It’s a satisfying feeling when you become a homeowner. You have your own space, your own property, your own investment to look after. Success or failure, it all comes down to your own planning and effort. Or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to be.
Yet, living as a homeowner is also a skill. While renting is surely not as financially stable as owning your own place (paying someone else’s mortgage instead of your own is, of course, less ideal), it gives peace of mind when a landlord or property agent is fully responsible for any maintenance issues that materialise. As a homeowner, you will need to learn all this for yourself, or pay for someone else to do it out of your own pocket.
In this post, then, we hope to simplify that approach. Let’s consider some of the vital knowledge you should add to your homeowner skill set.
Develop your painting techniques
Painting may not be a task that needs to be carried out on a regular basis, but it’s an easy and elementary skill to learn. Carrying out a quality paint job can quickly freshen up a room and transform the décor, and it’s a simple method for changing up the visual profile of a space without shelling out too much cash. Learning to strip wallpaper, prime walls and skirting, cut in and effectively (and neatly) apply paint with a roller and brush is a worthwhile effort.
Invest in a complete toolbox
You can never tell when you’ll need to carry out the array of DIY household tasks that could arise. For that reason, it’s a good idea to start compiling a toolbox with high-quality basics like screwdrivers, wrenches, a hammer, pliers, a drill, a spirit level and a tape measure, at the very least. You can buy tools from reputable retailers and make sure every job is covered. From that point on, you’ll at least have the means to carry out most basic DIY jobs. From then on, all you’ll need to consider will be your technique, which will develop with time and practice.
Understand how to manage damp
If you live in an old house in a temperate or cold climate, damp is an issue you’ll likely encounter. Ultimately, it’s about managing moisture build-up in your home, and not letting it linger on walls and windows to the point where it becomes a problem. You’ll recognise what damp smells like when you first experience it; a musty, mushroomy odour that feels unhealthy to inhale. That’s because it is; often, mould can lead to toxic spores that can damage your airways and cause illness. Using anti-mould spray, inspecting walls and woodwork for rot, ventilating your home correctly and using dehumidifiers to counter the moist conditions is a necessity. If you can get a handle on how to recognise and deal with damp, you can resolve a good deal of preventable DIY repair issues.
With this useful advice, you’ll be certain to start expanding your homeowner skill set one step at a time. Before too long, a possible repair will inspire you to action, instead of it feeling like an overwhelming burden.