Would you believe that I bought a home on my own for the first time at the age of 55?
I have bought homes before with partners across two states, starting in my late 20s. But until last year, I had never gone down the home ownership road completely solo. It’s wild, let me tell you!
In particular, my last 22 years were spent with someone who is extremely handy and good at doing everything around the house.
Computers and technology? Check. Electrical and lighting? He’s on it. Plumbing and leaks? He’s all over it. You’d have a hard time coming up with something around the house that the co-parent can’t figure out or fix.
As you might imagine, that meant I didn’t have to worry about many home-ownership issues myself. And, to be honest, I still don’t have to worry too much, because he’s only a couple of miles away and pretty generous with his time and talents. Case in point, he painted the bedrooms in my new condo before I moved in. My co-parent’s painting skills are legendary and the bright colors made this place absolutely beautiful!
But I’m trying not to call him for every little thing. I learned a lot by assisting and watching him work around the house for 22 years, and I know how to use Google. I’m now trying to get my homeowner on and do some DIY-ing of my own to truly be independent and also make my mark on this place. And oh, have I made my mark.
Here are three recent DIY bungles I’ve made – but PLEASE don’t tell Z’s dad about them. Thankfully, he doesn’t read my blog.
- Nails work best pointy side down. I was super excited about decorating my place by hanging up some artwork. I was on a roll and had already hung several pieces when I noticed that I was hammering a nail and it just wasn’t going into the wall the way it should. That’s when I took a closer look and realized I was attempting to hammer it in flat side toward the wall. I flipped that little sucker around right before making an extra-large hole in my wall. Phew!
- Don’t try to peel sticky stuff off your wall. I put up a piece of art using double-sided tape, then realized I didn’t like the location. When I tried to gently pop it off the wall so I could move it, I accidentally removed a fist-sized chunk of paint and drywall. Oops. I will now hang a lovely piece of art in that spot to cover up my mistake. From now on, I’m using those super-cool command strips that you can just pull downward and they pop right off with no damage. #LiveAndLearn
- Things come in all sizes, so don’t assume. This one is my favorite blunder yet. I’ve been looking for secondhand home decor items on Facebook Marketplace and getting some great deals. I’d been looking for a cool vintage bench for my front porch and suddenly found one for a great price. It looked solid, sturdy and in great shape, so the low price was a bit of a mystery. I paid via Venmo, then swung by to pick it up… only to find out that it’s not a full-size bench, but rather a miniature version. This thing is TINY. It’s meant for a child or doll, but it’s so pretty that I will be using it to decorate my porch anyway. I’m going to lean in and use only small items on my porch; I’ll need a tiny outdoor rug, mini potted plants and a wee table. And, of course, a tiny skeleton during spooky season!
I’m having loads of fun adventures as I find my way as a solo homeowner. I’ve learned to pay attention to my nails, measure twice and cut once, ask hot guys for help when I need it… and of course, double-check the size of things when shopping on Marketplace.
If you have any good DIY tips or first-time solo homeowner hacks for me, let me know!
