3-2-1...Ka-blam!

Eleven years ago this week, I went on my first date with the man who is now my husband.  I remember walking into his house for the first time a couple of weeks after this momentous occasion to find him scrubbing his bathroom on his hands and knees to try and impress me.  Little did I know that all of those pretty little lies would go by the wayside once he had me locked down in marriage. 

Perhaps every household is like this, but a hot mess follows my husband wherever he goes within the four walls of our home.  Does anybody else's husband use the stovetop as an extension of the countertop??  Literally, within 10 minutes of cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom, my husband can make it look like a bomb has gone off in there.  I am constantly in awe of how he can possibly make such a huge mess!  Clearly, our cleaning styles are 100% opposite because this is the same guy who lovingly wipes down the tools he uses each day with a shop towel to make sure he doesn't get any grease in his toolbox.  What about the lump of stinking coal he burned onto the large front burner of the ceramic stove top?!  I mean, c'mon, dude!  You have your tools and I have mine, but the stove is like everyman's tool of the trade.  He thinks I'm crazy because I "wax" the stove top twice a week. Don't even get me started on the order in which he does dishes (by the way, pots and pans before Tupperware is not the right order, and rinsing with cold water does not "remove the soap suds more effectively").  Plus, he doesn't swirl the water when he drains the sink, so a lump of dried soap scum and tiny food particles can greet me the next morning.  Yummy.

I know, I know, many of you are thinking, "Well, at least he DOES the dishes."  And, you're right.  Everything we do at home has to be a team effort.  With both of us working full time, we don't leave much room for error when it comes to household chores.  That being said, I'm not telling you all about his flaws to belittle his efforts.  On the contrary, these are the goofy little things that really tell me he cares about doing what he can to help (as crazy as it makes me sometimes). Most days, we are dog tired by supper time. Most days, we have two hangry boys voicing their opinions over the meal. Most days, we eat in shifts while we deal with upset juice glasses or requests for seconds. Most days, we let the Hamburger Helper boil over between calls from work or family or friends who also need a little piece of us.  Most days, I'm impressed that the hubs will put up with as much guff from me as he does and still keep coming back for more.  Most days, I'm just glad to have someone who will help me with the most menial tasks in life, even if it leaves the kitchen looking like Kim Jong-un's nuclear testing grounds.  Life isn't all real estate and roses.  I love hugs, and I love kisses, but what I love most is help with the dishes!  Welcome Home!

Here We Go Again

It seems as if homeownership has a certain ebb and flow as the years go by.  Some years seem rather mundane with not many changes occurring in the landscape of life while others seem to hit you with ten projects needing done all at once.  My husband and I started our quest in homeownership with a major remodeling project, and after a short hiatus to start our family, we are back at it again.  This time, we are taking on the basement.

Before Demo

My husband and I have been carefully watching a developing bulge in our basement shower wall for about a year's time. It is a unique shower in that the builders of the home made it partially out of concrete block.  The other half was fashioned out of plain old sheetrock and some sort of laminate wall covering that isn't designed to repel water the way a shower insert should.  Over the last three years, that wall covering has slowly deteriorated and started to absorb and retain water during each shower.  Plus, it is lime green.  All in all, it has seen better days.

Shortly after the first of the year, I mentioned to him that we should do something about it.  His response was, "So long as it's done by planting time.  Once that hits, I'm out!"  Take it from me, if this thing drags on through planting and calving season, I might just be out!

The project started out with quite a bit of internet research on customizable shower remodeling inserts.  Let's just say that options are limited, and the inserts aren't manufactured here in Nebraska.  We found a product that seemed like something a do-it-yourself-er could install and a nearby home improvement store distributed, so that's where we set our sights.  We started taking measurements and making a list of the supplies we would need to get started.

Then, we made our first trip to the home improvement store, which shall remain unnamed, to start getting some more ideas and prices.  The only thing we came home with that night was defeat.  So many things to pick from, yet nothing in a complete package.  Everything would need to be retrofitted or pieced together to work properly due to the abnormal size of our shower and the complicated network of pipes, electrical wiring and duct work hiding in our basement ceiling.  We were back to the drawing board to decide what we needed to do to make the master plan pan out.

By the next weekend, we had regrouped and regained some confidence after going over our options and gathering ideas from our resident handy-people.  Off we went to the unnamed home improvement store to buy our supplies and get this thing started.  Thinking that we had everything figured out, we started in the plumbing and bath section to get the shower ordered.  Fun fact: did you know that a plain white shower insert costs far more than one that is supposed to imitate travertine?  Neither did we.  Our simple plan to buy a plain white shower insert was then turned into a 20 minute debate over which design to special order.  Plus, you have the buy the shower kit.  And, the trim kit.  And, the adhesive kit.  Attention product manufacturers: When something has "kit" in the name to start with, put everything in the "kit" rather than making three other "kits" to go with it!  Ridiculous.

From there, we moved on to the lighting section which killed another hour picking out which type of recessed lighting to put in the basement.  Fun fact: did you know that recessed lights cannot be purchased as a "kit?"  Neither did we.  First you have to pick out the style of cans that you want to use, then you pick out the inserts/trim to go with them, and then you pick out the lightbulbs to go with those.  But, be careful, my friends.  Some of the trim inserts come with built-in LED bulbs these days.

Two and a half hours after arriving, we were forced out of the store by the repeated requests coming over the intercom that the store would be closing in 5 minutes and we needed to head to the checkouts immediately.  The greeter literally locked the doors behind us.  Three things were clear at this point: 1) we were easily going over budget on this project 2) we had a tired, screaming toddler who wanted chicken nuggets and 3) his mother wanted a margarita.  Both of which my husband quickly found.

As a saving grace, we started demo this past week, and my husband is already liking the added space in the bathroom from taking out a large closet that he used mainly to hang up his towel.  Nonetheless, upon opening up the side of the shower showing evidence of the water seepage, we found that the hot water line is leaking in addition to the shower walls.  Removal of the sheeting behind the toilet also revealed evidence of seepage from some secret surprise still buried behind the moldy sheetrock that is not only nailed, but glued onto the studs as well.  It's as if the builder was thinking to himself, "Good luck to the schmucks that wanna tear this wall off. Muahhahahahaha!"  Everytime I remove sheetrock at our house, I feel like Kathy Bates in Fried Green Tomatoes as she takes a sledgehammer to the bedroom wall and yells "Towanda!"

At this point, I can't make any guarantees the neighbors won't hear some yelling throughout the course of this project, but so long as they hear "Towanda," rest assured everything is going OK.  Welcome Home.

The Life of a Home

We had a special visitor at the office this morning as Logan joined me for work today while his babysitter (aka Grandma) was busy doing other things.  He was his usual, inquisitive self--playing with the rest of the staff, jabbering to his rattle, and playing with his toys on the floor.  As I watched him, I realized how much he has changed since the first time I brought him when he was just a few days old.  The changes I have seen in him are related closely to the evolution of a home as it grows, matures, and ages.  You might not believe me, but a home is very similar to a living, breathing object in the way it changes constantly.  From my perspective, a home goes through several stages that closely mimic the life cycle of a human being:

Stage One: Birth - When a home is first built, it has to go through a careful planning stage to ensure it has all of the right elements that it will need to withstand the test of time.  In the early months and years of its life, the owner has to take care to nurture it and give it all of the personal touches that make it "grow" just right.  With a new home, you are starting from scratch.  Even after it is "born," it will take years of work to make it the home you want.

Stage Two: Toddler to Adolescent Years - Like a human, a home begins to develop its own personality, attitude and characteristics that give it its very own identity.  Just as children require a considerable amount of time and attention, you start to find that your home will need the right tools, landscaping, and routine maintenance to keep it functioning properly and in good condition. If any of these components are lacking, we might as well skip to Stage 6.

Stage Three: Young Adult - As your home matures, it becomes a part of the community.  The house finally finds its place in the neighborhood as the trees and landscaping become more established, playsets and yard sheds start to emerge and the interior gains more character with each color change to the walls.  It becomes a haven for neighborhood children looking to play after school and for owners needing a place to relax and unwind.

Stage Four:  Middle Age - As the old saying goes, "things start going downhill at middle age."  Major updates to a home are often considered at this point (dare I say "plastic surgery?")  It might need a facelift of sorts to smooth out some of those wrinkles and blemishes left by weather and time.  The addition of some new siding, a roof, HVAC, windows, or kitchen and bathroom updates are common during this stage.  Remember, even though it might be an empty nest, a house still has a lot of life to live at this point.  The grandkids are coming over to visit!

Stage Five:  Retirement - As a home enters its golden years, we all hope that the preparation stemming from the earlier stages are enough to keep it going like a well oiled machine well into its twilight.  With routine maintenance and annual checkups to the major components, a home should be able to withstand even the most rigorous demands.  That old house might even find that a new family is looking to call it home and breath some new life into it at this point.

Stage Six:  Death - Well, we all know what this means.  Let's hope we go before the house does.

No matter what stage your home is in, give me a call if you need advice on what to do to keep your home looking great and working well for your stage in life.  I'm here to help if you need me.  Welcome Home.

Keep it Simple

Many sellers in today's market are getting caught up in the real estate TV shows and listening to everything the high profile Los Angeles agents have to say about getting a home sold.  Guess what?  We aren't in L.A.!  This is Wayne, Nebraska, and experience has taught me that the most important thing to getting your home sold these days is...you're not going to believe this...having a CLEAN home!  And when I say clean, I mean CLEAN.  Your home should be so clean that you can smell it when you walk in the front door.  And if you can't smell the clean, ask your best friend to come over and tell you whether or not it smells clean.

The carpets should be vacuumed and free of pet hair, the curtains should be washed and pressed, the light fixtures should be sparkling (and have all burned out light bulbs replaced), and the hard surface floors should be mopped.  Many of us have little time to wash windows, but if you intend to sell your house, I strongly recommend washing the windows, mirrors, light switch covers and door knobs. Don't forget to dust the baseboards and trim in your home and wash any walls that have fingerprints or marks in high traffic areas. 

The reason I bring this up is because I was visiting with someone who had been in the home my husband and I purchased prior to our remodeling projects.  That person made a comment about being able to tell it had not been lived in for a few years due to the dead bugs on the window sills, the cobwebs in the corners and the dust on countertops.  It was a huge turnoff for her.  What really caught my attention was when she looked in our main floor bathroom, which was not remodeled or even painted yet.  A new floor has been installed and it has been cleaned from top to bottom (it even had the same mauve flowered curtains).  This person insisted that the vanity and tub were new because they didn't look the same as before.  They were CLEAN!

This is an item of huge importance when it comes to selling a home.  In fact, the number one comment that I get from buyers is how clean or dirty they perceive a house to be.  Why leave something like that to chance?  A few hours with a vacuum and a date with Mr. Clean can make a big difference!

Nonetheless, if you feel like your old drapes date your home, consider purchasing some long flowing sheers at your local discount store.  I recently picked up a very modern set for my picture window for a grand total of $15 on clearance.  Consider putting a new rug at the front door to welcome people into your home (and to give them a place to kick off shoes before walking on your CLEAN floors), or buy a few throw pillows and a couch cover to hide that small tear in the cushion.  You don't have to spend thousands of dollars to make your home look like a million bucks. Welcome Home!

A Tribute

I've been absent from the blogging scene for a few weeks due to some drastic changes that have occurred in our lives.  My grandfather passed away on March 26th after a short battle with cancer and emergency surgery.  In many respects, the timing was not good, but then again, it never is when you lose a loved one.  In the midst of everything, we are still working slowly on the house.  I must commend everybody who has helped us during the past few weeks and who has provided understanding during the times when Tim and I couldn't be there to give our assistance.  Particularly, the Karpet Shop of Norfolk for finishing our tile work and carpeting, Doescher Appliance of Wayne for installing and moving our appliances, Discount Furniture of Wayne for delivering our living room and bedroom furniture that has been stored in their warehouse for 3 months, and Russ Loberg Electric of Wisner for putting the finishing touches on the wiring.  It was a relief to know that I could trust these folks to handle the work without us being present, and it was nice to come home to the finished product after the long days prior to and following the funeral.

This house is my tribute to Grandpa and the many things he taught his grandchildren throughout the years.  The day after grandpa died, we installed a flag pole in our front yard in his memory.  He was always proud of his country and the service he and his older brother, Dale, had given it during World War II.  Dale was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for valiant actions on Okinawa just days before he was killed in action by a sniper.  My younger brother is also named after him.  Grandpa taught us the meaning of service, valor and honor.

My grandfather was bit of a perfectionist, and I must admit that I inherited the same gene (much to my husband's dismay).  With the remaining cement from setting the flag pole, we also fixed broken section of the curb that borders the street running north of our house.  Grandpa couldn't stand it when his curbs had chunks of broken cement missing out of them, and my dad, brothers, and I spent a few Saturdays helping him replace portions where the snow plow or a car tire got a little too close.  I am thankful that he taught me and my brothers how to do this task.  He instilled a sense of pride for owning your own property and keeping it in good shape. 

Grandpa told me several times after we purchased the home that he was coming down to see it after we were finished with the remodeling.  He insisted on waiting until we were done because he didn't want to "bother" us.  He understood that we were busy, and he always felt like he was in the way if we were in the middle of a project.  I would always laugh when he interjected about the way something "should be done" versus the way we were going to do it.  He liked to share his knowledge, and he enjoyed being able to have a say in what was happening. We should have made a point to have him visit sooner.

As I've said many times before, a house is more than shelter.  It is a place of great memories and good times with family and friends.  Don't put off those visits from loved ones because you feel like you don't have the time or things aren't in the order you want them.  All they care about is seeing you.  I know that Grandpa is proud of how far we have come with our house and in some way, he is talking to us to make sure we are doing things right.  We wouldn't have it any other way.  Welcome Home.

Our 1-Bedroom Basement Apartment

Tim and I have been jokingly referring to our new home as our 1-bedroom basement apartment for a couple of weeks now.  I keep waiting for a sweet little old lady to holler down the basement steps to let us know that she has some homemade cookies fresh out of the oven (but that would require having an oven first).  We have visited with many a married couple that started out their lives this way.  In some ways, it feels like we have reverted back to our college days (sans the afternoon naps and generally carefree lifestyle).  Back then, we would put up with pretty much anything just to have a place of our own.  The one-basin cast iron sink would have held at least a week's worth of dirty dishes, the loveseat and TV stands would have made for some elegant dining, and the electric blue shag carpet would have hidden a year's worth of not having time to vacuum.  I didn't know Tim back in college, but I'm guessing that so long as he had a place to sleep at night, he was fine.  Really, he would probably be fine living with the bare plywood subflooring upstairs, but there is always a woman to mess up a guy's plan for life.


As time goes on, we are both adapting the changes that moving created for us, and we are also liking our home more each day.  It has many great features, and a little tweaking will make everything perfect for us.  I have worked with many home buyers and sellers over the years, and this experience has made me appreciate the ability to see the potential in a property.  One of the best parts about working with buyers is getting to see a home once they have added their own personal touch to it.  Whether it's paint colors, carpeting, window treatments, or a complete remodel, a home really can take on an entirely new personality once someone with a vision goes to work on it.  A home, in many ways, defines a person's style, taste, and character.  It provides insight and serves as an oasis of solitude and comfort.   When it comes right down to it, there really is no place like home.

So far this week, our home has proven to be watertight.  (Chalk one up for Tim and Trish!)  After having a near miss with the partially opening garage door on Monday morning, Tim did spend some time fixing the tension to make it open all the way.  We have both continued to fill every nook and cranny in the basement with our "stuff," and it looks promising that we might actually be able to squeeze it all in down there until the upstairs is ready for us.  When we first moved in, it seemed like we had a ton of space, but now that we are starting to fill in the gaps with the "stuff" of two households, we are lucky to keep a path through the living room.  We've considered setting up a maze and charging admission to our dog and pony show to help pay for the remodeling!  Luckily, we are on schedule so far with our plans.  As soon as the plumber and electrician have a chance to do their thing, we will be ready for the sheet rock.  The kitchen cabinets and flooring have been ordered and should arrive mid-February.  Until then, we are content in our 1-bedroom basement apartment and patiently wait for those fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies to show up.  Welcome Home!

Plaster Dust and Shower Heads

I left off last week with things in a bit of disarray at our new home.  Friday night, I opened the basement cupboard door to reach for a plate, and I noticed that we had sprung yet another leak.  This time, it was coming from the 1/2 bath off the main entrance from the garage.  I love this feature because it is near the laundry area and it makes for a great place to wash up after working outside.  However, that loving relationship soon turned to despise as it was Friday night, I was tired, it was late, and we had nowhere to go to get parts to fix the leak.  I was beginning to think that we should have bought a boat to float us down the Elkhorn River on the stream of water that seemed to be coming from every orifice in our house besides the ones it needed to go into or out of.  Nonetheless, Tim was able to loosen the shut off and tighten a nut underneath the sink and stop the leak enough to allow us to get some parts on Saturday. 

My little brother and I worked on taking the remainder of the plaster out of the kitchen on Saturday afternoon.  We can't do anything without a power tool, so we had plenty of dust flying throughout the main floor by the time Tim got home from work.  Of course, he was ready to go to Menards before I had a chance to clean up, so we left for Norfolk in a hurry with me looking like Casper the ghost due to the plaster dust.  Wouldn't you know it, we ran into three other couples we knew while we were shopping.  You can about imagine that every conversation started out, "So, uh, did you have a fight with a flour sack?"  If I would have been dressed to the hilt, we wouldn't have run into anybody we knew.  The Law of Personal Encounters always works that way.

After getting home from Norfolk, the first plan of attack was to install a new shower head to replace the one that sprayed an enormous amount of water pressure on everything except the person showering.  Tim grumbled a little bit because it was late, but it was a 2-minute project that made his wife very happy.  No more sopping wet bathroom floor, no more moving the head all around to rinse the shampoo out of my hair, and no skin indentations from where the three or four working water spouts hit me.  It's like a totally new shower!

On Sunday, we made a second trip to Menards to get everything that we forgot on Saturday night.  We had purchased several doorknobs the week of closing only to realize that apparently door knob sizes have changed a bit since 1968.  The one doorknob we bought on Saturday was the right size, and we found that it fit perfectly in the basement walk-out door.  Thinking we had scored a victory, we decided that we should purchase more knobs to put on the main floor doors so we at least had more than one working lock to get into the house.  We started installing the new doorknobs only to find that the main floor doors were fitted slightly different than the basement.  Who would have guessed that 1/16 of an inch could make so much difference?  And, again, the hubby was grumbling.  We got all five knobs changed with a little help from a reciprocating saw and a few less-than-desirable words being said.  At least nobody lost a finger to the saw and a door knob covered one little "whoopsie" we had.

All in all, we accomplished everything we set out to do this weekend, and my socks didn't even get soggy walking into the bathroom this morning.  Life is good.  Welcome Home!

Taking Things for Granted

As my husband and I are settling into the basement of our new home, I've noticed many things that I have taken for granted.  You see, the first home I purchased in back in 2005 was a spec home which was nice and new and didn't need a bit of work besides seeding a lawn, installing window treatments, and moving in furniture.  It has been a great home, and I'm glad that my brother and his soon-to-be wife will be purchasing it.  From a sentimental perspective, many great memories come from a person's "first" home, and I hope they have those same memories to share with their new family.  From an ownership perspective, I know that they will take great care of it, and I won't have to worry about driving by someday to see that the yard is overgrown or it is in a state of disrepair.  No homeowner wants to see their first home go that route.

And so, onto our home in Wisner, and the many things that I have taken for granted during the past six years. I've compiled a list of items that I didn't realize I relied on so heavily until they were gone:

1. A toilet paper holder and towel bar in the bathroom.  I've heard many people complain time and again about their kids or spouse leaving their wet towels on the floor.  What's even more annoying is when you have no other option and you have to use a vacant door knob or the back of a chair in the living room to hang up the towels.  Nothing says, "Come on in and have a seat" like a damp bath towel soaking through your shirt.

2. A microwave.  An electric skillet (a big shout out to the person who gave us that for a wedding present) will have to do until we have one installed.  I learned how to warm up some leftover mashed potatoes along side some Hamburger Helper last night.  The trick is to make a sturdy dam out of hamburger to keep the items separated in the pan.

3. A dishwasher.  Right now, a one-basin metal sink with a broken strainer is keeping the paper plate companies in business.  My new motto is, "Wash fast or don't wash at all!" 

4. A washer and dryer.  Has anybody ever wondered why a place that is designed for cleaning clothes can be so dirty?  Nothing like trucking all of your personal items to a laundromat where you pick the only washing machine that doesn't spin out and the dryer that doesn't heat.  Plus, everything came out smelling like a smoky bar.  Again, hanging all of the Tim's jeans and t-shirts around the lower level of our home has created a welcoming atmosphere for guests.

5. Garage door remotes.  An attached garage is wonderful, but if you have to get out of the car to make the door open and close, it really defeats the purpose (especially when the door doesn't go up all the way, so you have to stand on your tippy toes to give it that little extra nudge so you don't give the top of your truck a close shave.)  The seller told us the remotes were in the house "somewhere," and we're still holding out hope that we will find them.  We still have a couple of walls on the main floor that we haven't pulled the plaster off of.  I'm sure that's where they left them.

6. Keys.  At least the one we have came with a big smiley face key ring holder that politely says, "Have a Nice Day!"

It might sound like I'm complaining, but I'm really just trying to share the humorous side of home ownership.  If somedays it feels like you have taken a step back in time, you probably have.  Don't worry, the "honey-do" list will eventually get completed.  This weekend will be filled with the excitement of installing towel rods, toilet paper holders, and door knobs!  Just remember to appreciate the little things in life.  Welcome Home!

A Fall Maintenance Project the Size of a Barn!

Over the weekend, I was informed that my family was going to start on the task of painting all of our wooden barns, hog houses, and sheds at the farm.  This is a project that has not been completed in over ten years.  Weather permitting, it will probably take between one and two weeks to complete, and we hope to be done by the time harvest is in full swing. This project is similar to the ones that stare most of us square in the eye this time of year.  You know, those little things that we have to get done before the weather turns cold and the winter snow sets in.  I found a helpful checklist for fall maintenance projects by following this link:

http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Checklist-Fall-Preventative-Home-Maintenance.11701.html

This link covers items regarding the interior and exterior of your house. However, one shouldn't forget about the importance of protecting the garage, patio, and landscaping from winter deterioration.  Some fall maintenance advice regarding these areas of your property includes:

• Protect and cover lawn equipment and garden tools
• Drain lawnmower of gasoline and oil
• Examine and repair the weatherstripping at the bottom of the garage door
• Cover and protect your patio furniture
• Trim tree limbs that could break under the weight of snow and ice
• Fill birdfeeders in time for migrating species, and keep them filled throughout the winter for resident species
• Add a protective layer of mulch to your perennials, shrubs, and trees
• Clean flower beds of spent summer blossoms and plants
• Turn the compost
• Remove the garden hose and place inside for the winter

These projects sound like a hassle on days like today when the weather is so nice, but you can turn them into a day well spent with your family.  When I was younger, I used to dread projects like this for the simple reason that "I had better things to do."  Believe it or not, I'm actually looking forward to helping paint and improve the integrity of those old barns at home.  My family has a lot of history and memories in those great spaces.  I love reliving those moments with my brothers, and sharing stories with our significant others.  Remember to take pride in your fall projects and the work it takes to complete them.  Welcome Home!