My First Week as a Homeowner

​Well, I officially understand the phrase “trial by fire,” as it applies to my first week of homeownership.  It was a grueling week, but I did learn a lot.
 
Saturday I began to take measurements and devise ideas on how to design my living space.  Sunday was what Appalachian Trail thru-hikers call a “zero day;” I enjoyed a nice crab cake lunch with my friend Courtney at the Waterfront, my second-favorite place in DC (first is Adams Morgan). 
 
Monday was the day I had set up with contractors I’m calling the big three: a painter, an electrician, a plumber.  Jason set me up with the painter, whom I showed color swatches I’d acquired from Ace Hardware (love that name, and I became a Rewards member there).  Painting will be done after everything else (can’t control drywall damage), but it’s still good to know.  The electrician came by and seemed personable and knowledgeable enough, but after reviewing the estimate with my experienced homeowner mother, we decided he was charging way too much.  The plumber decided not to do the job because they didn’t like working in condos (that would have been nice to know BEFORE they came by, and couldn’t they have read the inspection report?).
 
Tuesday: I had Rush’s “Working Man” in my head as I carried a coffee-filled thermos in one hand and my camoflauge lunch container in the other (“I get up, seven yeah, and I go to work at nine”).  Though, to be fair, a lot of my work consisted of waiting around for the contractors to show up while I alternated between reading a book about innovation in institutions of higher education, reading articles about Singles Studies, reading more articles about writing pedagogy, writing up this blog, and watching DVDs.  I’d set up an appointment with a handyman a day earlier for them to a few jobs: taking out the non-operational laundry hamper from the bathroom wall, taking out the shower door (which would have required me to bend down), replacing a bifold door in the pantry, and putting up a series of ceiling fans and recessed lights throughout the apartment to make it more livable and more modern.  After a three-hour window and one-hour grace period with no arrival from said handyman, I went to donate more clothes to the Salvation Army.  Between this “handyman” and yesterday’s plumber, I was growing disillusioned on getting anything done in the home.
 
Wednesday: “I get up at seven yeah, and I go to work at nine; I got no time for livin’; yes, I’m working all the time.”  Today was more promising; two handymen actually showed up, which put them miles above yesterday’s group.  The second handyman mentioned I’d need a new pantry door; they no longer make the tracks and pegs needed for the original, which was pretty scuffed up as is.  And the plumber I talked to could actually do the job, at a reasonable rate, and in the next couple of days.
 
Thursday: Today was a bit more relaxed; no contractors scheduled, so I transferred a bunch of things (pens, books, cords) from my home to the office.  Thursday’s a jogging day, so afterwards, I went by Ace Hardware to pick up masking tape to write lighting plans for the rooms and post them on walls (thank you, Christina, for that tip).  I also put out requests for handymen on NextDoor (why do contractors take so damn long to arrive at estimates?) and put in for a job on TaskRabbit (the shelving unit on the microwave).
 
Friday: A week from the day I closed.  And another trip up.  I figured with all the back and forth I’ll be doing between DC and North Bethesda, it’d be smart to get the monthly pass.  Plus, I’m covered for as many weekend trips as my little heart desires.  So I did.
 
I was there at 9 sharp to meet with the electrician for that 9-11 window.  I’m getting used to them showing up fifteen minutes after the end of said window; jobs take a while, and that Beltway traffic can be a real doozy.  But this guy was sharp; he had good design suggestions for the lights.  He charged a reasonable estimate.
 
I also had another handyman come in to look at the bathroom jobs, and the plumber did a great job.  Alex, the TaskRabbit, had some suggestions on how to set up my microwave, and he, like the previous handyman, said I would need a door.  So he hooked me up with a place that designs and builds them.  To be continued.
 
Best news: I got my cat/son Chester’s Emotional Support Animal letter approved.  Woo-hoo!
 
And, of course, the plumber did a great job.  The icemaker in my freezer works like a charm.
 
So I recognize much of this post was a big infodump.  But I learned a few things this week (trial by fire can be effective):
 
1)Contractors aren’t always looking for your business.  Sometimes, they just get too much of it.
2)When part of a condo, there are always additional hurdles.  Currently, I have to wait on approval of a Change of Architecture form to be able to update my severely outdated fuse box.
3)The moving-in process always has a lot of moving parts.  For this reason, I will need a “Zero Day” or “Nero Day” as they put it in thru-hiking circles.  This a day where I do nothing home-related, or at least close to it.
 
We’ll see how those work when I check in again a month into the process.