Home Maintenance and Upgrade List

We bought our 2 bedroom condo about 2.5 years ago. Up until then, my husband, Caleb, (who was my boyfriend at the time) and I moved around every 6-8 months... and before that I moved every 4 months in and out of college dorm rooms. So, I was used to moving, despite my incredibly large amount of stuff. I was always looking for someplace better.

When we bought our condo, I was incredibly unhappy in our apartment and very disappointed due to the almost purchase of a 3 bedroom mobile home (loooong story). I knew this wasn't the best place and certainly wasn't a long-term settlement. Since we weren't married or even engaged when we bought our condo, I wasn't thinking about a place to raise a family or anything like that. I was thinking about building equity and getting out of an apartment where we had a fire several months before due to our landlord's unwillingness to update old/broken heating fixtures.

In fact, our condo was the first place we looked at. We liked that it was 2 floors, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, had a washer, dryer, and dishwasher. We also liked the complex (a.k.a. a very desired pool that we never use). So, we made an offer that night and it was accepted.

Two days after moving in, during my first use of the washing machine, I found out that the entire bottom was rusted and leaking. This wasn't found out in the inspection because the machine butts up against a carpet, which was absorbing the moisture. A week later, we had to have the central air conditioner fixed. Another 3 months later, our furnace broke and had to be replaced. Just 2 months later, our water heater broke and also had to be replaced.

By that time, the housing market had crashed, the value of our home decreased by more than $50,000, and all of the money that we had set aside to replace the nasty old carpet with beautiful new laminate flooring was gone.

So why am I writing this story of woe? Because, despite everything that we've been through, I still love our little condo. It's the first place I have really felt at home and see no reason to leave- even with the hopes of a baby coming in the next year or two. It's my very own place and I am proud that I became a home owner at 24. It's where my husband and I (we got engaged the night we closed on our condo) have built a life together. We are happy and secure. We're close to family and work.

But, we still have a lot of work that needs to be completed... eventually. So, I'm going to attempt to create a running list of things that need to be done to remind myself and to add to my monthly goals. So here goes...

Outside:
1. Repair shed out back.
2. Repaint balcony banister.
3. Replace balcony.
4. Replace windows.
5. Replace doors.
6. Replace screens.
7. Cut back tree.
8. Fix up outdoor patio area.
9. Plant bulbs out front.
10. Fix eaves in back.

Living Room/Dining Room:
11. Replace carpet with laminate flooring (whole house).
12. Put up crown moulding.
13. Restain living room table.
14. Repair dining room chairs.
15. Replace dining room light.
16. Install pot lights.

Kitchen:
17. Paint kitchen.
18. Replace sink fixtures.
19. Repair sink spray hose.
20. Install backsplash.
21. Replace counters.
22. Replace lighting.

Downstairs Bathroom:
23. Finish painting bathroom.
24. Replace bathroom fixtures.
25. Install moulding.
26. Replace tile.
27. Install medicine cabinet.
28. Replace vanity.
29. Install pot lights.

Master Bedroom:
30. Replace closet doors.
31. Install molding.
32. Redo closet organizers.
33. Install pot lights.

2nd Bedroom:
34. Reinstall curtain rod.
35. Install Molding
36. Organize closet.
37. Install pot lights.

Upstairs Bathroom:
38. Paint upstairs bathroom.
39. Replace tile.
40. Install moulding.
41. Replace mirror.
42. Replace light fixture.
43. Install pot lights.

Upstairs Hallway:
44. Replace lighting fixture.
45. Paint.
46. Install moulding.
47. Redo washing machine area.
48. Replace smoke detectors.

Whew! A long list that keeps getting longer...