Are you afraid to get your hands dirty when it comes to your own property? For many of us who belong to ‘Generation Y’, the answer seems to be yes. So much so, it seems to leave many of our parents shaking their heads. There is no denying many young people are paying a premium for a new home, or newly renovated home. Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying something new. In some cases it’s better (as it would be for me since my handyman skills are sub-par). But one thing I must remind my fellow Gen Y’ers: new things don’t stay new.
It’s only a matter of time before something that is new becomes ‘used and abused’. To compound matters, style trends and people’s preferences change over time. Quartz countertops five to ten years from now may be considered what laminate countertops are today…the ‘kiss of death’. We must realize that one day, we are going to want to sell our home. And selling for less than we might hope to get simply isn’t as much fun.
So here’s a very simple but important piece of advice my father gave me in regards to owning a home. He said, “You should always have a project on the go.” And to be clear, he’s not talking about mowing the lawn or vacuuming. Those are things you should already be doing on a frequent basis. Friends, don’t be alarmed. If you ALWAYS follow this rule of on-going projects, maintaining your home (and its value) will NOT overwhelm you.
People who have seen my parents’ past and current home would see an inordinate amount of potato-sized rocks lining different parts of the property. In the first home, there was no sidewalk and the ditch in front of the road was quite deep, so they filled it with large river rocks. Under the large deck where there was just dirt and debris, that was covered over and also filled in with rocks. In the backyards of both houses, there are thousands of rocks scattered and grouped in different areas to make eye-pleasing designs. Over the years, my mom has slowly planted different shrubbery and plants (her on-going project). Combined with the rocks, it looks like a professional landscape job.
So, how did they get there you ask? Each and every rock was lovingly selected and carried home by a one-man army known as my brother Jamie.
My brother Jamie was diagnosed as autistic when he was very young. With a great deal of support and loving guidance, he has successfully completed a college diploma, works full time and drives his own car. But he would likely have some difficulties with living on his own and maintaining his own home. I would label his personal style as ‘indifferent’ but helpful. In terms of handyman skills, he makes me look like Mike Holmes. That being said, let me remind you of the old adage to ‘never judge a book by its cover’.
Over the course of the last fifteen years, Jamie has collected a handful of rocks every time he makes a trip to his favourite place in the world….Woodland Beach on Georgian Bay. Sometimes on walks, sometimes when he’s swimming and steps on one, or even when one of our neighbours finds a nice one for him. He loads them in the back of his tiny Ford Focus, brings them home, and puts them in the desired spot.
Now, we’re only talking a dozen at a time. My brother does not take kindly to too much physical exertion. But to know my brother is to know he makes day trips up to Georgian Bay all the time. So when you multiply all these rocks, by all these visits, by all these years….it all makes sense. The retail cost to buy these rocks and pay for the labour involved would probably be in the thousands of dollars.
There are so many things you can do to create and innovate in your living space. Just painting a room or tidying up a messy corner in your yard can make a world of difference. Just don’t stand still! It’s sad when I see many young homeowners who do not follow this rule, and their properties are deteriorating instead of improving. Get creative – you can do it. Have pride in your homes, Toronto, and have a great Thanksgiving Weekend!