Lauren Lejeune

On Nov. 30, I will have officially owned my own home for one year and boy has it been a good one. There have been so many wonderful memories made in the last year and there is no better feeling than having a place to call your very own. It’s also been a year of personal growth and learning, so here are five takeaways from Homeowner Year One. 

1. Facebook Marketplace is your best friend. When I first bought my house, I didn’t have much to my name, especially when it came to furniture. For the first month or so, I had a couch, coffee table and my bed. I watched movies off my laptop and sat in my empty house. But I was elated to just have the space. I quickly discovered how much I love the digital marketplace and started picking up all sorts of household items. You can find just about anything you want there! 

2. Paint how you want. I had a tough time deciding how exactly I wanted to style my home. Nowadays the white farmhouse style is all the rage, but I just can’t get behind it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad look, just not for me. I really wanted to go for a bold color and was a little unsure of my choice. What if I have company and they don’t like it? What if I get sick of it? I had to remind myself that nobody lives there except for me and you can just paint right over it if you don’t like it. Sitting in my dark green living room is one of my favorite pastimes. 

3. Know some basic home maintenance. It’s important to know how things work in your home. Which breaker belongs to what, how to change your furnace filter, and most importantly, where the water shutoff valve is to your home. I came home one night after work and found that my dog had muscled the water hose and consequently the water spigot off the side of my home and broke the waterline. We could have had a pool party down in the crawlspace and you know what? I had absolutely no idea what to do. I didn’t know how to shut it off and couldn’t do anything to help myself. I called every single man in my life: my father, my uncles, grandfather and my boyfriend. Thankfully they came to my rescue, because there was no hope for me.

4. You can bring some of the farm to town. I’ve lived in the country almost my whole life up until last year. One thing I had a difficult time adjusting to was the proximity of people. Neighbors on either side and no open space was slightly daunting. I was sad that I had to leave behind all of my ducks and chickens. No more walking out the door with a greeting from the mountains or horses just right outside. This year though, I did grow a garden and eventually maybe I’ll have a couple chickens here. But for now, Ralston, and my parents, are a 10 minute drive to the west. 

5. Don’t take anything for granted. I have had a year full of blessings. God has given me so much and it isn’t something I ever want to forget or take lightly. My family has been a huge part of this journey as well. I would not be where I am today without them. Remember where you came from and appreciate the journey of getting to your end goal.