat to adjust the heat automatically depending on the hours you are home.
37. Nightlights are not only for children. Leave some light sensing nightlights plugged in for when you come home to a dark house.
38. Always have batteries handy.
39. Empty your vacuum regularly. It will work better.
40. Empty your dryer's lint catch after every use.
41. Huggable hangers really do give you more space in your closet.
42. Search Craigslist.
43. Sell or donate the unwanted light fixtures, window treatments, etc. from the previous owner.
44. Use a squeegee to clean your windows inside and out.
45. Invest in work gloves.
46. Take the time to iron your new window treatments.
47. Redirect the Mail. Pay the $1 and forward your mail. Also learn "Return to Sender: No Such Name." Send the prior owner's mail back.
48. Donate to your local volunteer fire department. Good Karma = No Fire
49. Save money. You never know when something important will break, crack, leak, rust, peal, chip, snap, crumble, or wear out.
50. Homeownership is difficult, but it's fun! And it's nice knowing that I am doing this on my own (plus Dad and Mom). Quite an experience.

Wow. I made it to 50. Sorry, if you started reading these tips expecting only about ten. Thanks for sticking it out and reading!

It's only been a year, so what have you learned in your homeownership? Any tips you can share?

Any questions I can try to answer?