Written by Sarah.

After finding a career that I love, I needed to find a place to live. Knowing that I was in this job for the long haul, buying a house made the most sense. So, I began the search. At first, it was all fun and games. Looking at listings and talking to realtors was so exciting, but that grew old real fast. Month after month I walked through various houses. I could go on and on with horror stories, but I think we would all be better off if I skipped the gory details. I cannot blame my realtor for this by any means. I gave her three big must haves with one small budget.

Finally, my realtor showed me Little Yellow. You know that saying ‘love at first sight’? This was not that. The house was covered with the smell of decaying carpet, the windows were cracked, and the character was non-existent. But then I decided to take a second look with more of an open mind. I realized it had all three of my must haves – an attached garage, hardwood floors, and a fenced in backyard. Score! Pulling back that carpet and finding hardwood was an awesome feeling. I saw potential and lots of it.

Better yet, Little Yellow was a foreclosure. This meant the price tag was just right. With two bedrooms and one bathroom, it is the perfect fit for myself. The kitchen is big enough that I can cook comfortably and the front room is just right for a cocktail party. And here is where boyfriend Jake comes in. Mr. Build-It-And-Fix-It lives and works north of where I do. He is awesome enough to help with project after project, but I am starting to think that he just likes playing with his tools…yet to be determined.

Coming in under my budget, I had some room for renovation projects. Of course, the first thing I wanted done was to put life back into those hardwood floors. And so the story begins…