Some Thoughts on Home Ownership

[prosodic]

If you're a new homeowner who is having issues with finding decent window treatments (I am having this problem in the kitchen right now...the windows really need custom shades, which we can't afford at the moment, and curtains just don't look right)...

these things are genius.

We ran out to Home Depot yesterday to get some, because I needed to finish the touch-up paint around the windows, which would involve taking down the current curtains (which will end up going into our bedroom)...I could put these up and stick them right to the window and they'll last us several months until we can find a more permanent solution.

Alas, Home Depot is fresh out. So I couldn't do the touch-up work on the windows. Must see if I can order these online...I would probably get them faster.

And then, once we're able, I'll go to JoAnn, which is right around the corner (across from Home Depot, actually) and get one of those kits to make my own custom no-sew window shades. I'm just afraid of screwing them up, because I am sorely lacking in the craftsy department. But I also want something in our house that I've done myself (besides the painting, I mean).

And I need to figure out how to remove some paint that found its way underneath the painters tape...we have spots on the ceilings and in the doorways. I just don't want to remove the original paint. Also, I found a few spots where we had dripped some on the carpet...probably as we were running into the bathroom to wash paint off our hands, etc.

Plus, we just noticed yesterday that the screen door is completely destroyed...we don't know if it's been like this and we just hadn't noticed, or if it was damaged either when the fridge was delivered or the movers came. Anyway, it needs replaced ASAP. Guess those Home Depot gift cards will come in handy sooner than we think.

Home ownership - yeah, not so fun thus far. We keep finding more and more problems with each passing day. But the house has good bones regardless and it has a lot of potential, and now it is our job to see that potential and make this the best house is can be. Neither of us know what we're doing, but we're learning as we go.

Comments

[mipplet.livejournal.com]

It gets better, trust me.

We have those cellular shades in the living room right now. The custom gauzey blinds I want cost about $800 per window.

[katzies.livejournal.com]

The prosodic drinking game: Have a shot every time she mentions "Home Depot" ;-)

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

HAHAHA. True!

But seriously...once you buy a house, Home Depot (drink!) will be your second home. Or Lowe's...whichever is closer.

I probably mention Target a lot too. That's because it's right across the street from HD (:P) and we have no Walmart.

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

Yeah...outfitting the house seems to end up costing about as much as the house itself. This is one of those times where I wish I paid more attention when we sewed in Home Ec. class (I actually used to be a pretty decent sewer, back in the day) or had some talent in Shop class. It's so much cheaper if you're capable of doing it yourself.

[katzies.livejournal.com]

Target > Walmart!

I just clicked through the pictures of the house that you posted back in October, very nice! I want a house too - but I think I'll wait until we win the lottery and can pay someone to do the decorating for us!

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

I really hate Walmart, to be honest. HATE. IT. Lance and I went to the closest one, which is about 5 miles away in Covington, and we were only there once. He stood at the Site to Store counter for over half an hour, ringing the bell multiple times, and nobody came to help him. He was irate. He ordered our telephones and some internet equipment from their website to be delivered to the store. Never again.

And I've studied interior design for years...not formally, of course, but I get my hands on anything I can find. So I know what I like, but it seems that I have expensive taste. :P I'm jealous of those people who can find fabulous things when they go thrifting. I have no such luck. It sucks having champagne tastes on a beer budget. But I try to be as creative as I can with what we have.

[just--a--girl.livejournal.com]

The last paragraph reminded me of us when we first moved into this home. It seemed like fun on all of the HGTV shows before moving into a home, but yeah, we learned quickly it wasn't anything like that for us, lol. We also felt the same way about the home after moving into it, finding more problems about it with each passing day. *sigh* We thought it'd be a great chance for us to learn more as we go once we started repairing little things here and there, but we quickly realized we need money for that, lol. So yeah, our experience was a little rushed & we probably should have waited until we were more ready financially, like you guys. But anyway, what I really wanted to say is that I'm enjoying reading all of your entries about the new home! :)

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you can relate. It's so much easier to rent and have someone else be responsible for fixing the problems, but you are putting money in their pocket. Why do that, when you can put sweat equity into the house and make the money yourself? I know it's worth it, but everything just seems so hard...even something that's supposed to be as simple as painting. All kinds of things have gone wrong with the painting. And we don't know if it's us, or other factors.

[heartsinarmor.livejournal.com]

I had completely forgotten about Redishades! We bought them right after we bought the house in Houston... And at least one room still had them when we moved. That's probably bad, but it was a bedroom we didn't use... That makes it slightly LESS bad. I think we got ours at Lowe's, but I'm guessing since you mention Home Depot so much, (you're either an alcoholic OR) you don't have a Lowe's nearby. Anyway, yes, Redishades are the new home owner's best friend. Those and Chinese takeout.

[carbonatedbabe.livejournal.com]

Lucky for me this, this house already came with custom shades. The home is seven years old, way younger than the seventy plus years old duplex I inherited and eventually sold. Talk about a cash cow...

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

Home Depot = 1/2 mile away.

Lowe's = 8 miles away.

=)

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

Well, this house has custom shades too, but they're old and dingy and not in such great shape. They're probably the same age as the house - 18 years. It's just that we removed the ones from the kitchen to paint and Lance spackled over the holes.

[katzies.livejournal.com]

You know what really makes me mad? Those shows on HGTV that take $500 and make over an entire house with what they buy at Target and flea markets, two containers of old paint, some string and a hair dryer! It always looks so easy and simple, you just waltz into Walmart and there are all these fabulous things and somehow there's always some neighbor that will give you his antiques for free and tada, 30 minutes later you have The Perfect Home.

Oooh!

[carbonatedbabe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, toss that out. If push comes to shove, festive gift wrap tacked to the window works as a "temporary" solution.

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

HAHAHA...you're so right! Yet I'm still addicted to those damn shows and hoping for some inspiration.

[heartsinarmor.livejournal.com]

Ah yes. And in that area, 8 miles = ~30 minutes, right? HUGE pain in the butt. Times like that, I love my small town life. :)

ETA: DRINK!