5 Things I Learned During My First Year of Homeownership + House Tour

Hi friends! 

I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I purchased my home… And what a year it has been. I know I said I would do this blog post months ago, but here it is on my first house-iversary!

Buying my house was the adultiest-adult thing I’ve done thus far. It was such a big, yet AMAZING decision. Sometimes I walk through my door and say to myself, “Wow, this is really MY house.”

My house hunting process was fairly easy. I knew that I wanted a townhome with a garage, in a location that was less than 20 minutes from my job in a gated community. I also didn’t want to have to cut grass or keep up the exterior. Pre-COVID-19, I travelled A LOT so that would just be too much to worry about.

Another biggie was the design. I didn’t want a house that looked like a bowling alley. You know how some townhouses are really narrow and you can stand at the front door and look straight through the house? I love the open layout of my home. The natural lighting is amazing. I also REALLY wanted double sinks. Anything else was an added plus!

5 Things I Learned During My First Year of Homeownership:

1. Save, save, save!

Every time you turn around, something else breaks. It’s crazy! Make sure that you have some extra money saved just in case.

2. Get a home warranty!

Like I said, things will definitely break or need to be replaced, BUT if you get a home warranty, this can really cut down on the costs. I’ve had so many things repaired for a fraction of the price.

3. Cosmetic renovations aren’t that serious!

When I first moved in, I was adamant about wanting to renovate all of the cabinets and countertops because they were a little outdated… But I’m pretty sure the previous owners replaced them before I purchased, so they’re in excellent condition. Once I decorated the rest of the house, they weren’t that big of a deal. I’ll get to it eventually.

4. You will turn into a handyman/woman!

Make sure you have a toolkit because you will use it A LOT. It feels like I’ve had to build or fix or hang something every single day! I call myself Manee the Builder. Lol.

5. Prepare for the unexpected!

Termites could invade your headboard. Your air conditioning could break down on the hottest day of the summer. The men cleaning the gutter could knock your water spigot off the side of the house… It’s been a doozy. BUT stay calm. It could be worse. Things can be fixed.

Decorating my home has been so much fun. I have a thing for interior design. TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Home Goods: Feel free to sponsor me! Literally 80% of everything in here has come from there. Whenever I claim I’m “running errands,” that’s exactly where you can find me. Lol.

The house is still a work in progress. I just have so many walls! I’ve been looking for artwork for months and I would love to highlight Black artists. Recommendations are more than welcome!

Originally, I thought I wanted to turn my office into a dressing room, but I actually ended up spending so much time in there due to the pandemic. We shall see! 

Eventually, I’ll get around to upgrading the kitchen/bathroom cabinets and countertops and get a new shower door. I was so lucky to find a house that hardly needed any work. I moved right in. The only thing I had to do was replace the sink in the powder room. 

Last year, I had to travel for work for months immediately after I moved in so I didn’t even have the chance to really enjoy my house…This pandemic did just that. It’s been sooooo nice having a comfortable space to spend all of my time in.

Once it’s safe to be around other people, I can’t wait to start entertaining again. My guest room will be available as soon as the world opens back up! I’ve already had a few family members and friends come to visit and we’ve had so much fun. 

I love to plan activities! My housewarming/birthday/holiday and Galentine’s Day parties were so much fun. I had all of these big ideas to have cookouts and game nights this summer. I even bought a grill! But, it’s truly just been so nice to just slow down and relax. I’ve spent so much time over the past few months snuggled up in my living room reading a good book, watching a movie, listening to music, or just gazing out the window. I am so thankful and so blessed.

Thank you for reading! 

-A.