Being a single mom already makes you a total super hero, and taking things on with so many different responsibility levels can be entirely overwhelming sometimes. Whether you’re a brand new homeowner and a longtime single mom, a longtime homeowner and a new single mom or any combination in between, there are plenty of places to learn along the way so you can get better at feeling comfortable in all of your facets of life. Owning a home is just like parenting — it’s a journey where you can learn along the way and keep on growing as time goes on. If you’re curious about what you should know as a home owning single mom, here are a few things to keep in mind.
1. It’s Okay to Be a Little Lost
Just like with any new journey in life, owning a home and being a single mom all rolled into one can sometimes be a lot to handle. If you feel a little lost, take a moment to breathe, and just remember that this is totally normal and okay. With the support of those who love you and with your own resilience, everything is going to be okay.
2. The Deep Clean
Many moms already know all too well how to clean. But one of the things that you might want to refresh on when you enter into your first time at home as a single mom is the true deep clean and declutter that can keep your space feeling serene. Go room by room in order to keep clutter to a minimum and make sure that you clean often enough that you feel satisfied in your home.
3. Pest Control
For anybody who owns a home, staying on top of pest control and related issues is crucial in making sure your home stays safe and clean. If you see any pests around, you may already know they’re there, but other signs that can tip you off are dry or hollow-sounding wood, mud tubes, missing food or even bites and rashes on your person.
4. Basic Bathroom Fixes
Sometimes, you just have to go when you have to go. Regardless of skill level and expertise, there are definitely some bathroom fixes that are simple to learn and can come in handy. Learning how to unclog a drain, fix a running toilet and mend a dripping faucet can be a lifesaver, especially if you only have one bathroom.
5. Safety First
You probably already feel this way with your kids living in your house, but when you own a home it can be especially important to make sure that all of the proper safety features are included in your living space. Making sure that there is a fire extinguisher on every floor, that the batteries in the smoke detector and the carbon monoxide detector are charged and that there is a first aid kit handy somewhere in the home can be absolutely crucial in keeping your family safe.
6. Change Air Filters
Not only can changing the air filters in your home make the airflow even better and help to prevent allergies and dust, but it can also save you money on your electric bill every year. Don’t miss out on a good opportunity, especially one that is so simple, by forgetting to change the air filters.
7. Mowing the Lawn
Roll up your sleeves and get ready to get down to business, because learning how to mow the lawn and do other landscaping tasks is a big part of owning a home, specifically if you own a home with lots of outdoor space. Although it can take a little bit of getting used to, it’s important to mow the lawn regularly and keep up on trimming and caring for any plants that you want to stay manicured. If you feel like this task is a little bit too much for you to handle, you can always find someone in the neighborhood who offers their services for a small fee.
8. Cleaning the Gutters
Much like cleaning any part of your home, cleaning the gutters is an extremely important part of the seasonal shift into winter. Ideally, you should clean your gutters in the late fall so that you don’t need to worry about freezing or other damage to the home. This can be an easy task to forget, especially because it tends to be out of sight when you are indoors, but it is extremely important to remember.
9. Calling the Pros In
At the end of the day, there are definitely a few things that just require professional expertise. From carpentry to electrical, you don’t need to be an expert in order to take care of your home properly. Keep an eye out for professionals that you trust and ask around for recommendations so that you can find the very best professionals to call in a pinch.
Homeowning Single Moms
Building a home as a single mom is an extremely impressive accomplishment. And a big part of owning a home is committing to taking care of it. Everything is a learning journey, and you can keep learning along the way.