Six Things I Learned in the First Six Months of Homeownership
After years of dragging my feet and tens of thousands of dollars spent on rent, I (Celeste) finally put my favorite Open House motto "Houses Before Spouses" into action and bought a house all for myself, and my little dog, to enjoy. I worked with the Open House team so my purchase was a breeze, even at the height of the Austin market insanity, but the first few months of homeownership have given me lots of opportunities to learn and grow in the best way. I honestly thought I'd be a one-and-done homeowner. But just six months in, I've gained enough confidence to consider investing in even more houses. I'm the only one on Team Open House who didn't see that coming.
Keep reading to see the lessons I’ve learned and the resources I’ve utilized along the way.
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1. Hiring Pros is a Huge Help
If your budget allows, I'd highly recommend hiring out where you can. I worked with client favorite, Heavenly Movers to get my stuff out of my (last ever!) apartment and into the new house. Having their arrival time as a hard deadline kept me motivated to purge, pack and clean even when I didn't feel like it. It can be a large expense depending on how much stuff you have and where you are going, but having my furniture assembled and in place on night one was well worth it.
If hiring movers isn't in your budget, consider saving a little extra to hire professional cleaners to take care of your old space post move. Having to go back to deep clean after you move is rough and I'd bet you’d rather save that energy to unpack and set up the new place. Check out Tidy and Tex Mex Cleaning.
2. You’ll want to change your locks and consider cameras ASAP
Changing your locks is often the first thing you'll see on any new homeowner to do list and it really is that important. The day after I got the keys at closing, I installed a smart lock with a keypad so I could prevent locking myself out and create unique codes for contractors and my dog sitter to access the house without a key.
I didn't move into my new house right away, so I also chose to install motion detecting flood light cameras on both my front and back doors. I mostly use them to keep an eye on deliveries, but it gives so much peace of mind to have those up and running while the house was vacant, and now when I go out of town. The best unintentional perk of these cameras was catching clips of the neighborhood cats and wildlife enjoying the backyard. How cute is that?
3. Small changes = Big impact
Even though I've been dreaming of major upgrades since the first time I saw the house, I've got a little research and a lot of saving up to do before I can jump into all that. However, I found that making a few small customizations right away has made a big difference in making the house feel like my home. So far, I've swapped out hardware on my kitchen and bathroom cabinets (matte black is more “me” than brushed nickel), installed a pull-out trash can and decorated with houseplants and art.
One of the best resources I've found this year is All Hers, an Austin-based secondhand marketplace and Facebook group for women looking to buy and sell home goods in a safe and inclusive environment. I purchased an incredible 3D ship print from one of the members, and found my new favorite nail salon in their community recommendations section. One of the co-founders, Becca, curates a fantastic weekly newsletter that keeps me checking out new listings even when I'm not looking for anything in particular. I highly recommend checking them out if you are a woman in Austin.
4. Have people over before you Feel ready
It's normal to want to have some time to settle into your new space, unpack and decorate before you host company, but I'm here to recommend that you not wait too long! Art on the walls helps make a house feel like home, but nothing does it like filling your place with good food and good company. I was hesitant to let a friend come see the house before I thought it was such a mess post-move but she brought over pizza and helped me finish unpacking. We knocked out way more than I would have alone and had a blast doing it. A few weeks later, well before my house was “ready”, I hosted my coworkers for happy hour that had me stressed out beforehand but blissed out afterward. I bought this house with entertaining in mind, so hosting as soon as I could made me feel like I was putting the house to good use.
5. Getting to know your neighbors is more important than you think
Even though I bought this house so my dog Joanie could have a yard of her own, she still requires daily walks to keep her happy. Luckily for me, my walks around the neighborhood have allowed me to get to know my new neighborhood quickly. Even when I’m dressed in my ugliest sweatpants, I make sure to wave to and introduce myself to any neighbors I see outside. I make note of their name and house number in my phone so I can call them out by name when I see them next. If you feel comfortable with it, exchange phone numbers. If you need a little more anonymity, join Nextdoor to keep up with the community online. If your neighbors aren’t out and about often, join the Open House Austin Homeowner community for access to our monthly meetups.
Good neighbors keep a lookout for one another, so it pays in spades to start off on a good foot with a simple introduction, a small gift or an invitation to come over for drinks. This practice has already given me a strong return on investment by way of a pest control company recommendation that has saved me from spending my savings on cans and cans of wasp spray.
6. educating yourself has it’s benefits
I’ll be honest, my home improvement skills were a 2 out of 10 before I bought my house. And while I don’t plan to DIY any of my future home projects, I do recommend educating yourself on the inner workings of your house. I was so afraid of messing something up, I left the bathroom mirror I purchased on the floor for weeks before I finally worked up the confidence to drill some holes.
YouTube has a treasure trove of helpful videos on everything from fixing your running toilet to the best way to prep before you paint. If reading is more of your learning style, check out the book “How Your House Works” for a graphic introduction to maintaining your home. Finally, consider attending a Homeowner Fundamentals workshop to get real-life, hands-on experience with things like patching drywall before you start making holes of your own.
I hope these lessons serve you as well as they have me. I promise that if I can do it, there is nothing stopping you! Happy Home Owning!
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