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The Ultimate First-Time Homeowner's Guide

first time homeowner
first time homeowner
The First Things You Should Buy for Your New HomeReal Estate
You’ve survived months (and maybe even years) of scrolling through house-hunting apps and hitting up open houses every weekend. You’ve held your breath through the bidding wars and those scary weeks before closing, and now the deal is finally done. You’re a homeowner—WOOHOO! But before you stick your keys in the door and celebrate, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Kaitlin Stanford
May 5, 2019
How to Set Up an Annual Home Maintenance CalendarCleaning
Whether you own or rent your home, whether it’s an apartment or a house, it’ll need maintenance this year. Make your life easier and a little less stressful by planning out your home’s maintenance for the whole year all at once, filling out an annual calendar and setting yourself reminders so you stay on track all year long! A yearly calendar (paper or digital) A copy of your lease (if you rent)Your smart phone or computer 1.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 8, 2015
How to Paint A Room In Just A Few Easy StepsProjects & Improvements
Here's the trick to pro-level results.
Ashley Poskin
Apr 3, 2020
How to Green Clean the Grout In Your Shower & BathroomCleaning
Is your bathroom guest-ready?
Ashley Poskin
May 20, 2023
How to Lay a Perfect Bead of CaulkProjects & Improvements
While in the process of diy-ing a bathroom renovation, I discovered a key process “secret” worth learning. Laying the perfect bead of caulk might not sound very exciting, but is an essential process to know for any home owner. My first attempt to lay caulk wasn’t so bad. I was trying to seal an apron sink we just put in the kitchen. My caulk work turned out nicely, but, boy, was it tedious, not to mention super messy!
June Bhongjan
Dec 19, 2019
How To Replace an Electrical OutletProjects & Improvements
Are your outlets holding plugs nice and snug? If not, it might be time for you to change them out. Yes, fatigued outlets are a nuisance but they can also be potential fire hazards. And what about the appearance of your outlets? Are they old and outdated and could stand a new look? Don’t be intimidated! It’s not as hard as it looks (or expensive!) to replace an electrical outlet. ScrewdriverNeedle nose pliersNew electrical outlet (Also called a receptacle.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 24, 2019
How to Prep for MoversOrganizing
To save time (and money) we want moving day to go as smooth as possible. We’ve booked a recommended service by the hour so it’s super important for us to be prepped and ready to go once they arrive. Here are some of the things we plan on doing to ensure an efficient day–and don’t forget to let us know your helpful tips in the comments.Label boxes clearly We like to label our moving boxes on a top corner, and on the long and short side of each box.
Beth Zeigler
Mar 21, 2022
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How to Prep a Room for PaintingSponsored
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Aug 18, 2010
7 Things All New Homeowners NeedReal Estate
According to real estate experts.
Megan Johnson
Jul 2, 2021
How to Clean Your DishwasherOrganize & Clean
You might think your dishwasher IS clean considering the number of times it runs hot water and soap through its system, but it's not.
Ashley Poskin
Nov 17, 2014
How to Deep Clean Your CarpetsCleaning
Over time spot cleaning just doesn’t do it. You turn around one day and your carpets are a shade darker than when you had them installed. Or, you do a great job spot cleaning only to reveal how dirty the rest of the carpeting really is. Here’s a way to get them green clean. Ingredients: Salt, borax and white vinegar. Equipment: A vacuum and a carpet steam cleaner, don’t worry, I explain why we need the heavy equipment below.
Allison Verdoorn
May 19, 2023
How to Clean Your Kitchen SinkCleaning
Get your sink and disposal in the best shape of their lives, without using harmful chemicals or cleaners.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 4, 2023
How To Wash Your Kitchen CabinetsCleaning
No matter how careful of a cook you might be, the “splatter” struggle is real. Food stuffs, especially grease, make it their business to find the most remote, unthinkable surfaces to cling to in your clean kitchen. Even if they don’t look dirty, bacteria and food particles from your hands can cling to the surface of your cabinets and cause a sticky residue to build up.
Ashley Poskin
Nov 20, 2019
How to Clean a Front-Loading WasherCleaning
Have you noticed your clothes smelling… musty? Even if you’ve switched the load from the washer to the dryer immediately after the cycle has ended? Before you run out and buy a strongly scented laundry detergent to cover the smell, give your machine a thorough cleaning. If you’ve never taken the time to wash your washer, this task might take you a while (that is, if your machine doesn’t have a self-cleaning option) but will be worth every minute.
Ashley Poskin
Nov 19, 2019
How to Clean a Top-Loading WasherCleaning
It had been two years since my machine was cleaned well. Pro tip: Don't wait that long.
Regina Yunghans
Apr 12, 2024
How To Clean a FireplaceCleaning
No matter how clean a room may be, a dirty fireplace can make it look messy and unkempt. Tidying up can take time and effort, but the end results are rewarding, and will help keep your fireplace in great working order. More than likely you’re only dealing with some soot here and ther—and if that’s the case, your cleaning adventure won’t take all that long. But if you’ve inherited a neglected fireplace like mine, prepare to put in some time and serious elbow grease!
Ashley Poskin
Jun 5, 2019
How to Clean WindowsCleaning
For your deeper window cleaning to remove dirt and restore shine, the experts recommend a seasonal cadence of once every three or so months. Here's how you do it.
Ashley Abramson
Aug 1, 2020
How to Tile Your Bathroom FloorProjects & Improvements
All this week we’re talking about bathroom renovations, starting with Ashley’s recent remodel, and following up with tons of helpful posts about the process! Tackling tile installation yourself can save big bucks— and can mean the difference between affording the tile you love and buying the tile you just kind of like. While it’s not rocket science, it’s also not a job for the first-time home project DIY’er (or anyone with bad knees!).
Ashley Poskin
May 3, 2019
How to Upgrade Drawer Knobs and PullsDesign Ideas
If you find you’re becoming restless with your furniture, consider updating the hardware. This simple fix can majorly transform dressers and cabinets, taking them from blah to mwah! New hardware can make inexpensive pieces look luxe, and bring vintage pieces closer to the modern realm. Mismatched furniture? Bring the look together with coordinating hardware in hardly no time at all. Knobs and drawer pulls range dramatically in price, you can find them from as little as .
Ashley Poskin
Nov 4, 2022
How To Install a New Light FixtureProjects & Improvements
I can’t tell you how easy this project is. Seriously, my bloodhound could do it. This is also one of those things you can do to make yourself happy as a renter, but that won’t piss your landlord off. After removing it, just keep the old light and put it back up before you move out.
Dabney Frake
May 5, 2019
How To Strip Paint From HardwareCleaning
Not all painters are created equal — especially those who ch0ose to slop paint over beautiful, antique hardware. It may seem like a daunting task to return those beautiful bits to their original glory, but don’t be fooled. Homeowners and renters alike can remedy this problem with just a few supplies, none of which are toxic. If you live in an old apartment building you’ve probably got interesting design details hiding in your hardware just beneath a few layers of paint.
Ashley Poskin
May 4, 2019
How To Recaulk a BathtubProjects & Improvements
If you’re looking for a way to make your bathroom feel cleaner and brighter, try recaulking your bathtub. It takes a couple of hours to remove the old caulk and apply the new caulk, but it’s definitely worth it! Here’s how I recaulked my own bathtub in a few easy steps. Ready to give your bathtub a makeover? Great! Here’s what you need to get started.
Kate Legere
Dec 11, 2023
How to Add Weatherstripping to DoorsProjects & Improvements
Keep the cold out (and the heat in) with these simple tricks!
Ashley Poskin
Apr 30, 2019
How to Patch a WallProjects & Improvements
A nice big piece of art can hide a world of trouble on the wall behind it — and a few of my pieces did until I recently discovered how little effort it took to repair those minor accidents. I’m never really sure what I’ll get when I start working on the walls in my home—might be plaster, might be drywall, might be a layer of each— so my first (and let’s be honest, second) attempt at trying to put a screw in the wall didn’t go so well.
Ashley Poskin
May 4, 2019