New Plans for a New Home

This post is sponsored by U.S. Bank

Now that we are in our new home and have unpacked most of boxes, the dreaming has begun. Okay. To be honest, the dreaming started even before the papers were signed. Dreams of the changes, the alterations, the renovations. Dreams of how we would make this new house our home. It’s a good house (and good-looking house) to begin with. I mean, we think so. That’s why we bought it! The previous owners loved the house, took care of it and had good taste. But we want to make it our own.

When to comes to home renovation projects, our past experience includes painting, faucet swapping and floor laying. Basically, the simpler forms of home repair. Already our new home has provided new-to-us situations. For instance, we have hired a drywaller to fix and complete the basement. MJ suggested we try it ourselves. I thought about it for about three seconds and decided doing that type of project would require too much brain power for me, might actually break my brain. On top of real life obligations and work, I wasn’t willing to take it on. When the drywaller said it would take him five days to complete it, I just about fell over. It would have been the death of me for sure! Haha!

So MJ and I sat together and made a list of all the things we want to fix and change. It’s fairly lengthy and includes all the things we want to do, big and small. Some of the projects are extensive. If you could see our rose colored master bath, you would understand. Sometimes I wish I was just a bit more knowledgeable about certain things. Electrical work, drywalling, framing, plumbing. Things that, if you want them done well, are better done by an expert. Then I take a breath, give myself a break for not knowing everything, and start searching for that expert.

And as mature adults, MJ and I want everything done, like, right now. :) Unfortunately, this house did not come with a money tree so immediate gratification is not an option. Thankfully the plan is to be here a good long time so we’ll get there someday. Slowly but surely. If you’re the in same boat, with lists of hopes and dreams but not the time to wait or the project is extensive, U.S. Bank offers a life line. Based on the equity of your home, you can borrow funds as you need them to complete the projects of your dreams. It’s call a Home Equity Line of Credit or HELOC. It supplies the funds to brings your plans to life.  With our transient year, we understand wanting to turn a house into a home; a home is so much more cozy.

After the drywall is hung and all the dust is cleaned up, we are laying carpet in the basement and the family area on the main floor. Beyond that, we will be sticking to smaller, less cumbersome projects like…. painting with a walking, crawling baby in the house. Let the shenanigans begin!

U.S. Bank has created a fun quiz to figure out what kind of homeowner you are. Turns out I am The Declutterizer. Watch out because I want to put all the things away (thanks, Kon Mari!). Take the quiz and find out what kind of homeowner you are!

So tell me, how have you started making a house a home? Did you start with just one room and expand? Did you look at the house as a whole in the beginning and make a plan for the whole thing? It’s a bit overwhelming, right?

This post is sponsored by U.S. Bank. All opinions, as always, are my own. Thank you for supporting our sponsors.

U.S. Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rate and program terms are subject to change without notice. Property insurance is required. Mortgage and Home Equity products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association, Member FDIC.