6.04.2013

No Place Like Home

Our daughter purchased her first house last week.   It was a three-month adventure.

Her closing date was moved twice.  She needed a thousand dollars more than she was originally told.  She was told she couldn't get home insurance until the shoddy roof over the back patio was repaired or torn down.  She discovered the day of her walk-through the refrigerator that came with the house didn't work.  At the time of closing, the realtors didn't have the keys to the house.

It was a bit anti-climactic when she left the closing with no way to get in to the 35-year old house that has issues, but was still hers.   She had a lot of paperwork and a bottle of wine from the realtor, but no place to go.

So we went and had lunch while the realtor found the key.  Turns out only one of the three locks to the house was re-keyed.  What kind of sense does that make?  My husband immediately went to Home Depot and bought three new doorknobs with deadbolts and installed them.  We were able to lock ourselves in while we started cleaning and painting.

In the process of rinsing rags, we discovered all three sinks in the house leaked.  Back to Home Depot for plumbing pipes and caps and whatever else keeps water contained.  Buy more paint, will you, honey, while you're there, and bring some food on your way back, because we're going to be working on this house for a year.

We put on Motown and swept cobwebs from corners and inhaled paint fumes and got dirty and silly.  My husband installed fire alarms and re-installed some closet shelving that was propped up with 2x4s.  We bleached and caulked and Swiffered.  That night, we slept like stones.  Then we got up and did some of it all over again.

Every homeowner knows that buying a house is an adventure.  You don't know that going in the first time, but that's what you learn.   It's a crazy, often aggravating process.   Our daughter was shocked at how many people had to know her SSN, see her pay stubs and bank statements.   Too many people "are in my business," she declared.  Yep, when you're dealing with thousands of dollars, everybody wants their piece of the pie.    

But, in the end, she has her own plot of land.  That's why foreigners came to this country 200 years ago.  To own something, build something, establish something, and spend decades paying for it.  It's the American dream.

Our girl is excited to have a home full of light (we're painting all the rooms Steam White or Ivory Mist.  It's all Eggshell to me) and hospitality and brownies.  She's planning a Noah's Ark-themed room to welcome youngsters, and she's inviting friends to come teach her how to prepare their favorite meal.  She has a shower curtain with the periodic table on it.   She's a chemistry teacher, so imagine her delight when she found that at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  She might use a beaker for a toothbrush holder. 

We're very excited for her and all the adventures she will create on her own little patch of earth: a vegetable garden, fighting weeds and spiders; eating rice with friends and family because, for awhile, the larder might be lightly stocked; having mail delivered at the end of the driveway; and dancing naked in the living room, if she wants to.

There really is no place like HOME.



 

23 comments:

Mari said...

Congratulations to your daughter! Sounds like a lot of work, but worth it!

Juli said...

Congrats to her!

I bought this house (my first) when I was 29, with 2 toddlers, all by myself. It's like night and day from when I started. This weekend I was removing wainscoting that I had put up in the kitchen 8 years ago to tile the walls finally. I found all the old holes, paint colors, and phone numbers that had been written there from 1945.

Ah, the joys of home ownership.

Paula said...

How exciting for your daughter. And you are entering another chapter, aren't you.

Christine said...

Oh, how exciting for your daughter. And you...I'm sure she'll have plenty of questions for you. I've owned a home for 14 years, and I still call my parents every once in a while to ask homeowner questions.

Rita said...

How thrilling! Congrats to your daughter. Her periodic table shower curtain is perfect for her. Lover the beaker idea, too. What an exciting time. Glad you were there to help her. :)

Retired Knitter said...

How wonderful. My daughter bought her first home, a condo a few years ago. I blogged about that too. Her windows look directly out on the National cathedral , a beautiful building. She lives in DC. A city girl and she loves it.

Creations By Cindy said...

Such an exciting and yet tiring process! But oh the excitement for your daughter! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

A first home is exciting! Your daughter is very blessed that she had all your help there too! Even little things cost a lot when it comes to home repairs. I hope she enjoys her new space.

Memories of yesterday said...

Congrats and so exciting!

Marianne said...

Such an exciting time! May the house always be full of light & love!

Cathy said...

I remember our first home. So fun for your daughter!

Unknown said...

How proud you must be of your daughter. I'm so happy for her in this exciting time.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Congratulations to your daughter on her first house, my oldest daughter has also just bought her first house.

Marie said...

How exciting! Glad it all finally worked out. :)
When my son was younger his bedroom theme was Noah's Ark. I saved it all for my future grandchildren.:)

Ugochi said...

Though it was hectic, bet you were satisfied at last. Congratulations to her and you too!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

THat is exciting. Congratulations to her! I bet it already looks a million times better :-)

Dana said...

Congratulations to her! I hope she spends many wonderful years there. :)

Jerralea said...

We're in the same stage of life. Our daughter, the math teacher is in the process of buying her first home. Supposedly she will close in 2 weeks. ;)

Much joy to your daughter, may her home be everything she has dreamed.

Annalisa Crawford said...

Ah, yes, this brings back memories of buying my first house... although I was heavily pregnant, and only moved in 6 days before the baby was born. House buying and hormones do not mix. How great you're able to help your daughter so much.

Jenelle Leanne said...

Congrats to your daughter! Owning a home is an exciting, scary, overwhelming, amazing, daunting prospect... but it's worth it... I think.... LOL

Emmy said...

That would be so anticlimactic to get all that signing done then not have the key! Glad they were able to find it. So nice you and your husband were able to help her fix up things too.
Congrats to your daughter I hope she loves her new home.

Cynthia said...

Congratulations to your daughter! I remember when my husband and I first moved into our new house and all those trips to Home Depot. Getting settled can be a lot of work, but it's all worth it!

momto8 said...

how fun and exciting! congrats to your daughter!!!