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When I got pregnant, my husband and I decided to upgrade from our tiny Boston apartment. We left the college parties and the rats behind and bought a house in the 'burbs. Everything was great, until we discovered how much home ownership keeps you on your toes. Here are a few of the lessons we've learned along the way.
1. You'll discover the weirdest stuff.
So far, we've uncovered a hidden storage space behind a built-in chest of drawers, a 100-year-old set of coins, random tools hidden in the bushes, and a shower in the basement that looks like Freddy Krueger built it.
2. The smallest imperfections send you into a tizzy.
Scratches on your hardwood floor? Gasp! Marks on your walls? Get the smelling salts!
3. Beige walls are a thing of the past.
The vast majority of rentals I've lived in were painted a nice, neutral beige. It's great for decorating with what you have, but after 10 years, you're ready for a little color.
4. You will have to live with that wallpaper for a while.
Until you have the time and money, you will have to live with the decorating decisions of previous owners. In one house we looked at, every room was painted pink and turquoise … every room. It even had a turquoise wood-burning stove. Pass.
5. Nothing is as easy as it looks on YouTube.
My dad always told me to hire professionals. When we refinished our floors, we ignored his advice and listened to the YouTube guy. He made it look so easy. It was an unmitigated disaster. We hired a professional to fix it.
6. Your hand-me-down furniture won't cut it.
Speaking of decorating with what you have, you'll discover that the couch from your parents' den just doesn't work anymore. And forget about filling all your new rooms with your paltry collection of furniture. When you're looking for a house, don't forget to factor the cost of new furniture into your budget.
7. You can't actually do anything you want to your house.
There's money to think about, as well as city zoning and permits. And of course, plain old common sense: You can't take a sledgehammer to a wall just because you saw them do it in a Home Depot ad. You have to make sure it's not a weight-bearing wall.
8. You don't need a gym. You have a lawn.
After all of the mowing, planting, raking, and snow removal, you are going to have some serious guns and glutes. And forget the tanning bed. All that time in the sun will give you a nice, healthy glow.
9. The absence of noise freaks you out a little.
You won't hear people walking across your ceiling anymore. Nor will you hear voices in the hall or loud thuds on your living room wall. It will be quiet, and that will totally wig you out.
10. You can stomp on the floor.
The flipside is that you can make a ton of noise, within reason. Your child can jump in his bouncy seat all he wants. You can play Dance, Dance Revolution until you're blue in the face. It's great!
11. No more midnight hunts for street parking.
If you rent in the city, you know how awful street parking is. What if you can't find a space when you come home late? What if someone knocks off your mirror or dents your bumper while backing out? Enter the driveway, the loveliest slab of concrete you will ever behold.
12. Storage! Storage! Storage!
Allow me to humblebrag for a moment: We don't even have enough stuff to fill all the storage space we have. It's so much better than the plywood stall we used to have, especially since we know a college student won't break in, steal our cooler, and pee in our cat's carrier (true story).
When you're a homeowner, you're also a handyman, a decorator, and a whole slew of other occupations you never even gave thought to before. And you learn fast. But it's all good, because the place you're taking care of, it's all yours.
NEXT: 10 Reasons Living in the Suburbs Is the Best »
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